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This past weekend, Venturing Crew 75 embarked on an exciting adventure to BSA Winterfest, an annual scouting event renowned for its large-scale competitions that test the skills and teamwork of Venturers and Scouts alike. Held in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Winterfest attracts hundreds of crews, troops, and ships from across the nation, all eager to put their abilities to the test in a variety of high-energy events.

A Competitive Spirit

Venturing Crew 75 eagerly participated in a diverse lineup of events , which set the stage for a weekend filled with teamwork, strategy, and friendly rivalry. This year’s competition included both traditional Scouting challenges and more modern, adrenaline-pumping activities designed to push participants to their limits.

They still could not beat the Crew Advisor in Bowling.

Crew 75 took part in physically demanding obstacle courses, precision-based marksmanship challenges, and a variety of other challenges. They also tackled wilderness survival tests, engineering-based problem-solving tasks, and even some fun, unconventional contests that required quick thinking and adaptability.

Among the standout events Crew 75 participated in were:

• Archery Match Shoot: Testing fundamental ability to hit the targets.
• How to break down a door: They learned how to use tools firefighters use to open steel doors when there’s an emergency.
• The Squish Box: A challenge in which you have to jam yourself through the squeeze box in order to emulate true Caving Challenges.
• Air Force Flying Demo: The US Air Force had brought out their flight simulator and the Space Force brought out the push up and pull up bar to challenge Venturers in physical capabilities.
• Crate Stacking: Climb a mountain of milk crates from the very bottom to the top. How high can they go?

Teamwork in Action

The hallmark of Winterfest is its ability to foster teamwork, and Crew 75 truly embodied this spirit throughout the competition. Whether navigating a timed ropes course, executing flawless first-aid simulations, or strategizing in a complex orienteering challenge, each member played a vital role in their team’s success. Their ability to communicate effectively and support one another was key in facing the weekend’s rigorous challenges.

Additionally, Crew 75 had the opportunity to engage in aquatic events such as the The SCUBA Experience, where teams learned the basics of SCUBA and how everything works, and the Rescue Throw Bag Challenge, which tested their accuracy and rescue techniques in a timed event.

The Winterfest Experience

Beyond the competition itself, Crew 75 had the opportunity to engage with other scouting groups, exchanging skills, ideas, and camaraderie. The event also featured leadership development workshops and opportunities for participants to enhance their scouting knowledge in a dynamic, hands-on environment. They participated in roundtable discussions with fellow Venturing Crews, learning best practices for successful scouting programs and future adventures.

Looking Ahead

With Winterfest behind them, Crew 75 returns home with newfound confidence, skills, and unforgettable memories. Their performance in this year’s competition has set a high bar for future scouting events, and they are already looking forward to next year’s challenge. Until then, the crew will continue honing their skills, fostering leadership, and preparing for their next big adventure!

BSA Winterfest once again proved to be a thrilling and invaluable experience, reinforcing the principles of scouting while creating lasting bonds among participants. Venturing Crew 75 left an impressive mark on the competition, and their determination and sportsmanship will surely carry them to even greater achievements in the future.

What We Do Differently

The number one thing we hear from youth in other programs is that they feel lost—either the adult leadership doesn’t support them, or they aren’t making progress. That’s not the case here. In our crew, Venturers are empowered to take charge of their experience and advance at their own pace.

Outdoor adventure is the fastest-growing interest among high school students today—and it’s always been at the heart of our program. Young Americans have long been drawn to the outdoors, and we’ve made it a central part of what we do. That’s why we offer the Ranger Award, a prestigious achievement available to Venturing youth members ages 14–20.

This award has four key purposes:

• To encourage the development of advanced outdoor skills
• To recognize youth who reach that high level of proficiency
• To provide a clear path for outdoor and high-adventure training
• To establish Rangers as highly trained leaders within their communities

Earning the Ranger Award is no small feat. It represents a deep commitment to outdoor skills, safety, and leadership. A Ranger is recognized as an elite outdoorsman—someone who’s not only skilled in a range of outdoor sports and activities, but also ready to lead others in challenging adventures.

