What is Venturing?

Venturing is a program for young men and young women ages 14 through 20. Venturing is one of the fastest growing programs in the Boy Scouts of America.

The purpose of Venturing is to provide experiences to help young people mature and become responsible and caring adults. Young people in Venturing learn leadership skills and participate in challenging outdoor activities.

Venturing focuses resources that help a community organization (such as NTOA) provide wholesome, flexible, well-rounded, challenging activities, tailor-made for teenage youth. Those resources include access to Boys Scout Camping properties, a recognition program, youth protection training, accident insurance, and specific program suited to the focus of the venturing crew (in this case Orienteering).

What are the benefits of a Venture Orienteering crew versus a group of kids that orienteer together?

A Venture crew would also benefit from:

• Medical Insurance Coverage which covers those without insurance and pays up to $300 for accident and sickness claims for participants with their own insurance
• Liability Insurance Coverage
• A chance to be part of an exciting program with many more social, leadership and competitive opportunities.
• Access to all Boy Scouts of America - Circle 10 Council Camps

Common Questions

Q	Does joining the Orienteering Venture crew require any previous Scouting or Orienteering experience?
A	No previous Scouting background is required. No previous Orienteering backgroun is required. Any young person (ages 14 to 20) can join the orienteering venture crew.
Q	Is a uniform required?
A	A uniform is not required in Venturing. Many Venturing crews create their own T-Shirt or other way of identifying themselves with the group. The orientering crew may eventually chose to get O-suits.
Q	Will the orienteering venture crew be all male, all female, or coed?
A	This decision is up to the chartered organization. The plan for the orienteering venture crews are that they will be coed.
Q	Why would a parent want a son or daughter to join Venturing?
A	A recent survey concluded that 96 percent of Venturers made new friends, 93 percent had opportunities to go places and do things they had never experienced, 91 percent were encouraged to share ideas and opinions, and 89 percent said Venturing activities helped develop more self-confidence.

What is envisioned for the Orienteering Venture crew?

The crew would focus on Orienteering.
The crew would meet at NTOA events.
The crew would plan competitions and trainings at Circle Ten Camps outside of the NTOA events.
The crew would compete at local NTOA events.
The crew would eventually split into multiple crews throughout the Metroplex and eventually throughout the state.

The crews could participate in regional and national events as an orienteering club team.
The crews could compete between themselves at local events.

More Information

For more information please call:
Steve Sawyer at 214-902-6720 or email Steve at ssawyer@bsamail.org
Scott Waldrep at 903-893-2130 or email Scott at swaldrep@bsamail.org