Venturing Program Newsletter

Winter 2008	Scouting is about building character. Venturing programs make character building Fun.

Forward to other Venturers

2009 Camp Information

Camps and High Adventure 2009
New DISCOUNTS and Programs

ROAD to RANGER Camp

HIGH ADVENTURE

Chisholm Trail Adventure Base
Steele Island Wakeboarding
Brazos River Canoe Trip
High Adventure Questions

SPECIALTY CAMPS

Tahuaya Fly Fishing Week
F-16 Flight Simulator Schools
Advanced Wakeboard School

Coming Events...

US Cavalry Camp - Dec 26-30
Trout Fishing Tournament - Feb 7
Klondike Derby - Feb 28
Philmont 2010 Contingent
Spring Orienteering - Mar 29-30
Spring Canoe Race - Apr 26
Rock Climbing Trainings
Adventure Race 2009 - May 17

A week-long advancement and high adventure camp for Venturing Crews. Venturers will earn the Outdoor Bronze Award and complete many of the Core & Elective requirements for the Ranger Award. Held at SR2 on July 5-11. Crews can also send groups to do high adventure at the Texas High Adventure Base.

Featuring wind surfing, horsemanship, rifle and shotgun shooting, wilderness survival, first aid, archery, COPE. swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA, US Cavalry 1870's living history, Covert Ops, Area 51 (paintball vs. aliens), orienteering, GPS navigation, Viking Ship and medieval combat, KODIAK leadership course, and more! Staffed by Longhorn Council Venturing volunteers and the Texas High Adventure Base staff. For more information: 2008 Program Director: Jonathan Wood, bullbridgeport@yahoo.com;
2008 Program Advisor: Alan Williamson, renegadeott@aim.com

New Programs and DECEMBER DISCOUNTS

December Discount: FREE Custom Camp T-Shirts for all
Troops and Crews registering for summer camp, high adventure, or Road to Ranger in the month of December will get FREE Custom camp T-Shirts with their Troop or Crew number printed on them. Contact new Camping Registrar Jane Narvaez for summer camp and high adventure information. The Camping Committee and the Longhorn Council are working hard to add new programs and camp improvements.
New Programs and DISCOUNTS for December
Camps and High Adventure 2009 Book

Viking Ship Contest: Name the new Longship

Submit your name suggestion for our new Viking Ship! Open to all youth registered in the Longhorn Council. The winner will christen the new Longship, sail on its 1st voyage, be the guest of honor at the christening ceremony & banquet, and receive a commemorative plaque with their photo on the ship. The ship is the centerpiece of a new Viking Living History program with Viking clothing, food, weapons, medieval combat, and a Viking village. The shipwright is a nationally known craftsman specializing in authentic reproductions from the Viking era. The ship's design is based on the Ralsweig / Rugen II Viking longship found off Rugen island Germany in the Baltic Sea.... more information.

Council Camporee T-shirts

Additional Council Camporee T-shirts can be purchased online until 12 noon Dec. 10. All T-shirt Orders will be available for pickup at the council offices at 2 PM on Dec. 12th. Click on ORDER T-SHIRTS. Over 7200 Scouts and Scouters attended the 2008 Council Camporee. Congratulations to John Park and the huge team of volunteers who made the event a great success! A few remaining patches are on sale at the council service centers.

US Cavalry Winter Camp

Venturers fire a cannon at the US Cavalry Outpost Learn the the history of 1870's frontier Texas as you serve for a week as a Cavalry soldier. The 1872 U.S. Cavalry Company program is for Venturing Crew members and older Boy Scouts. Includes an overnight stay in the barracks at Fort Richardson. Cavalry Outpost includes authentic uniforms, food, and equipment, a large battle reenactment against local Civil War reenactment groups. ... more information.

Viking Outpost Staff

The Texas High Adventure Base will be hiring Venturers with experience in SCA medieval combat, living history, and LARP battle reenactments. Applicants must be at least 14 or older and in good physical condition. ... Camp Staff Application ... more information.

Employment: High Adventure and Camp STAFF Interviews

Staff interviews for Worth Ranch, SR2, and High Adventure will be conducted at the Hurst Council office. Staff interviews for Camp Tahuaya will be conducted at the Camp Tahuaya office. ... Camp Staff Application.
Sunday, January 4th. 2-5 PM..........all camps
Saturday, February 28th, 2-5 PM.....all camps
Sunday, March 14th, 2-5 PM..........all camps

Venturing Week at the Philmont Training Center

A week dedicated to courses for Venturing Crew leaders and a Kodiak Award Mountain Trek for youth. Kodiak Award Mountain Trek: Adult volunteers who attend one of the conferences during Venturing week may bring one or two youth Venturers along to do a Philmont mountain trek and earn their Kodiak Award. Limited spots available, so make your plans quickly. Register for a conference and indicate your interest, and the PTC will send you details. ... more information.

