What is Venturing and who can be a Venturer?...

Venturing is: Coed, High Adventure, Fun with Friends, Leadership, Service, Youth led

Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who have completed the eighth grade and are at least thirteen and a half through 20 years of age.

Venturing is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities. Local community organizations establish a Venturing crew by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens.

The membership elects a youth President and he/she appoints a cabinet of officers to assist with the leadership of the Crew. These officers are supported by "trained" Adult Advisors, who assist by supervising the program and providing further training and a Crew Committee which supports administratively and logistically. Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby interests.

Venturing was officially created by the Boy Scouts of America's executive board on February 9th, 1998. When Associate Director Evans looks back over Venturing's years, he points out that the most enjoyable moments of the development are not related to the phenomenal growth. They are moments when he heard Eagle Scouts stand before a group and talk about how Venturing has allowed them a place to be an Eagle Scout and to continue to learn and grow. Also, moments when a young lady stands before a group to tell how she finally had a place to be a Scout, along with her mom, dad, and brothers. Venturing does change lives.
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WINCHESTER PATCH ARTICLE, January 23, 2011, By Jonathan Pickering ...

Photos

Credit Jonathan Pickering

...Boy Scout Scoutmaster, Chris Rogers, is bringing Venturing to Winchester that will focus on survival training and other unique opportunities.

Have you ever wanted to backpack through the Catskills? Maybe your into white water rafting and want to rush down the White Mountains? If you're a high school or college student between the ages of 14 and 20, then Venturing is the thrill you've been looking for, says Crew Advisor Chris Rogers

Rogers will put together what he calls, “high adventure” outings. These week-long events take groups of eight to 10 nature enthusiasts and pits them against rugged and challenging situations found in the outdoors, but that is what makes the experience meaningful and FUN.

“Venturing is a little different than Boy Scouts, even though we do similar things," Rogers said. "Venturing will specifically look for things like white water rafting, backpacking, canoeing, sailing, but the idea is to learn and also teach Boy Scouts about these adventures. Venturers will be the planners of these events. We also will include a community service component and to plan fundraising efforts, as we are starting from scratch.”

After Rogers gathers his initial members, of which seven Winchester High School students signed up at his Saturday night information session at Crawford Memorial Church, Rogers and his new Crew will plan out the year's excitement. The venturing group will pick from a list that covers everything from skiing to scuba diving, rock climbing to road rallies. Rogers says there a lot of resources already known and in place, to bring such topics as learning to cook in the wilderness or tracing your families history, should the Crew be interested.

“By planning and doing these leadership programs, those that sign up build a lot of self-esteem which we focus into school and career building," Rogers said. "It's the job of the kids to find out what they want to learn about or get involved in, and the job of the adults to help them secure their resources."

For more information contact Chris Rogers directly about his Venturing Crew 507, give him a call at 781-724-9565, or email him at boyscout507@gmail.com.

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