Venturing Testimonials
from around the country
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Greensboro, North Carolina W.R.- Assistant Scoutmaster-Troop 214 Member of Church that charters Crew
We noticed that older boys were losing interest Most our campouts catered to the new scouts, ages 11-12 Older Scouts were looking for more exciting adventure In our Church chartered units, boys that are 1st class scouts are eligible to join the crew They continue to work toward Eagle and pursue high adventure We look at Scouting as part of our Church ministry. Having girls in our crew allows us to provide a total ministry
Collinsville, Illinois T.S.- Associate Pastor Sunlight Church Non-Denominational Church
Organized Venturing crew with Master's Commission Program made up of 18-25 year olds These are college kids that participate in a one year program that teaches character, integrity and service At the end of the program they spend six weeks on the road visiting other Churches. They make a visible impact of service. 2000 annual plan includes a retreat at the local Scout facility for the COPE course and next summer to the Northern Tier High Adventure Base Their goal is to organize a crew with the high school youth group in the church
Des Arc, Arkansas M.Y.- Pastor First Baptist Church
The High School youth group was organized in 1998 as a Venturing crew The group has 15 boys and 15 girls The youth have adopted a golf green shirt as a unform They meet every Sunday night Most of the youth have earned the Youth Ministries Bronze Award and the God and Life Award Two recent Silver Award recipients The Pastor conducted the Venturing Leadership Skills Course with the youth The crew focuses on serving the community. Recently they helped organize a Tiger Cub Group They have recently gone canoeing and horseback riding
Louisville, Kentucky - Lincoln Heritage Council
Organized 24 Venturing crews with religious youth groups Pastors were surveyed about why they included Venturing with their high school age youth group Access to camp property - COPE course- religious retreats Structure and enhancements that Venturing offered- youth and adult training- advancement- programming, youth protection, etc. Council has organized quarterly events for all youth groups to attend.
Cascade Pacific Council Portland, Oregon
December 31 - 40% growth in youth(6661), 19.5% growth in units(312) Invited Pastors from inner-city community Churches to Scout Camp for Impact Event 30 units have been organized from this event Council created field trips and quarterly events at council camps, they use COPE course Pastors organized “Venturing for Faith”
R.N. – Crew Advisor Tidewater, Florida
Crew 520 was started in May 1999 when St. Simon's on the Sound Episcopal Church was looking for something to help them sustain a youth group. We began with five youth. Last Tuesday we sent our recharter package in with 30 kids names on it, all with paid up dues and excited about Venturing. Two more kids showed up at our last meeting with friends, liked what they saw, and took joining paperwork home to their parents. I have youth from 5 different High Schools. We are busting at the seams. Seven of our kids just started their high school-age Pope Pius XII Religious Award. These kids like showing up in “safe” places in their green polo shirts, sitting as a crowd, and getting recognized. Our youth group has gone windsurfing, scuba diving, mountain biking and horseback riding We have great youth officers, all Seniors in High School that are now training the sophomores and juniors to take their places.
E.M. – St. Vincent de Paul Parish< Arlington, Texas
May of 2000 created a Venturing crew at the Parish It works as a subset of the existing high school-age youth group We asked all the youth interested in outdoor activities if they wanted to be a part of an outdoor club Our group is 50% male/female Their favorite activity is the high and low ropes challenge courses
Kemblesville, Pennsylvania G.S.-Scoutmaster, Troop 62 Advisor SM of troop with 75 boys
Normally boys get Eagle and disappear Took 4 years to get a youth-run troop, with new Crew it happened on the first camp-out Older boys wanted more challenge, they asked SM to help them start a crew. Crew began June 2001 with 26 members, 13 girls, all Juniors in High School. How Crew has strengthened Troop 62: 1.Keeps older boys semi-active vs inactive 2.Boys are energized to do Eagle Projects 3.Boys get seal of approval from girls 4.Gives 14-15 year olds something to anticipate
B.A. - Boulder,Colorado
“Our experience in keeping older Scouts active with the troop has been to offer them the age appropriate opportunities of Venturing. The reality is that if your older boys are not given high adventure opportunities, they will simply leave Scouting all together. One troop in our area lost nearly all their teens from lack of interest, started a Venturing crew and they all came back with renewed enthusiasm, many finished their Eagle awards. The fumes (gasoline and perfume) and other competitions for teen interests take their toll and relatively few older Scouts remain active with troops, especially if they have attained Eagle and feel that there is nothing more for them to do in the troop.”
