Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years of age and have completed the eighth grade. Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
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 (group of youth and responsible adults) 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. Venturing crews can specialize in a variety of avocation or hobby interests.

What a Venturing crew does is limited only by the imagination and involvement of the adult and youth members—sail the Caribbean, produce a play, climb a mountain, teach disabled people to swim, or attend the Olympics. All these adventures and many more are being done today by Venturing crews across the country. All this is needed are concerned adults who are willing to share a little bit of themselves with today’s youth—tomorrow’s leaders. 
 

PDF:  Adult Information Packet for Venturing

Check out Wanchanagi District's Sea Scout Program Contact: Dave Rice

Annual Co-ed Scout Events-ages 14+
Come join us for fun activities for scouts your own age.
Many units attend these events so you’ll see familiar faces.

This calendar of events is in the near mid-west. These websites are correct to the best of our information. Some websites may not work or be updated regularly. Most events are yearly but dates and locations change. You need to check ahead.

2012

February 4th -- Winter Amidships (WAM), Fond du Lac WI
One-day competition running for over 30 years, including knots, tug-of-war, code flags, first aid, snow bowling, compass, obstacle course, etc., plus dinner and a dance.   Contact Ann Gratton (920) 231-3015
More informationhttp://www.baylakesbsa.org 

Venturing Blast 2012:
Camp Lowden, Oregon Ill. Info. Kevin Olson 608-723-6250

February 19th. Arctic Blast Afternoon and night skiing 3:30 Pm to 11:pm. (The next day is a holiday, Presidents day) Wilmont Ski Resort at Wilmont Wis.This is put on by Venture Crew 275 of North Star Council. Lift ticket only is $22 and helmet $10.(helmet is required, BSA rules) Ticket and ski rental $42 and snowboard and ticket rental is 52. Registration and fees due by Feb.3rd.  For full info, Kathy Hult 847-546-1782 Venturecrew275@att.net

May 4-5th -- Glacial Trails Backpacking, Dundee WI
Weekend of backpacking and camping for all levels of experience. Contact info@badgertrails.org
More informationhttp://www.badqertrails.org

May 20, Sunday: Des Plaines Canoe & Kayak Marathon. (18.5 miles)
This is a non scouting event that many scouts go to. It is a race as much as you want it to be. Many different classes to be in. Several short portages and sometimes dam jumping if the water is high enough.This is a lot of fun.www.canoemarathon.com 847-604-2445

June -TBA Scout Fishing Derby, Rockton IL
Fish along the Rock River Race in Rockton, IL All age divisions for both BSA & GSUSA. Fee includes patch, and a chance at trophies; attendance prizes. Contact Louise Glon (815) 988-9515 or antiquerocks@yahoo.com

June 22nd --- 24th Rock River Regatta, Fort Atkinson WI
Two-day competition including swimming, bilge pump, inner tube, knots, compass and relative bearings, code flags, drilling, tug-of-war, VB, First Aid, Midnight Fire Alarm, etc., plus dinner and a dance.
Contact Mike Kruk rock_river_regatta@hotmail.com

July 20th – 22nd -- Bay Jammer, Marinette, WI & Menominee MI
Longest running competition 60+ years! Events include lip sync contest & street dance on Friday; swimming, boating, compass, log rolling, log sawing, drilling, etc. on Saturday plus dinner and semi-formal dance; tug-of-war, triathlon, and volleyball on Sunday. More information http://www.bayjammer.htmlplanet.com

July 28th-- Blackhawk Area Regatta, Rockford IL
One-day competition running for over 50 years, including obstacle course, archery, canoeing, line toss, swimming, dinner, and a dance. Always last Saturday in July.
Contact Andy Murray amurray@bsa.org or (815) 397-0210

Aug. 4th. Epilepsy Foundation Mud Volleyball (Non scouting event)
Muddy and a lot of fun. It is in Kelly Meyers Park, Roscoe Ill. Info. 964-2689 www.efncil.org

August 3rd - 5th – Makahiki, Warsaw IN
Hawaiian themed weekend competition running for over 40 years. Includes talent competition & bonfire on Friday night; knots, volleyball, tug-of-war, boating, obstacle course, drilling, canoe swamp, etc. plus Hawaiian dress parade, luau, and dance on Saturday; swimming on Sunday. More information http://www.awac.org

If you know of an event that you would like to add to the flyer please email me the information and we will check it out!!! Thanks.

These events have proved to be great retention tools for older scouts. They get a chance to be with scouts their own age with a lot in common…scouting. Even if you take a few scouts to an event they will come home and tell the rest of the unit how much fun they had and they will all want to go to the next one! Feel free to make copies and hand out to your whole Council as well.

PASS THE WORD ON “FUN SCOUTING ACTIVITIES”

antiquerocks@yahoo.com Louise Glon (Girl Scouts)
eskm@aol.com Eric Schmidt Venturing Vice Chair Wanchanagi Dist. (BSA)