What About Venturing

What About Venturing

Why should you as an older youth be interested in joining a Venture Crew?

People join a BSA Venturing Crew (part of Scouting America) for a mix of reasons such as, high-adventure fun, real-world skill-building, and personal growth tailored to older teens and young adults. It’s designed for ages 14–20 (or 13 if they’ve completed 8th grade) and is fully co-ed, which sets it apart from many other Scouting programs.

Key Reasons People Want to Join

Here are the main motivations, based on the program’s structure and what participants often highlight:

• Youth-led adventures you actually choose — Unlike more structured younger programs, venturing crews are youth-led. You and your friends plan and run the activities. Crews pick their own focus—whether that’s extreme outdoor stuff (hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting, scuba, climbing, snow sports, ziplining, sailing) or other interests like community service, drama, music, gaming, shooting sports, or career-related skills. The motto is “Lead the Adventure,” so it’s not adult-directed—it’s your crew deciding what sounds exciting.                                   

• High-adventure and challenge without the “kid stuff” — Many join to keep the outdoor excitement going (or start it) at an older age. Venturing emphasizes big, memorable experiences like back-country trips, team-building expeditions, and activities that push your limits. It’s often described as “adventure with a purpose”—fun that builds confidence, resilience, and lifelong memories.
• Strong leadership development — You get hands-on practice leading meetings, planning events, managing budgets, and making decisions. Crew officers (president, vice presidents, etc.) are elected by the youth. This looks great on college applications, resumes, and scholarship forms. Many Venturers say it prepares them better for college, jobs, and real life than typical school leadership roles.
• Personal growth and life skills — The program uses the ALPS model (Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth, Service). You work on goal-setting, ethical decision-making (guided by Scout Oath and Law values), communication, responsibility, and becoming a more capable adult. Many crews also focus on teaching skills to younger Scouts or other groups.
• Community service and giving back — Venturers often lead meaningful service projects, which helps build character and a sense of purpose.
• Social aspects and friendships — Smaller crews mean tighter bonds with peers who share your interests. It’s co-ed, so you meet a diverse group of motivated teens/young adults. Many describe it as a supportive, fun environment for bonding during adventures or casual activities (game nights, bowling, etc.).
• Advancement and recognition — There are four ranks (Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, Summit) focused on the ALPS areas. Achieving the Summit rank can unlock scholarships from universities, councils, and organizations. You can also earn specialized awards and, in some cases, continue working on certain Scouts BSA recognition’s.
• Continuation or alternative to Scouts BSA — Some join after aging out of or wanting a change from a traditional troop. It’s great for those turning 18 who still want to stay involved in Scouting-style activities, or for anyone seeking more flexibility and less emphasis on traditional rank advancement/merit badges.
• Special interest or career exploration — Crews can specialize (e.g., STEM, arts, sports, emergency services), letting you dive deep into hobbies or future career areas while gaining practical experience.

Who It’s Especially Good For

• Teens who love outdoors/high adventure but want more say in what they do.
• Youth seeking leadership experience beyond school clubs or sports.
• Anyone wanting a co-ed, mature Scouting environment.
• Those looking for resume-building activities, college prep, or scholarships.

In short, people join Venturing because it’s fun, flexible, challenging, and purposeful—a way to have epic experiences with friends while growing into a capable, responsible adult. If you’re (or your teen is) 14+, it’s worth checking out a local crew to see what they’re into; the vibe varies by crew, so finding one whose activities match your interests makes a big difference.

Lead the Adventure,

Uncle Ralph

Sources:

scouting.org/programs/venturing/

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/02/09/20-facts-about-venturing-on-the-programs-20th-birthday/

https://www.alamoareascouting.org/news/venturing-and-why-you-need-to-know-about-it/