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What We Do Differently

The number one thing we hear from youth in other programs is that they feel lost—either the adult leadership doesn’t support them, or they aren’t making progress. That’s not the case here. In our crew, Venturers are empowered to take charge of their experience and advance at their own pace.

Outdoor adventure is the fastest-growing interest among high school students today—and it’s always been at the heart of our program. Young Americans have long been drawn to the outdoors, and we’ve made it a central part of what we do. That’s why we offer the Ranger Award, a prestigious achievement available to Venturing youth members ages 14–20.

This award has four key purposes:

To encourage the development of advanced outdoor skills
To recognize youth who reach that high level of proficiency
To provide a clear path for outdoor and high-adventure training
To establish Rangers as highly trained leaders within their communities

Earning the Ranger Award is no small feat. It represents a deep commitment to outdoor skills, safety, and leadership. A Ranger is recognized as an elite outdoorsman—someone who’s not only skilled in a range of outdoor sports and activities, but also ready to lead others in challenging adventures.

How to Become a Ranger

This is not an easy, quick award to earn. It will take planning, time, initiative, and plenty of hard work. It will probably take you over a year to complete all the requirements, but that too will speak to your determination and staying power, two more attributes of a Ranger.

Requirements

Ranger candidates must complete eight challenging core requirements:

And four of eighteen challenging electives:

The full requirements are available as a download by Clicking here.

Ranger candidates can earn requirements. They can work on their own or with other Venturers. A crew may also work together. Candidates can work with outside consultants such as a scuba diving instructor. Advisors and consultants must sign a Ranger candidate’s record sheet found in the Ranger Guidebook or Venturing Awards and Requirements (34784 – SKU 618767).

The Ranger Award

After months of experiencing and acquiring skills on a wide variety of outdoor/high adventure interests, sharing those skills with others, the Ranger will receive a sterling silver medal that features a powder horn superimposed over a compass dial. The medal is worn suspended from a green and white ribbon, which is suspended from a silver Ranger bar.

A Silver Ranger Bar only (without the medal) is also available (#04185) for wear on the left pocket flap of the field uniform.

There are a variety of ways to approach these requirements. Many requirements you must do completely on your own. Others you might choose to do on your own or with others, such as scuba certification. Others your crew might decide to do as a crew, such as Project COPE. The key is to have a plan and to have initiative. Not everyone will be a Ranger; only those who are willing to learn, work hard, and meet the requirements will be known as Rangers.

You may work with outside consultants who have expertise in the area you are working in, such as a scuba dive instructor for the scuba diving requirement or a certified first aid instructor for the first aid requirement. However, you must have these consultants approved by your Advisor. Consultants may initial and date your Ranger Guidebook when you have completed the requirement.

Once you have completed a requirement, have your Advisor or the consultant who worked with you on your requirement initial and date your Ranger Guidebook. Then, when you complete all eight core requirements and at least four electives, have your Advisor review your completed requirements, certify your completion of the Ranger Award requirements, and order your Ranger Award.