Venture Scouting

Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for ages fourteen through twenty. The purpose of venturing is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. St. Lawrence Seminary High School is the chartered organization for Venturing Crew 9778 of the Bay Lakes Council in the Ledge to Lakes District of the Boy Scouts of America. Because scouting encourages so many values parallel to those espoused by our school, such as leadership, character, responsibility, and faith, we find it is a natural fit and a great opportunity for our students.

Venture Scouting at St. Lawrence is open to all students, but is generally dominated by those who have been involved or are currently active in scouting back home. Scouts may hold dual membership in our Crew and their Troop back home, allowing them to stay active and involved in scouting and continue with their badge-work while attending St. Lawrence. Many students have completed their Eagle Scout Service Project during their time here. The graduating class of 2007 had seven Eagle Scouts out of a class of forty-six, or about one in every six or seven students!

The Crew holds meetings on a regular basis and plans two or three major outings each school year. Camping, rock climbing, canoeing, and hiking are popular choices, but any group activities that encourage exploration and discovery are appropriate. The scouts are encouraged and expected to do most of the planning and preparation for these activities and are supported by an adult advisor. Outings are often opened to the general student population if additional space is available, which can generate greater interest in membership the following year.

Because our students are involved in so many different activities on weekends, it can be difficult to schedule more than one off-campus weekend campout per school year. Additional opportunities to camp are offered on our sixty-five acres of undeveloped and partially wooded land that is directly adjacent to our campus. This allows students to participate in tent camping and related activities, yet come and go to as needed to fulfill other obligations on and off campus during the weekend.

“Venturing Scouts creates an opportunity to get off the Hill and have some fun with your classmates… and to get out and experience nature.” Tim Plants (’08).

“Venturing provides a window to nature. The program allows for time to relax and vacate from the constant reminders of school. I have many friends who do venturing with me, so they add even more to the experience. The time spent working to set-up the tents is well worth the fun we have throughout what typically is a two-night stay.”
Carl Colosky (’10).