Lincoln, Nebraska M.K., Associate Advisor, Crew 316
“Crew 316 started in October 1998. We have 15 boys and 6 girls. We have a list of 13 year old boys and girls wanting to join our crew when they get old enough. Our crew rule for Boy Scouts wishing to join is they must maintain registration and leadership in our troop. Twelve of our boys earned Eagle in January 2000. Since we started our crew, we explored caves with the University of Missouri caving club, went rappelling with the University of Nebraska climbing club, did whitewater rafting, snow skiing, and scuba diving. Our boys sit down with the girls when they join and teach them “basic scouting” from the Boy Scout Handbook. We have made presentations for the Ranger program to packs, troops, Girl Scout Troops, and at roundtables.”
M.B. - Crew 1838
“Adults need to understand what we are here for. We are here for the boys, not the other way around. The Troops exist FOR the boys, not the other way around. If the troop does not have a program that interests the older boys, why deny them the chance to go to a program that will interest them? “ “As a Scoutmaster I understood the reasons for having both the programs and that the troop could not do the same job for older boys as either Venturing or Sea Scouting.”
Alexandria, Virginia C.W.- Crew Advisor
“Our crew continues to grow. We recently awarded our fourth Eagle this year, and have already presented two Bronze awards and one Gold award. I expect that we will award two more Bronzes, three more Golds, one Silver and one Ranger in January. During November, the crew participated in Scouting for Food and sorted 9,000 lbs. of food. You got to think outside the box. The folks that fail are the rule bound, advancement bound, uniform bound Scouters who have taken their office management style and applied it to youth. It doesn't work.”
Hartford, Connecticut M.S., Advisor of Crew 57
“I am the Scoutmaster of Troop 57. My 18 year old son approached me about organizing a Venturing crew. Apparently he had been down to the council service center and picked up some information about Venturing. He handed me a new unit application and seven completed youth applications. I agreed to be the Advisor of a new Crew 57. My son wants to earn everything Venturing has created. He had already earned everything Boy Scouting had to offer. His girlfriend also joined the crew. My crew consists of 7 boys and one girl currently. My Venturers have been teaching the Ranger skills to the troop. It has benefited both the troop and the crew.”
C.T. Z., Advisor- Crew 3712, Van Nuys, CA Girls just want to have fun…
Female Venturers successfully participate in all high adventure activities (60 mile bike rides, backpacking, Mile Swim in the Pacific Ocean, and winter snowboarding. Venturers, male and female, assist the troop's Leadership Corps in preparing and teaching the younger boys. The crew provides older scouts (who otherwise become disinterested in scouting at the age of driving and dating) with a program that retains their interest by allowing them to pursue higher adventure with female peers and friends. Co-education fosters mature, responsible and respectful relationships. What Are Venturers Saying?
S.L. - 17 year old in Crew 28 and Troop 28, Pittsburgh, PA.
serves as Senior Patrol Leader in Troop 28 and Crew President in Crew 28. Sean believes that the leadership skills learned in Venturing have helped him be a better Senior Patrol Leader. Venturing has also provided new experiences that he would not have experienced if he was only in the troop.
A.J. - 16 year old in Crew 414, Philadelphia, PA
Before joining Venturing she was thinking about joining the Air Force after high school. She has served as a leader in Venturing for the past 12 months. She believes that the leadership skills learned in Venturing and the increased confidence gained has helped her set new goals. She has now applied to the Air Force Academy.
J.S., President, Crew 2000, Monterey,CA
“All of our crew has the Outdoor Bronze Award and three have earned Ranger. Three of us girls are former Girl Scouts who love the leadership and high adventure of Venturing. Having the influence of girls does help, not only because we tend to be more mature at the same age, but because we aren't about 'Macho'. The boys don't feel that they have to compete against us, so they participate with us.”
E.S., Venturer, Secretary, Crew 630, North Olmsted, Ohio
“My crew has been in existence for about a year and I can honestly tell you it has been one of the best experiences of my life.
I am the sister of a Star Scout and have been surrounded by Scouting's morals and values for years.
On our first campout in March it went down to 10 degrees. We learned from experience how to pack for winter camping.
In June we went on our first ten mile canoe trip, we had a blast.
In all our outdoor activities I have learned how important it is to work together and that if there is one person not working to their ability the rest of the crew can't function to it's potential.
The COPE experience was THE bonding experience of my life and I was on a natural high for days.
We're all now motivated to work as hard as possible in everything we do, in Venturing, at home or in school.”
A.D. and C.C., Crew 214, Fullerton, California
Crew 214 was organized in June of 1998, it has 15 boys and 15 girls, chartered to a Presbyterian Church in Fullerton, California.
Activities include backpacking, rock climbing, snowboarding, skiing, and COPE.
Our members adopted the spruce green shirt as our formal uniform. We designated a navy blue t-shirt with our own logo as an activity uniform.
“We're all like brothers and sisters, we trust each other.”
“We set our own rules; no boy/girl buddy system, go in threes in mixed company.”
“Venturing is more than we expected.”
“The guys have seen me on campouts without my makeup on and they still like me.”
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