Crew 2
Venture Crew 2 Is For You!
Written by Millie Moon
Started in 1999, Venture Crew is a program for both boys and girls ages 14-21 to participate in high adventure activities, like backpacking, climbing, scuba diving, and so much more! Crews offer a space for leadership, community service, and the opportunity to explore the outdoors!
Our crew, Venture Crew 2 is an Alameda-based crew that consists of around 20 members and meets regularly once a month. We plan our events yearly and strive to have at least one event a month from hiking to camping to canoeing. One of the best features of Venture Crew is that one can be dual-enrolled in both Venture Crew and Scouting America! Our crew includes many older members of Troops 2 and 7 and we welcome any members from other troops (and those who’ve never been in scouts) who want to join our exciting adventures.
As a member of Venture Crew, I have had the opportunity to participate in many outdoor activities I never imagined doing and visit places I never thought I would. Venturing has given me the chance to try new experiences like climbing Mt. Whitney, whitewater canoeing, and snow camping. One hike that sticks out to me personally is our overnight hike on Mission Peak in Fremont, California in 2021. Mission Peak is a common hiking and camping location for our crew and one of the Rim Rovers.
Our hike began in the morning, there were around nine people in our trek group, six youths, and three adults. The hike to our campsite was long and hot, but very rewarding. We joked, sang, and talked the whole way up the mountain. For lunch, we had a beautiful and delicious picnic on the side of the trail in the shade. Once we arrived at our campsite, we set up our tents and took the rest of the day to hang out, plan dinner, and play cards. After dinner, our trek group decided to hike to the top of Mission Peak to watch the sunset. Luckily, the summit was just a short 15-minute walk from the campsite. As the sun passed behind the horizon, the sky was so vibrant and felt like just the reward we needed after a long hard day of hiking. This hike reminded me why I love the outdoors. Through Venture Crew, I could experience the beauty of nature, spend time with my friends, and test my leadership abilities. It is truly a memory I will never forget.
Venture Crew also has meaningful leadership opportunities for youths. Venture Crew is almost entirely youth-led, with venturers at the head of each event. Youths suggest and carry out each of our events. Our leadership team consists of an experienced President who organizes meetings and outings, a Vice-President who supports the President and manages responsibility when the President cannot attend a meeting, and an adult advisor.
In the 2024-2025 year, Venture Crew 2 plans to rock climbing in Yosemite National Park, backpack along the Lost Coast, and summit Mount Whitney among many other fun excursions! So, if any of these events sound interesting or inspire curiosity, please feel free to reach out to our adult advisor Mark Hovermale (MarkHovermale@comcast.net).
Philmont Treks
In 2022 and 2024, Venture Crew 2 won the lottery for a chance to go to the Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico. On our one-week trek, we participated in various activities including horseback riding, a chuck wagon dinner, black powder shooting, and blacksmithing. Both times, we hiked 50 miles! Philmont Scout Camp is truly the place to test your backpacking skills, it was an unforgettable experience.
Philmont Cavalcade
In 2023 our troop got the opportunity to return to Philmont, this time as part of their “Cavalcade” experience. Cavalcade is a week-long backpacking trip on horses, and this time one has the opportunity to experience the valley from the perspective of a cowboy. Fun fact: Philmont Ranch is a functioning cattle ranch. On the excursion, we learned how to care for a horse, saddle a horse, and pack a horse properly. At the end of the trek, we tested our skills in a competition of speed, control, and performance. Among important horse riding skills, we also panned for gold, shot muzzle-loaded rifles, and went spar climbing!
Snow Camping
Crew 2 often collaborates with Troops 2 and 7 for events, a notable collaboration being Snow Camping in Yosemite and Andesite Ridge. For snow camping, the campers are split into three groups: day hikers, overnight campers, and one group of adventurous hikers who hike further than the first two groups and camp overnight. Snow camping is always a wonderful experience, we get to make snow shelters, have snowball fights, and admire the amazing view from Dewy Point or Andesite Ridge! Snow camping is also an excellent opportunity to get experience camping and hiking in a more extreme environment.
Rock Climbing
Another joint event with Troop 2 and 7, Venture Crew 2 often goes rock climbing at various places such as Boy Scout Rock and Pinnacles. At Pinnacles, scouts test their climbing and rappelling skills on rocks of all grades. Pinnacles is also a great camping location for family and first-time campers alike full of fun bonding activities.
Whitewater Canoeing
Fun fact: one of the first Venture Crew events I participated in was Whitewater Canoeing on the Klamath River, a trip I will never forget. Our crew is lucky to have access to canoes and experienced boaters to help teach scouts how to successfully navigate the rapids, capsize safety, rescue overturned canoes, and portage boats. Whitewater canoeing is an epic adventure and always a ton of fun!