VenturingFest 2018 was held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) in early July. This six-day high adventure festival invited participants to explore the best the SBR has to offer. Venturers went rock climbing, skateboarding, BMX biking, and participated in watersports, shooting sports, zip lines, challenge courses and so much more!
According to National VOA President Dominic Wolters, “VenturingFest 2018 saw over 1,800 youth and adults discover the adventure of the Summit Bechtel Reserve, and we couldn’t be happier to share in that experience. VenturingFest was a great success with participants, encouraging them to promote the Venturing program and its opportunities to their friends and communities through service and adventure.”
Dominic, a Vigil Honor member of Totanhan Nakaha Lodge of Northern Star Council, was excited to invite 2018 National Chief Anthony Peluso to VenturingFest 2018. “Having the national chief at VenturingFest was an awesome experience, allowing Venturers and Advisors from around the country to learn more about opportunities for recognizing outstanding youth. Anthony was a tremendous help to our staff in performing outreach to participants at VenturingFest, and supporting a welcoming event culture.”
At VenturingFest, participants explored the SBR, made new friends and fulfilled rank advancement requirements. Dozens of Venturers earned a myriad of awards, including Anthony. He earned his Venturing Award at the event, comparable to the Scout rank.
Recently, the National Order of the Arrow Committee announced that Venturers and Sea Scouts will have the opportunity to become Arrowmen beginning in February of next year. You can read the announcement here.
Dominic is excited for this new era of Scouting. “As a program, Venturing looks forward to future collaboration with the Order of the Arrow to ensure that outstanding youth can continue to be recognized in Scouting’s National Honor Society.” He continued, “Venturing and the Order of the Arrow both offer programs to develop youth into model citizens, with strong values and clear visions for a brighter future; we look forward to working together in support of our shared goals.”
Chief Peluso enjoyed his time at VenturingFest, meeting and connecting with hundreds of Venturers, while building bridges in light of upcoming changes. “It was awesome seeing nearly 2,000 Venturers united together. The Order of the Arrow cannot wait to begin welcoming all Venturers into the honor society of Scouting,” Peluso said.
The National Venturing Officers Association was happy with the results of the event. “I couldn’t be happier with the outstanding work of our VenturingFest staff, as well as deeply grateful for the staff of the Summit Bechtel Reserve; their commitment to providing quality program experiences ensured that participants left the Summit with memories that will last a lifetime,” said Dominic. There is no telling where this event will go in the future, but this year’s success is indicative of the great things to come. Keep your eyes open for the next VenturingFest and information on how you can attend! For more information about the Venturing program and the updates to the Scouting Program, please see the links below.