How to Become a Ranger

This is not an easy, quick award to earn. It will take planning, time, initiative, and plenty of hard work. It will probably take you over a year to complete all the requirements, but that too will speak to your determination and staying power, two more attributes of a Ranger.

Requirements

Ranger candidates must complete eight challenging core requirements:

• First Aid
• Land Navigation
• Communications
• Leave No Trace
• Cooking
• Wilderness Survival
• Emergency Preparednesss
• Conservation

And four of eighteen challenging electives:

• Backpacking
• Mountaineering
• Cave Exploration
• Outdoor Living History
• Cycling/Mountain Biking
• Physical Fitness
• Ecology
• Plants and Wildlife
• Equestrian
• Project COPE
• First Aid
• Scuba
• Fishing
• Shooting Sports
• Hunting
• Watercraft
• Lifesaving
• Winter Sports

The full requirements are available as a download by Clicking here.

Ranger candidates can earn requirements. They can work on their own or with other Venturers. A crew may also work together. Candidates can work with outside consultants such as a scuba diving instructor. Advisors and consultants must sign a Ranger candidate’s record sheet found in the Ranger Guidebook or Venturing Awards and Requirements (34784 – SKU 618767).

The Ranger Award

After months of experiencing and acquiring skills on a wide variety of outdoor/high adventure interests, sharing those skills with others, the Ranger will receive a sterling silver medal that features a powder horn superimposed over a compass dial. The medal is worn suspended from a green and white ribbon, which is suspended from a silver Ranger bar.

A Silver Ranger Bar only (without the medal) is also available (#04185) for wear on the left pocket flap of the field uniform.

There are a variety of ways to approach these requirements. Many requirements you must do completely on your own. Others you might choose to do on your own or with others, such as scuba certification. Others your crew might decide to do as a crew, such as Project COPE. The key is to have a plan and to have initiative. Not everyone will be a Ranger; only those who are willing to learn, work hard, and meet the requirements will be known as Rangers.

You may work with outside consultants who have expertise in the area you are working in, such as a scuba dive instructor for the scuba diving requirement or a certified first aid instructor for the first aid requirement. However, you must have these consultants approved by your Advisor. Consultants may initial and date your Ranger Guidebook when you have completed the requirement.

Once you have completed a requirement, have your Advisor or the consultant who worked with you on your requirement initial and date your Ranger Guidebook. Then, when you complete all eight core requirements and at least four electives, have your Advisor review your completed requirements, certify your completion of the Ranger Award requirements, and order your Ranger Award.

The Boy Scouts of America describes Venturing as a youth-led program that focuses on building adventures with friends. In this program, you can choose activities that matter to you and develop essential skills such as leadership, event planning, organization, communication, and responsibility while having a blast.

At Venture Crew 75, our Advisors and Committee fully embrace this philosophy. In our crew, YOU lead the adventure. We are committed to working as a team to make the activities and adventures we plan a reality.

As a new crew, Venture Crew 75 offers a unique opportunity for you to help build the foundation of the crew and leave your mark as one of the first to lead the way and pave the path for future leaders.

Join us for fun, adventure, leadership, and the chance to build friendships that will last a lifetime.

BSA’s national membership fee is $80 per year ($6.67/month). This covers national membership, liability insurance, and nationwide services.

If new to BSA, you’ll also pay a one-time $25 joining fee.

There is also a Program Fee our local council charges, bringing the costs to $125.

The crew currently has no official uniform, so no uniform costs. Our official Uniform is our screen printed shirt.

We have a robust fundraising system and can help with financial need.

Other situations:

• Currently a member of another Scout unit: Your membership is free! The national fee is only paid once no matter how many units you’re in.
• Adult: Your cost is $91/year ($8/month).

