Venture Scouts (Scouting Ireland)


Venture Scouts in Scouting Ireland are aged between 15 and 17 years of age. The awards scheme of Venture Scouts is called Rogha, an Irish word meaning Choice. Although many groups use Gaisce, the President's Award, as part of their programme also. Each group has a Venture Scout Executive which, under the guidance of an adult Scouter, designs and implements activities.
A National Venture Forum Committee represents Venture Scouts on national administrative bodies - in line with the association's Youth Participation Policy. The NVFC meet to discuss matters of importance to Venture Scouts, and a nine-member committee is elected annually at the National Youth Forum which meets at Larch Hill.

Programme

As members of the Venturing section are the eldest in the association, the onus is on the youth members to plan, organise and participate in events. Lead Scouters only act in an advisory capacity. The Scout method drives the programme. Most Groups meet on a weekly basis, though some meet less frequently, in order to organise activities. Common activities include hiking, rockclimbing, mountaineering and Scout skills like camping and pioneering. Another common part of the programme is leadership, with Venture Scouts assuming a leadership role in the younger sections of Scouting Ireland. In Venture Scouting the only limit to the range of activities is the limit on the group's own imagination, so programmes vary widely from group to group.
In recent times the number of Venture Scouts has decreased sharply, causing many groups to evaluate their programme in order to make it attractive to young people. It has become common for Scout Counties to form County Venture Groups when it wasn't viable for a Venture Group to exist within an individual Scout Group.
Along the east coast and in Dublin Bay there are Venture Sea Scouts which operate programmes almost exclusively on the sea.

Rogha

Rogha was the Venturer Programme of CSI. It was rewritten in 2003. Rogha is an individual award scheme for Venture Scouts made up of two challenges, Silver and Gold. Upon successful completion of the Silver challenge members are awarded a Silver pin. A Gold pin is awarded for successful completion of the Gold challenge.
There are 5 categories and approximately 50 modules. Each module is in one or more categories.
To complete the Silver Challenge, participants must complete one module from each category. They must then complete the focus module with their Scouter. Focus is an evaluation of what participants have done, what participants have learned etc. The gold challenge is similar. After completing the five modules, participants need to complete Focus, as well as Horizons, an evaluation of participants' time in ventures and a look ahead at the future. Each challenge should take a year.
Although not as popular now, Rogha is still used by some groups.

Explorer Belt

The Explorer Belt was the most prestigious award of the Venture Scout Section until the introduction of ONE Programme, at which point the award became a Rover Scout activity.

Venture Scout Challenge

Challenge is an event often referred to as the "Mini-Explorer Belt." Challenge was founded by Brian O'Connor from Cork- today the Spirit of Challenge Trophy is named after him. Like the Belt, it involves teams of two Venture Scouts of the same sex walking 100 km in 5 days while living on a budget of 4 euro per person per day in Ireland. The teams get dropped off in a previously unknown location with a map of the area, their budget money, a list of challenges to complete along the route and a mobile phone for checking in each evening. Each participant also has their own Special Interest Badge to complete. This is a challenge that the participant has planned independently, to complete along the route, before the trip. Once back at base camp, the participants also take part in an activity to do with the Adventure Skills Badges. The participants then get assessments at the base camp over 3 days and their assessors decide which standard award the participants are awarded. Successful entrants receive the Challenge woggle, a challenge badge and a certificate of completion for their efforts.
Challenge was originally run by SAI. The SI Challenge is run annually. The events were:
The National Triathlon or Tri-Zone was run for the first time in September 2005. In this physical challenge teams of two people from a Venture Group complete a set course combining rafting, cycling and mountaineering. For example, the 2005 event saw teams rafting on Lough Dan, cycling through Wicklow and hiking to Larch Hill.

VMOOT

The first Irish National Venture Scout Moot took place in Larch Hill from 28 June 2007 to 1 July 2007. The event aims to cover all aspects of the Venture programme.
Communities complete a project on the theme of "Citizenship in Motion". The projects reflect active citizenship and "learning by doing". Project topics have included "Graffiti as art", "Discrimination in Ireland" and "Young People and Drugs".
VMoot starts with a midnight campfire on the Thursday night. On Friday morning communities must demonstrate their project. This was followed by "life zones" which included such a diverse mix of activities including pioneering, yoga and archery. On Friday night there was a dance contest. On Saturday communities went off site for the "adventures" including caving, surfing and kite making. On Sunday there were several challenges devised by the participants. After the event communities must reflect on what they've learned.
The venue for 2008 was Larch Hill. This event, along with "Vibe" are being replaced by new events called "Unplugged" and "Electric Vents" in 2011.

Sluaíocht na Sléibhte

The Sluaíocht na Sléibhte is a weekend mountaineering event for teams of 3 venture Scouts. They are considered as an extension to the Scout mountaineering programme but with some key changes. The main change is the requirement for adult leader is removed.
Two events are held every year- the winter expedition and the Summer Climb Ax. The first winter SNS was held in 2006 in Lugnaquilla in Wicklow. The 2007 winter SNS went to Mount Snowdon in Wales while the Summer Climb Ax was held in Annascul, Kerry. The winter and summer events in 2008 went to the Mournes and Scotland respectively.
In recent years the SNS has been replaced by Mountain Havoc for Venture Scouts.

Ventact South Activity Weekend

Ventact South is organised by the Joint Committee on Scouting and Guiding in Cork and caters for Venture Scouts, Senior Branch and Ranger Guides from all over Ireland. The event takes place the first weekend in September each year at the Kilcully Scout Centre.
Ventact South is unique as it is Irelands only Joint Event for the Senior Sections of Scouting and Guiding. The event is organized by the Ventact South Sub Committee who are part of the Joint Committee of Scouts and Guides in Cork. The committee is made up of members of Scouting Ireland, Irish Girl Guides and The Catholic Guides of Ireland. The chairperson rotates annually between the three organizations.
Founding members of Ventact South in 1978 were Don Totter, Liam Howe, Mary Stack and Eileen McCarthy and the first Ventact took place from the 1st to 3 September.
Participants arrive on the Friday and pitch their tents. There is normally a large campfire followed by Fire Performers. After this tickets for Saturday's activities are given out. On Saturday morning participants are bused offsite to do two activities. When they return, there is a barbecue at the campsite. On Saturday evening there is a Scouts/Guides Own followed by the ever-popular themed Ventact Disco. On Sunday morning there are activities around Kilcully Campsite before everyone heads home.

Irish Venture Scout Projects

Every October a National Venture Forum is held in Larch Hill. Each province is entitled to send six Provincial Representatives, who have been elected at their own Provincial Forums. The nine elected Venture Representatives from the previous National Forum also attend and run the weekend. At the forum motions regard Venturing are passed and the NVFC is elected. The NVFC has 9 members. The NVFC represent ventures at national and provincial level. They sit on programme teams. The NVFC also compile reports for the Programme Commissioners to advise and guide national Venture Scout initiatives and programme for the coming year.