Venturing/Sea Scouts

Venturing: Adventure, Life Skills, Leadership

Everyone has a moment that opens their eyes to a bigger world than they ever imagined. It might happen while paddling a quiet lake, bonding with friends around a beach bonfire, or leading an exhausted crew to the edge of their limitations. Venturing empowers youth to bring Scouting values to life through high-adventure outdoor activities and challenging real-world projects.

Venturing is an inclusive Scouting program for males and females aged 14-21 (or 13 and completed the 8th grade). It’s operated through Venturing Crews – units of youth and advisors – that plan activities and events locally and nationally!

The Scouting organization has emerged from the challenges of the last few years by focusing on its core mission: preparing young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes. Our commitment to safety for all youth and adult members is fundamental to everything we do.

Why Venturing?

Venturing uses four areas of emphasis to help the crew plan and carry out its program. ALPS stands for: Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth, and Service. Venturing’s areas of emphasis are the four pillars around which the crew will construct a fun and rewarding program to prepare for their future, regardless of whether that may be in college, the workforce, or elsewhere.

How does Venturing work?

Venturing Crews

A Crew is a unit of Venturers, made up of girls or boys. Crews meet several times a month to learn skills, play games, recognize accomplishments, and elect leaders. They also plan outings such as camping, hiking, service projects, or visits to local and regional attractions. Each Crew decides which activities to do, and youth members lead planning and organizing. Crews often plan activities with other Troops or Crews and participate in District-wide or Council-wide programs. Crews are led by youth members supported by adult leaders who ensure safety and act as guides and mentors.

Adult Leaders

Each Crew has two or more adult leaders (21 or older) trained in the Venturing program, requirements, and principles. For co-ed Crews, at least one female adult leader must participate. All adults involved with Scouting in any capacity must pass a background check and take Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse Training every year. Scouting practices Two-Deep Leadership which ensures that two adult leaders are required for any engagement with a Scout or group of Scouts. This requirement covers in-person activities, online communications, or personal interactions.

Advancement

Venturing has a separate award path from Scouts BSA. However, any First Class Venturer can advance towards Eagle Scout within their Crew.

Uniforms

Venturing has no “official” uniform that all members must wear; in keeping with the flexibility of the Venturing program, uniforms are approved by each crew. A crew may choose to design or purchase a Venturing t-shirt, polo, or any number of options.

What do Venturers do?

Meetings

Crews meet several times each month during the school year, usually on a set night of the week. Each meeting typically includes activities that support the Crew’s focus, planning for future events, time for socializing, and shared food.

District and Council Events

Great Falls Council and its districts sponsor many activities during the year that all Crews can participate in, such as:

Camporees – weekends where Crews can camp and share a common set of activities
Klondike Derby – Crews compete by pulling their sleds through a course and stopping to complete challenges along the way
Advancement Fair – Crew members collectively work on Merit Badge and rank requirements, assisted by adult volunteers

Outings and Activities

Crews love to plan activities outside of regular meetings! They include trips to local museums and attractions, visiting companies or agencies, or religious activities. Outdoor adventures build character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership. Venturers learn to have fun safely outdoors, whether on the water, on foot, on vehicles, or at a campsite. Venturers are taught outdoor ethics via the Leave No Trace program, ensuring they can enjoy outdoor adventures with minimal impact on the environment, wildlife, and other visitors. Crews plan camping trips to parks, campgrounds, and even ski areas.

Community Service

A major part of Scouting is service to others. Crews participate in large events such as the annual Scouting for Food campaign or smaller events such as cleaning up a park.

Summer Camp

The Great Falls Council owns and operates Camp Gorton and Camp Scouthaven , which provides Venturers 18 years old and younger with outdoor adventure opportunities each summer and throughout the year. Venturers are encouraged to attend or work at Scout Camp, which offers advancement opportunities, unmatched waterfront and shooting skills facilities, and fellowship with other Troops and Crews.

High Adventure Bases

BSA operates four High Adventure sites that Venturers can visit with their Crew: Northern Tier in Minnesota, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Sea Base in Florida, and Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. These are major undertakings in terms of time, planning, and fundraising, but provide a level of facilities and experiences that is one-of-a-kind. Locally we have our own Birchbark Adventures with 3 different trek locations available!

Sea Scouts: Adventure, Life Skills, Leadership

For over 100 years Sea Scouting has promoted better citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.

Purpose of Sea Scouts

Sea Scout Program

Sea Scout units– called ships- are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t ﬁnd anywhere else. Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, ﬁnd adventure, and build long lasting friendships.

4 Pillars of Sea Scouts

Seamanship

The best part of Sea Scouts is cruising and mastering the skills you learn with your shipmates. On board a vessel you share hands-on experiences as helmsman and navigator, lookout and cook, sail handler and engineer. You and your shipmates will plan and conduct your annual cruise – summer camp underway. Imagine sailing the Caribbean, cruising to Alaska, ﬁshing, swimming, diving, snorkeling or anything else your ship wants to do!

