Boy Scouts of America is known for its main program for young boys and men, but have you heard of the BSA’s co-ed efforts? Naples Venturing Crew 242 is a group under BSA for male and female middle and high school students who get together to do all the adventurous parts of boy scouts: zip lining, rock climbing, snorkeling, you name it. And like BSA, the group also maintains a major dedication to service and the community. Garrett Chapman, a senior who earned his Eagle Scout rank this year, participates in Naples Venturing Crew as well as the general BSA program. He learned of the Veterans History Project through his mentor and group leader Patti Monahan. Caroline Coffey, a freshman at Gulf Coast High School and part of the Crew, says she enjoys the camping, the outdoor adventures and the teamwork. “Being part of the crew means I can give ideas, open up, and say what I want. I feel like a have a voice,’’ she said. “My opinions matter”. Students learn a wide range of skills from being a part of the group. Because they are expected to both plan and execute their own events, students learn to work in teams, how to stay dedicated to a cause and the virtue of patience. When they pull an event off, they also end up learning neat things 10 ESTATES LOCAL • JULY/AUGUST 2017 like first-aid and how to swim. Not a bad trade off. Monahan has led Naples Venturing Crew 242 since it started about three years ago. She said the intangible things are perhaps the most important for students. “We recently visited the Breakout Escape Rooms together, learning to solve for clues as a team,” she said. The students have spent considerable time with veterans through the Honor Flight. They develop a sense of inclusion surrounded by positive influences, they learn how to make a difference and they manage to do all of it while having fun. For more about Naples Venturing Crew 242, visit their website https://sites.google.com/site/ naplesventuringcrew242/home. By Kristine Gill BSA VENTURING LEARNING TEAMWORK TOGETHER Members of the Venturing Crew participate in group activities as a way to learn teamwork and leadership. Photos courtesy of Patti Monahan
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