Venture Crew 945, Damascus Maryland

Time to your backpacking food!

2010-06-10T14:59:00.002-04:00

It's time to order your backpacking food. Please see your email for the order form. Order is DUE ON JUNE 14th

Check out the calendar updates!

2010-06-08T09:17:00.003-04:00

As we approach the final weeks before the "Great National Park" trip, we have filled in the calendar with many activities and meeting dates. Please look at it carefully and print a copy for your refrigerator!

Yosemite Nature Notes - Episode 3 - Wilderness

2010-03-18T13:18:00.000-04:00

Yosemite Trip Newletter

2010-03-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

Venture Crew
Super Activity Trip 2010

Good Morning Yosemite Crew:

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the youth crew members worked on dividing the group into two backpacking crews for the trail in Yosemite. Each crew elected a crew chief for the trip as follows:

Crew A
Thomas - Crew Chief
Josh
David
Jon
Connor
Mr. Bridge
Mr. Vockley

Crew B
Ben - Crew Chief
Joe
Michael
John
Mr. Schneider
Mr. VanHosen

Itinerary Change

Great news, we switched up the trip a little bit and it looks like we are going to leave Friday (7/9) night, instead of leaving early Saturday which would have been about 4:00 am. This change will allow us to fit in a trip to the Grand Canyon and allow us to relax a little as we pick up the rental van and make sure we have all of our gear in place.

Yosemite Valley
We were able to get a trail permit from the National Park Service for the trail we wanted to backpack on which was great news. Our trail will start at White Wolf to Pate Valley trailhead at Tioga Road and come off the trail at the Glen Aulin trailhead closest to Tuolumne Meadows. We have confirmed 13 backpackers.
We have final confirmation for Curry Village as of this morning for three tent cabins.
Link: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/trailheadmap.pdf

Airfare
I am going to move up the purchased date for the flight to Las Vegas and will buy them as soon as the tickets hit the low price. It appears that we will be flying on Southwest so if you are interested in purchasing your own tickets directly from them, please let me know and I will provide you with the flight numbers and the date of purchase. We must travel on the same flight while on this trip. I am not as concerned about the return flight since we can be a little more flexibility on our return time. In watching the tickets prices, I am not expecting any price wars anytime soon. Our flight to Las Vegas will be out of BWI and is for 5:40pm. We will need to be at the airport on Friday by 4:00pm.

Equipment
We had considered purchasing some tents for loaning to the youth, but have since decided not to do that. It appears most of the crew wants to buy their own tents. We will since be using the money being allocated for tents to offset a few expenses while on this trip, thus the end benefit will be the same or even a little better for every person on the trip.
I currently have four tents for purchase directly from the crew. The cost is about $85.00. These are the Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 1. The retails is $149.99 and will are selling them at our cost.

Link: http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/ALPSMountaineeringZephyr1.htm

Here is the payment schedule so far:
$100.00 pp deposit
$200.00 next payment due March 26th
$200.00 due April 9th
$200.00 due May 1st
June 1st Balance due
We still expect the trip expense to be around $1,000.00 person. At this very moment we are running under that amount.

If you have any other questions, please let me know. It is going to a trip of a lifetime!

Weekend Backpacking Trip News

2010-03-11T08:47:00.002-05:00

Based on the very soggy weather forecast, we are going to postpone this weekend's backpacking trip. Please check back on this site for updates to see when the new date will be. If you have a date that will work well for you, please WRITE YOUR COMMENT ON THIS BLOG.

Eagle Scout Court of Honor 2-20-2010

2010-02-17T11:02:00.001-05:00

EAGLE COURT OF HONOR ANNOUNCEMENT
Venture Crew 945
Damascus, Maryland

Venture Crew 945 is proud to announce that the following scouts have achieved Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor, Eagle Scout

Joshua Bridge
David Vockley
Thomas Wilkerson

In their honor, you are cordially invited to attend an
Eagle Scout Court of Honor on
Saturday, February 20, 2010
3:30 P.M.

Woodfield Elementary School
24200 Woodfield Rd.,
Gaithersburg, MD 20882

Eagle Court of Honor

2010-02-04T22:56:00.000-05:00

Venture Crew 945
Damascus, Maryland

Venture Crew 945 is proud to announce that the following scouts have achieved
Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor, Eagle Scout

Joshua Bridge
David Vockley
Thomas Wilkerson

In their honor, you are cordially invited to attend an
Eagle Scout Court of Honor on
Saturday February 20, 2010
3:30 P.M.

Woodfield Elementary School
24200 Woodfield Rd.,
Gaithersburg, MD 20882

New Venture Crew Meeting Nights!

2010-01-28T23:17:00.002-05:00

The officers of the crew are moving the crew meetings to Monday nights @ 7:30. See calendar for new meeting dates.

Officers' Planning Meeting

2010-01-25T09:46:00.002-05:00

There will be an officers planning meeting this Thursday at 7:30pm. Location is Mr. Bridge's house. All crew leaders who want to share ideas, should contact an officer or you may attend.

Yosemite Trip Day Set - July 10th - 24th

2010-01-24T08:40:00.002-05:00

We had out first meeting of 2010 and many of the crew members attended to begin the final planning stages for the Yosemite trip in July. The trip is planned for July 10-24.

Thomas Wilkerson's Eagle Project

2009-09-16T21:45:00.003-04:00

Thomas Wilkerson will be having his Eagle Project at Little Bennett on September 26th! - More Information to Follow!

