MANUAL

CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 15
SEVEN-DAY HIKE ALONG THE
LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL TRAIL
For a big adventure, an Expedition Team may include
several Plan-Do-Review cycles to build up to its
ultimate goal.
PLANNING AN EXPEDITION
There are many ways an expedition can be put together. Depending on the
complexity of the experience, an expedition might take a single day, or it might take
several. It could involve a pair of Venturer Scouts, or a much larger group could decide
to participate. The planning process is the same.
The Venturer Scouts need to take into account what resources they need, what skills
they should possess, what safety issues they should consider, who will be responsible
for what, who they can turn to for help, emergencies they should be prepared for and
so on.
With inexperienced Venturer Scouts, the Scouter needs to keep an eye on the
planning to make sure they’ve fully considered everything they need to take
into account.
THE COMPANY JOURNEY
While each Venturer Scout’s Solo Climb spans the entire length of their time in
Venturer Scouts, the Company Journey refers to the activities and adventures of the
entire Venturer Company over a year.
The annual Company Journey is divided into program cycles that roughly correspond
with the four seasons. Each program cycle includes a Plan, a Do and a Review phase.
Through that process, each Venturer’s ideas, objectives and the challenges he or she
has set are incorporated into the Company’s activities.
Plan
Venturer Scouts get together at a Base Camp meeting and generate ideas considering:
the goals they have set themselves as part of their respective Solo Climbs, any
special interests or Outdoor Adventure Skills they would like to work towards, new
adventures they would like to take on and new things they would like to try, and ideas
left over from previous program cycles. (Note: Base Camp is led by the Company
Leader, a Venturer Scout elected by his or her peers.)
As a Company, the Venturer Scouts then work from that list to identify which
activities they would like to take on during that program cycle. Some activities may
get selected because they are popular with most of the Venturer Scouts. Others may
be chosen because they are of particular interest to a smaller group that is willing to
take on more of the planning and organization itself.
As expeditions are agreed upon by the members of the Company, Venturer Scouts join
Expedition Teams. Teams plan and execute each of the expeditions. Each Expedition
Team should consist of at least two Venturer Scouts, one of whom serves as the
Expedition Team Leader (though some Expedition Teams may have co-Expedition
Team Leaders). Representation from the Company Scouter team provides support and
assistance in planning and executing the expedition. Two Scouters should be involved
in every expedition.
When an Expedition Team is formed and an Expedition Leader has been selected,
specific planning for the adventure is the next step.
Do
The activity happens. Everyone has a great time. Though only planned by those
Venturer Scouts on the Expedition Team, expeditions are usually open to all the
Venturer Scouts in the Company. Sometimes longer expeditions that involve
considerable skill or planning in advance may limit participation to those who
contributed to the planning. These will usually involve practice trips before the main
expedition. An Amory-oriented expedition could be an example of a more involved
and selective expedition. (More information about the Amory Adventure Award can
be found on page 223.)
216 SCOUTER MANUAL—A SCOUTER’S GUIDE TO THE CANADIAN PATH SCOUTER MANUAL—A SCOUTER’S GUIDE TO THE CANADIAN PATH 217