HIGH ADVENTURE: VENTURE SCOUTS TAKE EXPLORING OUTDOORS TO NEW HEIGHTS

Liz Remley has always enjoyed the outdoors, and in the Boy Scouts new Venturing program she gets to learn about rappelling, rock climbing and camping.

At 14, she is one of six girls in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Venture Crew 5.

The Venture crew, started two years ago, has more than 15 members under crew adviser David Remley, Liz's father. Her brother, Mike, is the crew's chief.

Liz tried Girl Scouts for five years, but that program didn't offer her the outdoor activities she wanted.

As vice crew chief in charge of programming, Liz lines up the activities the crew decides to do.

Each month the crew has an outdoor activity, a business meeting and a fun meeting. Some of the fun activities have included bowling and pizza parties.

The group's outdoor activities last year included rock climbing, skiing and canoeing.

The Venture crew developed from the High Adventure Explorer program of Scouts. The Explorer program for young people who have completed the eighth-grade and are ages 14 through 20 has been divided into Explorer posts that were career oriented and the high adventure outdoor program.

In August, the High Adventure Explorer program was renamed Venturing to bring its name in line with other Scouting programs throughout the world, said Tom Turpin, Boy Scout district executive in Cape Girardeau.

Explorer programs have included girls since 1970, Turpin said, explaining the change was made to keep up with the times.

An event to kick off the Venturing program in Cape Girardeau will be held Nov. 10 at Dempster Hall on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Those interested in joining or learning about membership should arrive at 7 p.m.

Liz likes the fact that the Venture crew is coed, saying it is one of the few times boys and girls can do outdoor activities together.

SuAnne Remley, Liz's mother, likes the Venture program because of the adult supervision. SuAnne often accompanies the crew on campouts.

Crew member Calvin Maginel and Liz think that sometimes there's too much supervision.

Turpin said the Venturing program has three female advisers. Annette Shoulders is assistant adviser to Venture Crew 5.

Although Venturing is coed, most crew members come from the Boy Scouts after they reach 14. Calvin, 15, and a sophomore at Cape Central, joined Venturing when he thought Troop 5 had too many members. He has kept his membership in Boy Scouts and is near earning his Eagle Scout award.

Mike, 17, and a junior at Cape Central, is an Eagle Scout and joined Venturing because he enjoyed the outdoor activities from Boy Scouts. There are several other Eagle Scouts in the crew.

With all the activities, there are usually a half dozen members who go on every activity, David Remley said, explaining that that is typical with older youth.

Calvin said the crew needs more people because there are only eight active members that attend meetings.

SuAnne Remley said it is difficult to maintain steady participation. The crew has lost several members to graduation, and other members participate in a variety of activities at school or in the community.

Calvin plays viola in the school orchestra and plays tennis, and Mike has run cross country the past two years and plays trombone in the school concert band.

Liz, a freshmen, plays trumpet in the school band and works on the school newspaper. And she's "fix'n" to be on the school's girls basketball team.

Liz and Mike are accomplished equestrians who participate in regional and national horse shows. Their mother trains horses.

Still, the Venture crew has a full slate of upcoming activities planned.

For November there's a camping trip to Giant City State Park near Carbondale, in December a high ropes adventure weekend, in January there's midnight skiing, in the spring a Fun in the Sun activity and next summer a canoe trip down the Current River.

Turpin said the Venture program is a chance to offer risky activities to young people so they don't turn to drugs.

That might be so, but to Liz, Calvin and Mike it's just fun.

VENTURE CREWS, EXPLORER POSTS AND SEA SCOUTS

The Shawnee District has ten local programs for young people. Activities are geared toward career interests, recreation and adventure. Individuals interested in joining should attend the First Nighter at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 in Dempster Hall Room 124 of Southeast Missouri State University.

CREW 5 -- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3838 Rock climbing, scuba diving, backpacking(573) 334-0427CREW 11 -- Zenon River Brigade Reenactment, Native American lore, camping(573) 243-7044CREW 21 -- St. Andrew Lutheran Church Backpacking and treks(573) 334-1758CREW 311 -- Dalton Florist Order of the Arrow and National High Adventure(573) 243-2682CREW 500 -- Alpha Phi Omega-Beta Psi ChapterCamping, canoeing and Merit Badge University(573) 339-4040SHIP 16 -- BPO Elks #639 and U.S. Naval ReserveSailing, canoeing, navigation and seamanship(573) 335-3051POST 4077 -- Southeast Missouri Hospital AssociationNursing, surgery, counseling, health-related careers(573) 334-4822POST 223 -- Advance Police DepartmentLaw-enforcement education, ride-along program(573) 722-3603POST 230 -- Cape Girardeau Police DepartmentLaw-enforcement education, ride-along program(573) 335-6621POST 911 -- Cape Girardeau Fire DepartmentFire-fighter career education, ride-along program(573) 334-3211