Tools for Venturing Leaders

Scroll down or click here to find useful program, training, and HOW-TO links for Troop leaders. ... more information

NEWS and COMING EVENTS

Klondike Derby - The Klondike Derby is a great test of your winter camping and outdoor skills. Each patrol/crew must build and bring a sled. Wheels allowed. At Camp Tahuaya on February 16th. ... more information.

Trout Fishing Tournament - Boy Scouts, Venturers, and adults can keep up to 6 Trout per person. The lake was stocked with over 2,200 trout, and will be stocked again in December. At Camp Tahuaya, Feb. 7, 2009. ... more information.

Klondike Derby - Test your winter camping and outdoor skills at the Longhorn Council Klondike Derby. Each crew must build and bring a sled. Camp Tahuaya, Feb. 28, 2009. ... more information.

Spring Orienteering Meet - Cross-country orienteering competition for teams of two and individual competitors. Ggroup map hikes (noncompetitive) available for casual orienteering, hiking, and for learning about orienteering. Sid Richardson Scout Ranch. March 28-29, 2009. ... more information.

Spring Canoe Race - Worth Ranch. April 25th. A 6-mile fun race from Worth Ranch to the Highway 4 bridge and 14 mile Race for experienced canoeists from Possum Kingdom Lake Dam to camp. ... more information.

Spring Adventure Race. May 5 part Adventure Race for teams of 2, 3, or 4 racers, or for individuals. Run, Canoe, Kayak, Mountain Bike, and Climb. Intermediate and advanced courses. SR2, May 16, 2009. ... more information.

Philmont 2010 Council Contingent Treks- The Longhorn Council Camping Committee will choose 20 units for Philmont Council Contingent treks in March. Selection criteria and score sheet are based on a unit’s support for the Longhorn Council’s camps and programs. Please submit the form with the required deposit no later than March 14, 2009.. ... more information.

Philmont Scholarships for Venturers - Philmont camperships are usually available for underprivileged Crew members to attend Philmont with their unit. Applications must be filed by 5 PM January 20th. ... more information.

Climbing Courses – Tower: Sept 13. Rock: Oct. 10-12. Tower course and recerts is now Saturday only. Rock course is still a full weekend and includes Tower. ... more information.

Volunteer at Programs and Events – Your unit can volunteer as staff for weekend program events. Earn points for a Philmont Trek (on the Camping Committee’s Philmont Council Contingent - 20 treks each year), earn certificates for weekend equipment/boat/tower rentals, gain access to some facilities at Council camps on large Cub Scout events weekends, give back to Scouting, and accrue service hours for the BSA’s Good Turn for America Program. ... more information.

CPR & 1st Aid Online Courses. Red Cross CPR and First Aid online courses. Study at home online, take an online test, and then take the In-Person practical testing on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7 PM at Westminster Presbyterian, Fort Worth, TX. CONTACT Tim Habinak of Troop 499 at Tim.Habinak@AlconLabs.com at least 5 days before the date you would like to test.

More Wilderness First Aid Courses. The Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Basics course is for those who live or play in remote areas - away from the usual EMS service. Starting in 2008 Philmont requires all crews to have at least one adult with WFA certification. Class participants must be 16+. There are more courses being planned. . ... more information.

Volunteer to Help at Events – Your unit can volunteer as staff for weekend program events. Earn points for a Philmont Trek (on the Camping Committee’s Philmont Council Contingent - 20 treks each year), earn certificates for weekend equipment/boat/tower rentals, gain access to some facilities at Council camps on large Cub Scout events weekends, give back to Scouting, and accrue service hours for the BSA’s Good Turn for America Program. ... more information.

Weekend Campmaster Corps - Campmaster are experienced Scouters who help the Camp Rangers assist units using council weekend camps. ... more information. Email campmaster@longhorn.org for information.

Camp Commissioners - Experienced Scouters are invited to spend a week at Boy Scout Summer Camp sharing their scouting skills and experience. Each week during the summer camp a corps of volunteer camp commissioners assist the Scoutmasters and staff to help each troop have a successful camp experience. Housing, meals, staff T-shirts and patches provided. Contact Camping Committee Chairman Scott Lindgren lindgrens@sbcglobal.net for information on volunteering. ... more information.