Activities are pay-as-you-go.

The statistics show a definite trend to break with a troop at about the time high school starts.

Many crews are extensions of Boy Scout troops.  This should be very logical since senior scouting was invented by scoutmasters soon after Boy Scouting started as a means of keeping older boys involved.  This mean giving them a program designed for older teens-more challenge, more difficult, more advancement opportunities, more and great leadership opportunities, and major trips. 

Since 1998, it has never been about just boys. It is the first part of a fully functional and integrated older youth program. Their friends in School can have the adventures out of school to pull them together tighter, and creating a community of youth who have a vested interest in the future.

Many Scoutmasters today recognize that a Venturing crew as an extension of their troop can be complimentary not competitive.

Suggestions on how a Venturing Crew partnered with the Troop can work together:

• The Venturing program complements the Boy Scout troop.  It adds exciting new advancement and leadership opportunities for your older boys.
• It allows flexibility, so boys can participate in both programs.
• Venturing can help solve many of the Scoutmaster’s challenges.  Keeps older boys in Scouting!
• It meets the wants and needs of 14 to 21 year old young men using age appropriate methods.
• It provides a scouting program for daughters of scouting families.
• New advancement opportunities for boys interested in progressing beyond Eagle.
• New, exciting awards and recognition for boys out of the advancement loop.
• Activities with boys and girls their own age.
• New leadership skills training for all members.
• Venturers give leadership to the troop through the Ranger program, etc.
• A place to be an Eagle
• Boy Scouts ages 14 to 18 and adult leaders can be members of both units; primary registration in the troop and multiple in the crew (or vice-versa) at NO EXTRA COST.
• The crew meets separately from the troop twice each month and has occasional activities with the troop and many on their own.
• Venturers in the troop, (especially troop leaders) are expected to participate in both units.
• Venturers can teach (It’s a Venturing Method and Advancement requirement) and provide program.
• Let the Venturers take over some activities previously done by troop adult leaders such as a leadership training weekend for the troop leaders.
• One committee
• One calendar
• Occasional joint activities like courts of honor.
• A crew should not appear to be competing with a troop!
• Recruit an Assistant Scoutmaster or committee member to serve as Crew Advisor.
• Utilize existing merit badge counselors as consultants for the Ranger award & vice versa.
• Utilize troop advancement chair to help conduct crew reviews for the Gold and Silver Awards.
• Venturers can wear distinctive uniforming and maintain the same unit #.
• Younger Boy Scouts think of the crew as extension of the troop. Something to aspire to!
• Place for daughters and sisters to be active in Scouting
• Co-education fosters mature, responsible and respectful relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Can a Venturer earn Eagle?   YES-once a Boy Scout has earned First Class and is eligible to join a Crew, he can join a Crew, earn merit badges and ranks in the Crew.  The Requirements stay the same.

• Does a Venturer who is working on Eagle have to be multiply registered?  NO – he can earn it exclusively in the Crew.

• Why is silver higher than gold? BSA Tradition, Bronze, Gold and Silver (Same as Eagle Palms)

• Where do I find advancement requirements? The Venturing, Ranger, Trust and Quest Handbooks for Venturing awards,  The Boy Scout Requirements Book for Boy Scout Ranks and Merit Badges.

• What is the difference between VENTURE and VENTURING?  VENTURE is a patrol program within a Boy Scout Troop, with Boy Scout program advancement, methods, and guidelines.  Venture Patrol members may not earn Venturing awards unless they are also registered in a Crew, and receive the awards through the Crew.     VENTURING is a separate, distinct program with it’s own recognition, methods, and guidelines

• What is Venturing’s official uniform?  There is no official uniform for Venturing.  “The uniform, if any, is the choice of the Crew”.  There is a Green Venturing shirt available from BSA supply that may be chosen.

