Thanks to the Venture Crew, some area young people are developing skills, learning leadership and maybe doing some things they didn't think they could do.
The crew, affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, has 23 members between the ages of 14 and 20. They participate in community service projects and enjoy activities such as camping, whitewater rafting and rappelling.
And this year, for the first time, the crew has elected an all-female group of officers. Nikki Felts serves as president, Heather Muller is vice president, Rebekah Scrivener is secretary and Sarah Underwood is treasurer.
The officers plan the trips, organize the fund raising and perform other duties. Skipper Robert Elliott says the activities are "100 percent kid-run," although the adult advisers have some input.
The current crew is divided nearly evenly between males and females, and the officers say the young men generally don't have problems with female leadership. Some of the older members might resist this, but they adjust, said Melissa Elliott, the crew's first mate.
The crew recently returned from a trip to Camp McCain, where its members tested their survival skills. They learned how to set up tents and make meals in a cardboard box, and they divided duties such as cooking and cleaning.
They also tested their physical skills - for example, by rappelling down a five-story tower.
Muller said this was an intimidating task at first.
So did she make it all the way?
"Yes, I did, but barely," she said with a smile.
Underwood, 16, whose brother was a Tiger Cub, said she has been around Scouting much of her life. She joined the Venture Crew about three years ago as "something to do for fun" and has learned how to do many things, she said.
Muller, who is 17, said her boyfriend invited her to join Venture Crew about five months ago. Felts, 18, was introduced to it about a year ago by Elliott's son.
Robert Elliott said crew members learn "skills you need for going on into the world." Some on the Camp McCain trip were camping out for the first time, and they took some time to adjust. But by the end they had a "sparkle in their eye" and were asking when the next trip would be, he said.
"They love it because they're part of the crew," he said.
The Venture Crew's community service projects also teach them good morals and the value of helping others. They complete tasks to earn badges and have a good time in the process, Elliott said.
The Greenwood crew was established about three years ago. It was not intended to replace Scouting, but to give the young people a chance to try some new things.
They take part in activities that aren't available in Greenwood, such as snorkeling and scuba diving. This year they plan to go whitewater rafting, visit a water park in Austin, Texas, and try some indoor skydiving, among other activities.
Some parents are concerned about the coed trips, but those activities are in a safe environment, Elliott said. Boys stay on one side of a camp, girls are on the other side and leaders are in between - and all disciplinary rules are strictly enforced, he said.
Elliott said the National Guard Armory and Maj. Gordon Ditto have been a big help to the crew. He also praised the leadership of Nathan Cash, district executive for the Scouts' Chickasaw Council.
New crew members are welcome. The group meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month. For more information, contact Elliott at 459-2554.
