"Venturing is a great opportunity for kids to learn leadership because it's youth ran," Michael Penkaty, Boy Scout district executive and Grand Junction Venturing crew advisor, said. "It's ran like a democracy and we want them to be able to learn about the environment, resources, and get them outside."
In Montrose, 32-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and lifelong Scout Wayne Quade has started a Natural Resource Venturing program for youth and young adults. Saturday's trip was the group's first "venture" and offered a fun experience for members to recruit their friends.
  
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The youth development program stems off the Boy Scouts of America program and is for youth 14 (who have successfully passed eighth grade) to 20 years of age. It provides experiences through high adventure, along with leadership and service. Quade is also incorporating his background in natural resource management into the program.
"There is a real need to get youth more involved in the outdoors," he said.
Venturing is membership ran, with only adult advisors.
"It's good to see Montrose has positive things for the kids to be involved in," new program volunteer Penni Vanzandt said. "It's great to see how much it excites them ... they really open up."
The group has elected a president and vice president. They design their own program, raising their own funds for trips.
Penkaty said his group in Grand Junction take at least one trip a month, from climbing to rafting. The group is gearing up for a hike down the Old Spanish Trail, where they will raft down the Gunnison River and finish the week-long trip mountain biking back to Fruita.
Quade has similar trip ideas for his new group, though it the members that decide what they will do. Some ideas he's mentioned is climbing Mt. Sneffels to learn about mountain recreation management, participate in a "leave no trace" training, or hike through area archeology sites.
For participant Logan Davis, Saturday's trip provided her some knowledge of rafting and the river. She spends time outdoors, hiking, camping and fishing, but it was her first rafting experience and thought it was "awesome."
For more information on the Venturing program, contact Wayne Quade at (970 240-1618 or (970) 417-7962.
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