What do Venturers do in the Alpine District you ask? How about this, just for starters!
Ø
Raft the white waters of Washington’s rivers in the spring
Ø
Indoor & outdoor rock climbing
Ø
Snow shoe, ski and snow-mobile the backcountry and learn wilderness survival skills in the middle of winter
Ø
Kayaking trips in the San Juans and Puget Sound
Ø
Learn sailing and motor boating skills in the Puget Sound & San Juans by joining or forming your own Sea Scout Ship
Ø
Learn mountaineering skills and climb to the summits of the Northwest’s highest mountains, including Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier
Ø
Scuba dive in the Puget Sound and the warm waters of the Florida Keys or Hawaii
Ø
Learn wilderness navigation and survival skills to use during 50+ mile backpack trips in the Northwest
Ø
Join the King County Explorer Search & Rescue team http://www.kcesar.org
Ø
Test your fishing skills in the Puget Sound and the high mountain lakes and rivers of the Cascades and Olympic Mountains
Ø
Learn first aid and CPR – you never know when YOU may be called upon to help
Ø
Visit with world renowned climbers and authors as they stop in Seattle
Ø
Give back to the parks we enjoy so much and to others with service projects
Ø
And much, much more……….
Venturing is BSA’s newest and fastest growing program today, targeted to young women and men, 14 (and having completed the eighth grade) thru 20 years of age for non-LDS Crews and young men 16 thru 18 for LDS Crews. Venturing offers our older youth members an opportunity to develop their own program and activities with others their own age and with the support of all that the BSA has to offer, including youth and adult training, use of BSA camps, insurance, technical advisors, District and Council Roundtables and events. Although Crews can specialize in Outdoor High Adventure, Sports, Arts & Hobbies, Youth Ministries and Sea Scouts, their activities are up to the youth members to develop in consultation with their Adult Advisors and parents.
The Alpine District currently has three Crews, with more being added all the time:
115 – North Bend – (High Adventure) Kim Ferree, Advisor – kferree@post115.org
Crew Website: http://www.post115.org
609 – Issaquah – (High Adventure) David Townsend, Chairman - townsenddw@aol.com
Crew Website: http://members.doubleknot.com/venturecrew609
751 – Sammamish – (High Adventure) Tom Howell, Advisor - twh@seanet.com
Each of our crews are led by the elected youth officers with support from adult Advisors, parents and outside consultants.
What is needed to start a Crew? At least two youth members who will be primarily registered with the Crew, a Chartered Organization, a Chartered Organization Representative, Adult Advisors and Parent Committee. Who can start or sponsor a Crew? You don’t need to be an existing Boy Scout Troop or a member of the Boy Scouts to start a Crew. The parents of your youth can serve as the Chartered Organization or your Church, fraternal organization, non-profit or for-profit company, such as a scuba diving shop or outdoor outfitter.
Please let us know if you want to join a Crew or if you want to start your own. Contact any of the above Crews directly or call the Alpine District Executive, Jason Macpherson at the Chief Seattle Council Office (206-725-5200) or reach him via e-mail at jmacpherson@seattlebsa.org. To learn more about Venturing, go to http://www.scouting.org/venturing/index.html.