News feature on the Co-ed Venturing program

1. Coed scouting fun
The Herald News - Joliet (IL)
September 4, 2002 | Denise M. Baran-Unland
Members from area Venture Crews prepare to ski for the first time at Lake Geneva in
Wisconsin. More than 20 kids went on the trip. Boy Scouts of America started Venture
Crews in 1999, local Crew 466 out of Coal City is the third in the state. There are eight
now in Rainbow Council. Stephanie Provance of Coal City and Sue Gregory of
Shorewood work together to hoist a sail on the Denis Sullivan, a three-masted, wooden
schooner on Lake Michigan, part of co-ed Venture Crews, Bou Scouts.
When Coal City's Stephanie Provance was a little girl, she
never expressed much interest in the various area
organizations that geared their activities toward girls.
"They always wanted to do fashion shows and I wanted to go rock climbing," said
Provance, 18. However, her brother was both a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout and she
loved it when her parents chaperoned his camping trips.
"I was the tag-a-long," she said. When Venture Crews, a co-ed scouting experience
sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, began in 1998, Provance's curiosity was
piqued. "My crew, Venture Crew 466, started in December of 1999; we were the third
crew in the state," she said proudly. That crew currently has 14 active members and is
one of eight in state.

2. As a means of introducing other youth 14-21 to 21 to Venture Crews, the VOA is
hosting, "Camping 101" Sept. 28-29 at McKinley Woods in Channahon.
Sue Gregory of Shorewood, adviser for the VOA, said that this event is an excellent way
to learn basic camping skills. "You can learn to set up a tent, start a fire and cook
outside, perform first aid, and work with a compass," she said.
Her son, Luke, 16, who is working on his Eagle Scout award, was so involved with
scouting that his sister, Karla, now 14, often felt left out, and was thrilled to learn about
Venture Crews. "And she can set up a tent as well as any boy," said Gregory.
Provance, now the president of Rainbow Council's Venturing Officer's Association, said
that different crews have different themes and offer different activities that other crews
are often invited to join.
"The crew in Wilmington stresses outdoors; my crew is high adventure," said Provance.
Members can belong to more than one Venture Crew: the VOA meets monthly to plan
various activities that any crew member is welcome to join.
Some of the activities that Provance has participated include skiing, sailing, swimming
parties, and a trip to St. Louis to see the Gateway Arch, relax at Six Flags amusement
park, and visit an airforce base.
Interested youth may also be a member of both Boys Scouts and Venture Crews. "They
can bring their knowledge from Boy Scouts and help the Venture Crews, too." The fact
that the group is a coed is a plus, Provance believes.
"If you had an all-girl crew, you couldn't hang out with your guy friends," she said. "And
when you get out into the real world, you're going to have to know how to work with
guys, as well as girls."
Venture Crew members may earn three different awards: bronze, gold, and silver, this
last is comparable to the Boy Scouts' Eagle Award, Provance said. To qualify for these

3. awards, Provance said, one must show proficiency is six areas: citizenship, leadership,
fitness, social, outdoors, and service.
Some of Provance's achievements include creating a personal work-out plan, serving as
president of the VOA, clean-up projects, planning camping trips, and researching the
history about Coal City.
She is currently attending school at Truman State University at Kirksville, Mo. Someday,
Provance hopes to have a career in either physical therapy or cardiac rehabilitation.
In the meantime, she is planning on joining a Venture Crew at her school, in addition to
belonging to Venture Crew 466. Next summer, this last crew is making plans to sail
around the Florida Keys and visit an island.
Susie Carpenter, 16, of Coal City, is also a member of Venture Crew 466. She joined
two years ago after seeing all the fun her older sister Carrie was having. "They went on
camp-outs, on trips to amusement parks and rock climbing," Susie said.
Since Susie joined Venture Crews, she has done all of the above, plus participated in a
ski trip and various community service projects. A memorable one for her was that of
tour guide when the Viet Nam Memorial Wall was at Joliet Junior College last year. "We
would help the people find names on the wall," she said.
Now that she is working toward her bronze award, Susie does not foresee leaving
Venture Crews behind anytime soon. She feels that it has helped her develop her
organizational skills, as well as her leadership skills.
In addition, Susie feels more confident as a person, too, especially by being a part of
such activities as rock climbing. "You have to face your fears," she said. "I'm not afraid
of falling off the wall anymore."
EVENT FACTS

4. What: Camping 101.
When: Sept. 28-29.
Where: McKinley Woods, Channahon.
Fees, etc: Cost is $15 per person if registered by September 12; otherwise cost is $20.
Mail reservation to Rainbow Council Scout Reservation, 2600 Winterbottom Road,
Morris, 60450. For more information call (815) 942-4450.
Denise M. Baran-Unland
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