The TRUST Award is divided into five sections
- Tending Your Faith
- Respecting the Beliefs
of Others
- Understanding Other
Cultures
- Serving Your Community
- Transforming Our
Society
"Tending Your Faith" must be completed before proceeding to the other sections.
Tending Your
Faith
Tend: To have the care of; to apply one's attention toward
Complete
the following:
- Earn the Religious
and Community Life Bronze Award
- Receive the religious emblem appropriate to your age and religious affiliation. This requirement is
option No. 1 among the requirements for the Religious and Community Life
Bronze Award. If completed for that award, it counts here, too. If your
religion does not offer a religious emblem program such as those in the
Duty to God brochure, No. 05-879D, then you may complete a similar program
of religious discovery suitable to both your Advisor and your religious
leader. (Duty to God for the LDS Church.)
- Visit with your religious leader
and discuss your beliefs and why you accept those beliefs. Compare your
personal beliefs with those formally accepted by your religion. Following
this discussion, write an essay explaining your beliefs and review it with
your religious leader and your crew Advisor. Make a 15- to 20-minute
presentation (discussion, video, slideshow, etc.) to your crew or another
youth group explaining your beliefs.
- Explain the Venturing Oath
and the Venturing Code in your own words. Explain how they have an effect
on your daily life, your life goals, and how you live your life as a part
of your community.
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Respecting the
Beliefs of Others
Respect: To feel or show deferential regard for; to avoid violation of or
interference with.
Complete
the following:
- Talk with a history/social
studies teacher, attorney or other legal professional, or other
knowledgeable adult about the US. Bill of Rights, and
especially about the concept of freedom of religion. What did this concept
mean to our founding fathers? What does this concept mean today? What
limitations have been imposed on this freedom? What happens when freedom
of religion and freedom of speech clash with each other? Hold a discussion
(not debate) about freedom of religion with members of your crew.
- Find out what religious
groups are worshipping in your community, and whether they have been there
for generations or whether they are relatively new to the community. Talk
to at least five adults in your community about the impact various
religions have on your community. Report your findings to your crew.
And one
of the following:
3.
a.
Pick one of the religions listed on page 21
(other than your own). After extensive research on the selected religion, present
a report to your crew or other youth group (such as a troop, crew, religious
group, or school group). The report should detail the history of the religion,
its modern application as a religion, and important historical events. Also
include information about where and how the religion is commonly practiced.
b.
Attend a religious service/gathering/festival of one of
the religions listed
on page 21 (other than your own religion). Attend with a parent, Advisor,
or religious professional. Write about your experience and how it relates to
the thoughts and practices of the religion. Compare the basic tenets expressed
in the religious service/gathering/ festival with those of your own religion.
c.
Meet with two youth working on a religious emblem
approved by the BSA (not your own religion). These young people can be members
of the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, or any other youth
organization. Discuss with them their current religious journey.
d.
Contact an official in an inter-religious organization
(interfaith coalition, council of churches, etc.). Discuss how religious
tolerance is important in both local and global issues.
e.
Attend an inter-religious festival and talk with two
people from another religion (from the list on page 21)
about the similarities and differences between your religion and theirs. Report
your findings to your religious leader.
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Understanding
Other Cultures
Understand: To perceive and comprehend the nature and significance of.
Complete
the following:
- Learn about the culture you
most identify with. Talk to relatives or other knowledgeable individuals
to learn about your family history, cultural identity, and family
identity.
- Attend two cultural events
(each of these events should represent a different culture and should
highlight the history and uniqueness of that culture). Supplement the
information you learned at the events with research on the culture in
today's global society. Compare these two events and their cultures with
your own culture. Report on your findings to your crew or another youth
organization.
- Invite an adult and a youth
from another culture to speak to your crew about their culture.
Alternately, interview two people who were born outside the United States
who have immigrated to your community or a nearby one (foreign exchange
students may also fulfill this role). In either case, discuss with them
why they decided to come to the United States and to your
community. Discuss the differences in community between where they live
now and where they lived before they emigrated.
(For Venturers living outside the United States, modify this
requirement for the country in which you reside. For example, a Venturer
living in Japan would
interview someone not of Japanese origins who immigrated to Japan.)
And one
of the following:
4.
a.
Take (and successfully pass) a course that includes
study of cultural diversity.
b.
Research and present your findings about an
inter-religious/ intercultural conflict affecting the world in historical or
current times. Include how the conflict started and ended (if not an ongoing
conflict). Explore both causes and effects of the conflict, including those in
the current day. Include general information about all the cultures and
religions involved in the conflict.
c.
Research a cultural group (other than your own) that
has had an impact on the U.S.
melting pot. When did they begin to arrive? In what ways have they had an
influence on the United
States? On your community? Where have they
settled (primarily); why? Report on your findings to your crew or youth group.
d.
Meet with your council Scoutreach/urban/rural executive
to learn which Scoutreach programs are being used in your area and why. Learn
about BSA resources designed for specific, cultural groups, and how they may
differ from the resources you are familiar with.
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Serving Your
Community
Serve: To be of assistance to or promote the interests of; to give
homage and obedience to.
Complete
the following:
- Plan and carry out a service
project to better your local community. This project should be carried out
in conjunction with an established community service agency, such as those listed on pages 34-36 (and cannot be the same project used for option No. 5 of
the Religious and Community Life Bronze Award). Involve at least five
other Venturers or youth in carrying out the project. The project should
be well thought out and lasting in its effects. Use the Eagle or
Quartermaster Service Project booklet as a guideline (available free from
your local council office). Be sure this project is reported to your
council as part of the Good Turn for America campaign.