Scouting

Sea Scouts is youth led and adult mentored. You and your shipmates lead your Sea Scout program. Elected youth leaders plan and conduct the program and adult leaders guide and support your efforts as you learn important leadership and life skills. As you gain experience you will have the opportunity to contribute as a leader in your ship. Sea Scouts are recognized and rewarded for the things they learn and do. You can earn valuable certiﬁcations in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, and CPR, as well as advance in rank from Apprentice to Quartermaster. Each certiﬁcation and level of advancement marks your growth as a sailor and a leader.

Service

Sea Scouts take service very seriously. Sea Scouts perform various kinds of service from service to their ship, to community service. They participate service such as river or beach clean-up efforts, food drives, and youth programs. Sea Scouts also participate in flag ceremonies, and serve as honor guards at various community events.

Social

Sea Scouts provides opportunities to share experiences with other young people who share your interests. As your ship participates in fun and exciting activities like sailing regattas, rowing races, and rendezvous, you’ll learn and grow with your shipmates. You’ll even have the opportunity to meet Sea Scouts from other parts of your community, the nation, and even the world!

Sea Scout Programs

Awards and Advancement

Sea Scouts are recognized and rewarded for the things they learn and do. You can earn valuable certiﬁcations in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, and CPR, as well as advance in rank from Apprentice to Quartermaster. Each certification and level of advancement marks your growth as a sailor and a leader.

Training

Sea Scouts receive training in seamanship and leadership. From ship meetings, long cruises, a USCG sponsored Safety at Sea, to SEAL (Sea Scout Experience Advanced Leadership) training, you will be learning every step of the way whether you realize it or not.

Limitless Opportunities

You and your shipmates lead your Sea Scout program, so you make it what you want. In Sea Scouts you may cruise the San Juan Islands or SCUBA dive in the Florida Keys. You may cruise aboard “America’s Tall Ship” the USCG Barque Eagle. In Sea Scouts, you build your own adventure!

Benefits

Adventure on the Water

What makes Sea Scouts so unique is getting out on the water. Sea Scout ships use a variety of boats from small outboard motorboats to large sailing yachts and vessels. In your ship you will learn piloting and the rules of the road, navigation and how to read the weather. You will be fascinated by maritime history and traditions, learn knots and fancy rope work, master boat maintenance, engine service, and marine electronics skills. No matter what your ship does, you will discover thrills that you just can’t get anywhere else.

Head Start

Sea Scouts get hands-on seamanship and leadership training that will put a Sea Scout one step ahead of the rest, no matter the path they choose. If the military is not your path, Sea Scouts also get a head start on the USCG captain’s license in addition to the countless other skills and opportunities.

Sea Scout Tracks

Depending on a Sea Scout’s personal aspirations, they can build their adventure to fit their needs

Military

Sea Scouts provides the opportunity for youth to expand their leadership abilities and refine skills that will give them a head start in a Navy or Coast Guard Career.

Marine Industry

Sea Scouts get an opportunity to cruise where they will learn about the maritime industry and the opportunities available to them. After earning the Quartermaster Award, a Sea Scout is prepared to complete the testing to be a qualified USCG licensed Captain.

Recreational Boating

Sea Scouts who are looking for a lifetime of fun and adventure on the water will find their place in our program. There are plenty of opportunities to learn valuable seamanship skills that will take you cruising the waters of life.

Costs

Compared with many other youth activities, Scouting is affordable for families! Financial assistance for membership dues is directly from Great Falls Council. Crews/Ships also hold fundraisers to defray costs associated with activities and trips.

Annual dues for Venturing/Sea Scout Youth Members are $135. Membership begins the month that fees are paid and continues for 12 calendar months. Other costs may include uniforms, event fees, and personal camping equipment. Many Crews/Ships offer uniform swaps, have a stockpile of equipment, and cover fees through fundraising. Please note that any Venturing/Sea Scout youth 18 – 20 years old must consent to a background check and take Youth Protection Training.

We also have a Family Rebate Program! When three or more members of a family register with the Great Falls Council, all registrants beyond the first two (the 3rd, 4th, 5th , etc.) will receive a $25.00 rebate (which is 50% of the local Council fee). Get your rebate by filling out the Family Rebate Form.

FAMILY REBATE FORM

Money should never be a barrier to joining Scouting. If ever you find yourself in need, please contact the Unit you are interested in joining. There are several avenues of support. Many Units and their Chartering Organization have assistance plans in place. There are also aid opportunities available from our Council. These, too, are accessed through the Unit Leaders. All support requests are treated with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality. Welcome to the Scouting family. We are here to help!

Ask Crew/Ship leadership for information about making Scouting more affordable for your family or contact Great Falls Council at scouting@gfcscouting.org.

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