The "Venture Patrol"

[Eagle92]

Fox,

See my reply to the identical post here:

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=205733&p=2

[Mrw1]

many years ago, we had a SM with extra vacation time who would take the older boys on a high adventure trip once a year. This ended when he got a new job and had less free time.

 

About 2 years ago, we had some adults who had the time to resurrect the high adventure group. They required first class and age 14 as the base requirement for these extra camps.

 

After a year of organizing and getting the interested boys to a point where they can really plan and take ownership of things for themselves, we spun this off into what has become a very active co-ed Venturing Crew.

 

All these boys have stayed involved with the troop, but enjoy the time at the crew without the need to look after younger scouts too. And they have brought other friends into the crew who wanted the adventure aspect without the advancement aspects of scouts.

 

It remains to be seen how much Venturing advancement happens there, but the kids are all happy. And I will really be pretty surprised if any of those boys do NOT finish their Eagles with the troop.

 

Best solution for all involved - the boys see the older guys as leaders in the troop and they see the crew as an additional thing to aspire to as the guys come back from crew activities and tell the younger guys how much fun they will have there too.