- Meet with a member of your
local government. Discuss how the community governs itself on matters such
as zoning, taxes, education, religion, and acceptable behavior. Report
your findings to your crew or another youth group. Lead or participate in
a discussion on ideas to change your community for the better.
And one
of the following:
-
- Organize a community
safety program. Options include a community watch program, a latchkey
program, or other program to encourage safety in your community. This
cannot be the same project used for requirement No. 1 above.
- Work with your local
chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. Participate in a
significant percentage of service opportunities for one semester. Discuss
with the fraternity adviser how to increase cooperation between the group
and the local BSA council, and between the group and other student
organizations at your college.
- Serve as an active
member in a high school or college community service organization. Participate
in a significant percentage of service projects for a six-month period.
Explore ways to increase the participation of your organization in
service opportunities, as well as ways to increase the membership of the
organization. Report on how the group benefits the community.
- Become a volunteer
first aid or swimming instructor or swimming aide with the American Red
Cross or a similar organization. Teach first aid or swimming at least
four times in a six-month period. Explore other volunteer opportunities
with that organization. Report on your experiences at the end of this
time, especially how the community benefits from the organization and
from your volunteerism.
- Participate for six
months as an active volunteer with any other community service agency approved
by your Advisor. Examples are therapy or guide dogs, food pantries,
hospital aides, etc. Report on your experiences at the end of this time,
especially how the community benefits from the organization and from your
volunteerism.
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Transforming Our
Society
Transform: To change markedly the appearance of; to change
the nature, function, and condition of.
Complete
the following:
- Take part in a counseling
skills training session of at least eight total hours. Examples include
peer counseling, suicide or abuse hotlines, and first-contact training
programs, and may be provided by local service agencies/hotlines or by
local government divisions. Tell your crew what you learned and how you
plan to put your knowledge into action.
- Discover (through research,
discussions with teachers or community leaders) what addictions are having
a negative effect on your local community (such as alcohol, drugs,
tobacco, gambling, pornography, etc.). Pick one of these and find out what
local resources are available to deal with the problem. Talk to a
counselor who deals with this issue, and tell your crew how this issue is
affecting the community in which you live.
- Lead or actively participate
in at least four Ethical Controversies within a six-month period. These
may be at the unit, district, or council level within Venturing, or at a
youth event attended by members of several churches or religious
institutions. These controversies cannot be the same as those used for the
Religious and Community Life Bronze Award requirement No. 10.
And one
of the following:
-
- Attend a meeting of
your local board of education or city/ community council, or a session of
court (any level open to public observation). Find one issue that has
generated dissent or conflict, and observe how this conflict is dealt
with. Follow the issue to its resolution, even if this means attending
more meetings. Give a presentation to your crew or other youth group on
how conflict was resolved in this case.
- Visit and tour a
correctional facility. Talk to a correctional facility chaplain about
his/her responsibilities and experiences. Ask the chaplain for stories of
success/transformation that have helped former inmates become
contributing members of society.
- Compare counseling
degree programs at four different colleges or universities. Include one
large public university and one small religiously based college. Look at
both the types of degrees offered and the course work required for those
degrees. Compare especially the religious components of such degrees.
- Study the document
"Scouts and Peace" prepared by the World
Organization of the Scout Movement. Lead a discussion with your crew
about the document and how Scouts can be involved in world peace. Then
prepare a 10-minute presentation on the document and give it to a Boy
Scout or Girl Scout troop.
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Religions listed on Page 21 of the TRUST Award
Handbook:
- Baha'i
- Buddhism
- Mahayana
- Theravada
- Vajrayana
(Tibetan)
- Christianity
- Catholic
- The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day
Saints (Mormons)
- Orthodox
- Protestant
- Hinduism
- Indigenous tribal religions
- Islam
- Jainism
- Judaism
- Conservative
- Orthodox
- Reform
- Shintoism
- Sikh faith
- Taoism (Daoism) and
Confucianism
- Zoroastrianism
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Community Organizations listed on Pages 34-36 of the
TRUST Award Handbook:
Youth-Serving Agencies
Community
Service Organizations
Conservation
Organizations
- Your state department of
natural resources
- Audubon Society, www.audubon.org
- Izaak Walton League, www.iwla.org
- National Park Service, www.nps.gov
- National Wildlife
Federation, www.nwf.org
- Natural Resources
Conservation Service, www.nrcs.usda.gov
- Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org
- Student Environmental Action
Coalition, www.seac.org
- U.S. Bureau of Land
Management, www.blm.gov
- U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, www.epa.gov
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, www.fws.gov
- U.S. Forest Service, www.fs.fed.us
- World Wildlife Foundation, www.wwf.org
Fraternal
Organizations
- Civitan, www.civitan.org
- Eagles (Fraternal Order of
Eagles), www.foe.com
- Elks (Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks), www.elks.org
- National Grange, www.nationalgrange.org
- Kiwanis International, www.kiwanis.org
- Lions Clubs International, www.lionsclubs.org
- Masons, www.msand.com
- Moose International, www.mooseintl.org
- Optimist International, www.optimist.org
- Rotary International, www.rotary.org
- Ruritan, www.ruritan.org
- Shriners, www.shrinershq.org
Veterans
Service Organizations
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