Scouting group is growing

An outdoor group that provides adventurous activities for young adults is looking to add more members to its crew.

//

Venture Crew 615, a co-ed program of Boy Scouts of America, is inviting youths between the ages of 14 and 20 to an open house at 6 p.m. today at Wesley United Methodist Church on North Belair Road in Evans.

"(We're) going into more detail about what the crew does and how we do it," said Dee Castillo, an adult advisor. "We've got a couple of videos that we've made from some of the trips that we've had that we'll be able to show them."

Currently, 17 members are signed up for the year-long program.

The program is led by youths, while about five adult volunteers are involved with the basic functions of the crew, Castillo said.

The group aims to develop a youth's skill in extreme situations as well as in managerial and personal development, he added, while providing an outlet for fun.

In the past year, group members have gone whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River, kayaked down the Savannah River, sea kayaked near Savannah, explored caves in Tennessee and climbed an indoor rock wall in Kennesaw, Ga.

"A lot of the kids do things that they have never ever thought about doing before," he said.

In September, Castillo said the group will either go small boat sailing or take a backpacking trip.

In addition to learning camping requirements, crew members also discover self-reliance and gain a sense of accomplishment, he said.

Though Castillo said Venture Crew 615 is not as structured as Boy Scouts, there are still opportunities for advancement.

The group costs $11 to join and tries to meet weekly at Wesley on Sundays to plan their monthly trips.