• Can a Venturer get past credit and multiple credit?  Venturers do not get any credit for activities done prior to joining a Crew, except for Certifications such as Lifeguard, First Aid, etc.  Once they join a Crew, all activities may be counted towards both their Venturing and Boy Scout recognitions/awards/ advancement.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• Scoutmasters created senior scouting as a way to keep older boys in the program back in the 20s. 
• That same need is still here and the answer is Venturing, a program that traces it’s roots back to the senior scouting program of the 20’s.
• How can Venturing steal your older boys if the crew and the troop are partners?
• Have one committee.  One calendar.
• Do things together, but give the Older Boys a place they can go for greater, age appropriate challenges.

Fuquay Varina, NC – Water skiing and hiking seem like good ways to get in shape and have fun; however, many high school students do not know of any group that can help them get involved in such activities. A Venture Crew provides these intense outdoor activities and fun that many students desire.

“High school students of all ages interested in activities such as water tubing and rock climbing can join,” Venture Crew Adviser Matt Price said.

“It’s open to kids 14 years and older, he added. “They have to be going into ninth grade, and it’s co-ed. The Knights of Columbus from St Bernadette Catholic Church sponsors us, and we’re run through Boy Scouts. We do a lot of camping and outdoor-type activities, like skiing, white water rafting, camping, and hiking.”
Although it offers so many activities, many people still remain unaware of Venture Crew’s existence, despite the it’s durability as a school group, she added.

“In 2008 home school and charter high school students started it,” he said. “Two of them Boy Scouts, were talking about it with some of the girls, and said, ‘How can we get in on something like this?’ They researched, and they came up with this idea.”
While the Crew’s existence did not result in a large number of members, “word of mouth has gained some popularity for the club,” said Tim Driver , Venture Crew president.

“My friend and I found out about the Venture Crew ski trip coming up in February, and I really wanted to go,” said a new recruit. After joining Venture Crew, members only have a minimal number of responsibilities to carry out, Driver added.

“Everybody can plan a trip if they want to, but it’s not required,” he said. “The crew members need to show up to meetings and participate in fund raisers. Everybody is expected to help out on camp-outs, whether you cook, clean or setup.”

Officers have some additional responsibilities, depending on their job, said treasurer Hannah Lee.  “I handle the money and raise funds,” she explained. “It’s really not hard.”

Along with directing the other officers, Venture Crew presidents have additional jobs, but the power gives the officer a chance to effect change, Driver said.  “I wanted to change a whole bunch of things and add a whole bunch of activities and make it not just about the outdoors part,” he explained. “I wanted to bring in wall climbing and swimming, to make it a little friendlier for people who weren’t sure they liked the outdoorsy stuff.”

For the people who like outdoor camping trips, Venture Crew provides an intense, fun campout experience, and it gives its members a chance to learn new abilities, Price said.

“It is just a good way to have fun, meet people, go camping, be outdoors and learn a few basic survival skills that you need when you grow up, like how to cook,” he added. “With so many benefits of joining the club, Venture Crew members never feel dissatisfied with their choice of joining,” Driver said.
“I learned how to build a fire and put up a tent,” he said. “I have gained a lot of friends, too.”

Venture Crew members definitely get their money’s worth with the fun trips they go on, as costs of trips run from $20-400, not including the amount taken off after participating in fund raisers, Lee said.

“There are a lot of neat outdoor activities that you would have never thought you would like, such as rock climbing, and it’s a cheap way to experience what you normally wouldn’t experience,” she added. “It’s definitely worth it.”

Crew 75 is a Venture Crew located in Fuquay Varina, NC and has members as far away as Southern Pines, and range in ages from 14 to college age.   Crew members go on to be in the Air Force Academy, Army, Professors, Doctors, and a multitude of other outstanding careers.  The crew meets the first and third Friday of every month and has a high adventure outing once a quarter.  If you or a friend is interested in the Venturing world, please join them at their Venturing recruitment fairs.  You can see the fairs at www.crew75.com