DON'T FORGET: Welcome Home A Hero! – Show our soldiers how much their commitment means to the North Texas community! Every day more than 100 soldiers come through DFW International Airport on their way home for two weeks of much anticipated R&R with family and friends. The R&R flight arrives daily around 10:30 a.m. DFW Airport invites Packs, Troops, Teams, and Crews to volunteer to help welcome our Troops back home to the USA. If your unit or your church or chartered organization would like to help. Just call 972-574-0392 the morning of your visit to confirm the Terminal, gate and approximate landing time. Contact Liz Samuel, 972-621-0400, liz@ntc-dfw.org, heroes@dfwairport.com, for more info.

2009 Venturing High Adventure and Camp Schedule

2009 Schedule for Road to Ranger and Texas High Adventure Base: Chisholm Trail Adventure, Steele Island Wakeboarding. NEW for 2009: Area 51 Outpost, Viking Ship and medieval combat, Fast Draw Shooting Competition, new Covert Ops facility, and more.
Venturing Camp Schedule
July 5-11 - Road to Ranger Camp
Venturing High Adventure Schedule
May 30-Jun 6 - Staff Training Week
June 7-13 - Chisholm Trail, Wakeboard
June 14-20 - Chisholm Trail, Wakeboard, Brazos River 50 miler
June 21-27 - Chisholm Trail, Wakeboard, Brazos River 50 miler
Jun 28-Jul 4 - Chisholm Trail, Wakeboard, Brazos River 50 miler

High Adventure Leader DISCOUNT - Crews that reserve a Road to Ranger group and a 2009 Texas High Adventure Base trek before January 1 will get one leader at the Road to Ranger Camp is free for every 10 participants at Chisholm Trail, Wakeboarding, or Brazos River Canoe Trip..

2009 Specialty Camps

Fly Fishing Camp - June 7-13 at Tahuaya. Learn to fly fish and tie artificial flies for various seasons and species. Open to Boy Scouts and Venturing, age 13 and older. Limit 20.

F-16 Flight School 1 - July 7-11 at SR2. Spend a week flying one of sixteen networked F-16 simulators learning aviation and doing networked air combat.

F-16 Flight School 2 - July 12-18 at SR2. Spend a week flying one of sixteen networked F-16 simulators learning aviation and doing networked air combat.

BSA Online Learning Center - Latest News

Online Training Courses and Supplemental Training packages to help adult leaders. Anyone may create an account, take courses, track their training progress, & reprint their cards! ... more info.
Venturing Advisor Fast Start. ... more information .
Venturing Crew Orientation. ... more information .
Safe Swim Defense Training. ... more information .
Safety Afloat Training. ... more information .
Venturing Youth Protection Training. ... more information.

TOOLS for VENTURING LEADERS

Crew Officers Orientation - A new Venturing Crew Officers' Orientation is available from BSA online. ... more information.

Hangin' Out - This video can be used to introduce teens to the Venturing program - Click here to view the video [QuickTime, 8.4 MB]. ... more information.

Where to Find Training Courses - The Training Course Calendar is your resource for finding training courses in all of the districts of the Longhorn Council. ... Go to Training Course Calendar

Supporting Scouts with AD/HD – New BSA Training Module. The aims and methods of the Scouting program make it an outstanding opportunity for those with AD/HD characteristics to develop and enhance the skills that can lead to success in school, in relationships with others, and in life. ... more information: (Powerpoint 755 KB). (Word 231 KB).

Wood Badge – The premier training course for Venturing Leaders. Spring courses at SR2 and Camp Tahuaya, and a summer course at Lakeview Lodge! ... more information.

Camp Volunteers

Volunteers who can give a few Saturdays a year to help with the upkeep of our camps are encouraged to contact the maintenance committee chairman for their favorite camp!

Camp Tahuaya - Contact Maintenance Chairman Ken Driska for more information. ... KenDriska@ctwa.com. Next workday December 13th.

Worth Ranch - Contact Troy Langston if you would like to help the Worth Ranch Committee work on Worth Ranch. ... tlangston@juno.com. Next workday January 3rd.

Sid Richardson Scout Ranch - Contact: Steve Adams if you would like to help the Ranch Committee at SR2. ... Bubba2121@aol.com, Sadams2121@charter.net