Colonial Beach Venture Crew 258 Goes Rock Climbing!
What Did You Do Last Weekend?
DatelineColonial Beach...
Rock climbing is not for the faint of heart, but these young men and women are up to the task.
The neat thing about being a teenager in the Colonial Beach/King George area is the great opportunities located nearby. Besides being close to the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, Westmoreland State Park, the Birthplace of George Washington’s and James Monroe, and Robert E. Lee, Caledon Natural Area, with all the outdoor recreational opportunities they provide, we are also close enough to places such as Washington, DC to the North, the Assateague Island National Seashore to the North East, the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean to the South East and their surrounding areas to take advantage of those activities we do not have locally.
One of those activities is rock climbing. None of our local high schools has a rock climbing, caving, kayaking or other high adventure group (that I know of anyway). There isn’t any rock climbing gyms or formations in the local area either. However, this has not stopped four teenagers from the Colonial Beach/King George area from participating in this fun activity. Some of them have discovered there is a coed group for those teens that are looking for fun and adventure in the outdoors. They belong to a Boy Scouts of America Venturing Crew!
Venturing is a youth development program for young men and women who are 13 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. The program is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth, adult leaders, and organizations in their communities.
VFW Post 10574, as part of its outreach to local youth, established Venturing Crew 258 by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community. The result is a program of exciting and meaningful activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, develop leadership skills, and become good citizens. Venture Crew 258 focuses on those adventures the teens members want to do.
On September the 18th, 2010, Venture Crew 258 traveled to Richmond, VA, for an exciting day of indoor rock climbing and bouldering at the Peak Experiences Indoor Rock Climbing Center located at 11421 Polo Circle, Midlothian VA 23113
Besides the athletic and mental challenges of safely climbing and rappelling walls that varied from 10 feet tall to those that reached up within inches of the 35-40 foot ceilings, free climbing inverted surfaces, and bouldering above foot-thick crash mats, the crew members had to plan, organize, coordinate the event, and conduct fundraising to cover the costs before they faced and overcame their individual fear of heights.
The Adult Advisors, Karen Probst and Trevor Alger had previously been certified in knot tying and belaying skills before being allowed to climb or belay their Venture Crew Members. After their certification was confirmed, the Staff of Peak turned the whole rock climbing facility over to the crew for the day and the crew made the most of it!
Besides the rock climbing, this was also an opportunity for team building and making new friends and by the time the crew departed that afternoon, they were exhausted, but already thinking, planning and organizing their next event – sea kayaking or maybe a horseback riding adventure!?!
Rock Climbers on this event included Crew Members Kathleen Gilmer of King George, VA, Shane O’Halleron (our newest member) and Eagle Scout Timothy Alger from Colonial Beach, VA. Also attending were perspective Venturer, Amelia Gilmer (Kathleen’s sister) from King George High School and three adult Crew Advisors, Karen Probst of King George, Eagle Scout Trevor Alger and Scoutmaster/Crew Committee Chair Frank Alger of Colonial Beach. Aiding with transportation and observing the activity was John and Jeanne Gilmer, parents of Kathleen and Amelia.
As Adult Advisor Karen Probst said, “The Crew really enjoyed the Climbing and Repelling. We had equal numbers of male and female members present and as an Adult Advisor it was very gratifying to see that every one of them was having a great time and getting over their fear of heights and successfully reaching the top of the walls.”
If you have questions about Venturing, check out www.scouting.org/venturing. Peak Experience Staff members who aided in the days adventure where, Erin Barclay, Brady Anderson, Keith Morton, and Elliot Dondero-Pettit.
For more information on Venture Crew 258 and their activities, please contact Mr. Frank A. Alger, Jr., Karen Probst, or Trevor Alger at venturecrew258cbva@live.com.
Interested in Rock Climbing? Contact Peak Experience at: Tel 804-897-6800, Fax 804-897-5476, or email: info@peakexperiences.com. Their URL is: http://www.peakexperiences.com/index.htm