It could be mountain biking on a class six road, or peak bagging in the White Mountains. Whitewater paddling on the Androscoggin River, or sea kayaking on Lake Winnipesaukee. The adventures can be whatever the young men and young women of the Venturing Crew wants them to be.
Venturing, one of Scouting’s growing new programs, provides adventure and leadership opportunities for young men and women, ages 14 to 21. Venturing “crews” are co-ed, and while most are high-adventure-oriented programs, youth may choose to do anything from black powder rifles to ballroom dancing. Beginning Thursday, the Mt. Monadnock District of the Daniel Webster Council launches a new Venturing Crew, drawing from throughout the Monadnock Region.
“There have been community-based crews in Peterborough and Keene over the last few years, but we’ve found that we need a larger group of youth from which to draw to make it sustainable,” said Brian Beihl, Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner and a 14-year Scoutmaster for Troop 2 in Antrim. “We’re particularly hearing that there are young women in the region looking for outdoor adventures not provided by other programs, and young men who, while not into the advancement of Boy Scouts, still love hiking, backpacking and camping. Venturing Crews are ideal to serve those young men and women,” Beihl said.
An organizational meeting will be held for the new group Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. at Marlborough Elementary School, with ongoing meetings anticipated at Dublin School twice each month. Interested youth and their parents should attend this meeting to learn more about the program, the types of activities, costs, fundraising, and how the group is organized and led. The discussion will also include a possible week-long adventure in the New Hampshire’s lakes region.
Beihl said one of the underrated benefits of Venturing are the leadership opportunities a crew provides. “As a youth-directed, adult-guided program, the kids plan the meetings and activities, while adults are in the background supervising logistics and safety,” he said. Each crew has a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and other posts, all filled by youth leaders. Each crew has adult male and female advisors, who oversee the safety and logistics for the activities.
Interested youth or parents who cannot attend, please email to venturing@mtmonadnock.org, visit MtMonadnock.org, or text or call organizing advisor Brian Beihl, 620-8300.