Cool Future Trips - See Calendar for Dates!

2009-09-16T21:36:00.007-04:00

October - Backpacking Trip - Break in newbies! (David & Joshua)
November - Aaron-Strauss - Mountain Bike & Camping (John)
December - New York City Bus Trip (Cara)
January - Klondike Derby - State College, PA (Joe)
February - Ski Trip (Connor)

NEW! - Venture Crew Trip to Yosemite National Park in Summer 2010

2009-08-12T09:01:00.005-04:00

Join us for a fantastic trip to the west coast in the summer of 2010 as we backpack and tour California. We will fly into San Francisco for a tour of the city and travel along the coast to Monterey and kayak with the sea otters and explorer the tide pools. Then we will travel to Yosemite National Park to send a few days in the valley. Then off to the backcountry for a once in a lifetime experience.

Of the more than three million people who visit Yosemite each year, 95% never leave the valley, but the brave 5% who do so are well rewarded. A wild, lonelier Yosemite awaits just a few miles from the crowds, where you'll find some of the most grandiose landscape in the Sierra. Most hikers, especially serious backpackers, head into the high country -- a backpacking paradise. Tioga Pass via CA 120 is the gateway to the high country. Once through the pass, the high country presents meadows of wildflowers, stark granite domes, and shimmering rivers and lakes.

Details to be discussed at our next crew meeting!

Attention Future Eagle Scouts - New Eagle Apps.

2009-08-07T11:48:00.001-04:00

New 2009 Eagle Scout Rank Application form (512-728). The 2008 version will not be accepted by the NCAC after August 1, 2009. The 2009 form is very similar to the 2008 form but more information and a detailed review are forthcoming from the advancement committee.

http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=17080&orgkey=1988

New Medical Form Requirement

2009-08-04T11:47:00.002-04:00

NEW MEDICAL FORM for 2009 - (334605) This new form replaces both of the older medical forms. It will be required after January 1, 2010. For 2009, this form as well as the older Class 1&2 and Class 3 Medical forms are all approved for use by the National Office. For convenience, anyone having a physical this year for team sports, travel, etc. should use the new form.
http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/openrosters/DocDownload.asp?orgkey=370&id=52993

Getting Ready for the 2009-2010 Activity Year

2009-08-04T11:14:00.001-04:00

Keep posted on uncoming crew acitivties - Please take a look at the calender to the right!

Lil- Aaron Straus Wilderness Area Campout

2009-02-27T09:44:00.003-05:00

Our next trip is a campout at Lil-Aaron Straus Wilderness Area. See your email for all the details.

Caving Trip This Sunday

2009-01-23T14:26:00.001-05:00

Our next trip is this weekend to Whiting's Neck Cave. Please read your email for all the details!

October Trip & Venturing After Dark October 10-12

2008-09-22T14:21:00.003-04:00

Our next crew outdoor trip is Venturing After Dark in Thurmont, MD.

The event starts at a time to be determined with rambling at will through the Catoctin Color Fest in the town of Thurmont, MD - music, food, and fun stuff to look at. This is an informal pre-event activity. After the Color Fest, we will all meet at 4:30 pm at Loy's Station Park, a few miles east of Thurmont, with Venturing Chilly Cook Off (bring your own chilly and fixins to share - enough for your crew and a second crew so that we can all share around potluck), Frisbee Football (bring your own Frisbee and I will bring mine), Pumpkin Carving contest (bring your own pumpkin). At about 6:30 pm, we will all go to Winterbrook Farm to shoot the Great Pumpkin Cannon (three pumpkins for $10) at appropriate targets and when it is dark (about 7:00 pm) for $5.00 a person we will get lost Winterbrook Farm's Corn Maze, the BIGGEST in Maryland with over 5 miles of maze (if you walk it all)

Next High Adventure Trip - Nelson Rocks

2008-08-07T16:34:00.006-04:00

September 19-21, 2008
Spread the Word about this Trip!

Nelson Rocks Preserve is an outdoor recreation area located in the scenic North Fork Valley of Pendleton County, West Virginia. The Preserve is a privately owned and funded organization dedicated to the preservation of Nelson Rocks as a natural, scenic and recreational resource. Public access is currently offered for trail hiking and via ferrata climbing.
Nelson Rocks Website:http://www.nelsonrocks.org/

Check Out Crew Pictures - Just Double Click to Start

2008-06-27T10:34:00.002-04:00

Photobucket Album

Blue Ridge Mountains Council - River New Adventure

2008-06-25T12:55:00.000-04:00

http://www.bsa-brmc.org/campingvideo.htm

Check out summer camp and get your help forms here!

Join Us for the Damascus Days Parade July 11th 6:30 pm - All Families Welcome!

2008-06-25T09:14:00.000-04:00

Crew Members & Families Welcome!
Join us for Damascus Days Celebration parade in downtown Damascus on July 11th. The parade starts @7:00pm in the Weis parking lot and ends with fireworks at the Fireman's Activity Ctr. Join Venture Crew 945 at the intersection High St. across from Jimmy Cones for drinks and hot dogs! We will set up at 6:30pm. If you have any questions, please contact Joshua Bridge or any crew offiicer. Several of our crew members will be playing in the Damascus High School Marching Band!

Next Event - Summer Camp > July 20-26

2008-06-24T16:13:00.000-04:00

Wow summer camp is fast approaching. Please read your email and start packing!