The following examples are drawn from the Venturing Advisor Guidebook, where their inclusion supports Advisors in brainstorming new program ideas for crews to try. They serve a similar purpose here—for VOA officers to help their VOA leadership come up with new program ideas.
Ideas for Fun Events
• Bowling
• Haunted hike
• (Your Community) After Dark
• Venturing Day at an amusement park
• Road rally
• Venturing campout (which could include many of the elements below)
• Sponsoring an annual Venturing camp
• Bike hike on country roads
• Swimming at a lake or beach
• Sailboat sailing
• Catamaran sailing
• Canoeing expedition
• Whitewater rafting
• Whitewater canoeing
• Caving
• Rock climbing
• Ice climbing
• Houseboat trip
• Snow camp
• Ice fishing
• Scuba diving
• Backpacking
• Fishing trip
• Ropes/COPE course
• Zip-lining
• Snowmobile trip
• Ice skating
• Cross-country skiing
• Downhill skiing
• Waterskiing
• Horseback riding
• Fly-fishing
• Mountain biking
• Camping under the stars
• Sleep in wilderness survival shelters
Ideas for Service Events
• Lend a hand on a farm for a weekend—see where our food comes from
• Meals on Wheels
• Sponsor a STEM camp
• Spring/fall cleanup for elderly neighbors
• Safe driving campaign
• Food drive
• Support a blood drive
• Place wreaths at a cemetery on holidays
• Recognize local veterans
• Buddy up with elementary school students to read
• Eating disorder awareness information
• Book drive
• Perform the national anthem or lead the Pledge of Allegiance for a group other than the crew
• Conduct a flag ceremony for naturalization ceremony
• Provide service for community-run marathon/fitness event
• Provide service for community festival
• Cultural awareness clinic
• Disabilities awareness clinic
• Visit elderly and special needs adults
• Sports clinic for elementary or middle school youth
• Soapbox derby for youth with special needs
• River cleanup
• Prairie restoration
• Hiking trail maintenance
Ideas for Recognition Events
• Annual dinner
• Venturing ball
• Venturing dance
• Support and participation in council annual recognition event
Ideas for Training Events
• First-aid training
• Kodiak Challenge
• Project management
• ILSC
• Time management
• Mentoring training
• Personal Safety Awareness Training
• Crew Committee Challenge
• Advisor-Specific Training (have youth train Advisors)
• Career fair
• Training fair
• GPS training
• EMT or first-responder first aid
• Lifeguarding
• Hunter education
• Historical re-enactment
• Edible plants
• Becoming U.S. Sailing instructors
• Search and rescue
• Treating water in the wilderness
• Wilderness first aid
• Bird calls
• Identifying local plants by sight
• Identifying local animals by track or sight
• Ballroom dancing
• Folk dancing
• American Indian dancing
• Faith walk (visiting diverse faith communities)
• Cooking without utensils over an open fire
• Learning some constellations
• Geocaching
• Observing planets through a telescope
• Help individual crews lead annual crew officers seminar meetings.