Scouts find adventure in Venturing

Open house on Feb. 13 DINGMANS FERRY - Venturing Crew 5 of Dingmans Ferry has been providing youths an opportunity to mature in a constructive environment for the past five years. Venturing is a coeducational branch of the Boy Scouts of America that uses environmental activity as a vehicle to aid the ethical, social, and educational development of young adults from fourteen to twenty years of age. The fundamental difference between the Boy Scouts and Venturing lies in their arrangement of authority. The Boy Scouts, a program most often dedicated to younger members, employs adult leaders to manage meeting topics and plan events. Venture crews, conversely, elect youth officials who, with the occasional assistance of an adult advisor, govern the crew’s affairs. The idea is that duties like contacting local organizations promote communication skills, and high adventure planning, training, and execution foster leadership, organizational, and developmental skills. In this manner, young people can begin to become responsible and mature members of a Venturing Crew, and in general. In Dingmans Ferry, Venture Crew 5 has developed under the tutelage of advisor Karl Sorochinski, and the leadership of President Preston McBride. Past and future activities of Crew 5 include sailing in Mystic Seaport, organizing a camporee for over two hundred Boy Scouts, and rafting the tumultuous Lehigh Gorge. Most recently, nine members of the crew enjoyed paddling and portaging 110 miles of the vast Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota. Crew 5 is always seeking to give local youths the exciting and educational benefits. On Feb. 13, the crew will host an open house at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the membership, activities, and ideals of the Venturing program. All are welcome to attend. Contact Karl Sorochinski at 570-828-8217 or karls@ptd.net with any questions.