Did you spend the weekend playing video games or maybe watching some tv? If you were a member of Venturing Crew 861 from Glasgow, you could have been shooting, climbing, hiking, and flying!

Members of Venturing Crew 861 from Fort Peck, Nashua, and Glasgow, MT traveled to K-M Scout Ranch in Hilger, MT to attend the first Venturing Experience camp. The youth joined other Venturers from Chester, Livingston, and Gillette, WY for a fun filled weekend of high adventure type activities.  The crew started the event with Archery, each taking time to learn the basics and practice their skills. From there they moved on to Rifle shooting, and found out that some posses a natural skill for it!  Other activities included an orienteering course, hike to the Kendall Ghost town for a night of sleeping under the stars, shotgun shooting, black powder shooting, rock climbing, rappelling, games, and aquatics (canoeing, rowing, swimming).

The highlight of their weekend was taking part in the C.O.P.E. Course. C.O.P.E. is an acronym for "Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience." C.O.P.E. Programs are based on attaining seven goals outlined by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).  Project C.O.P.E. is a series of inter-related events that challenge on an individual and group level. Events are divided into four categories: initiative games, trust events, low elements and high elements. Project C.O.P.E. has seven objectives:

• Teamwork
• Self Confidence
• Trust
• Leadership
• Communication
• Decision-Making
• Problem-Solving

Project C.O.P.E. courses typically include open areas for games and trust events, and a series of "low" and "high" elements. The concept of 'challenge by choice' encourages each person to participate fully while maintaining the right to 'opt-out' of any individual part of the program. Games introduce teamwork concepts while also serving as warm-up exercises. Trust events further the teamwork development while also developing risk-taking from low to higher levels.

Low elements can include a wall, spider web, and other cable and rope combinations that involve teamwork relatively close to the ground. High elements are generally individual events involving climbing to heights of 20-40 feet, crossing cables, etc. Each element -- low or high -- is carefully spotted or belayed to minimize danger while still challenging the individuals to challenge personal levels of risk-taking.

Crew 861 took part in both low and high elements of the C.O.P.E. course, including the Trust Fall, Flying Squirrel, and Zip Line. The favorite of the crew was the zip line, which first required them to climb 42 feet up a pole to a small platform. There they clipped onto a pulley and jumped! What a ride!

Venturing Crew 861 members attending the weekend were Jessica, Ali, and Megan. These 3 girls, and other crew members Coby, Quinten, and Krissy  leave July 26th for another adventure – a 110 mile canoe trek on the Missouri River from Coal Banks to the Fred Robinson bridge.