Venture Patrol
The Venture Patrol is a patrol that provides older boys, ages 14-18, with high adventure opportunities and more challenging activities. Members of our Venture
Patrol are still members of the regular patrols; however, the Venture Patrol acts as its own patrol holding meetings outside of the troop meetings one to two
times a month. Scouts are still expected to participate with their normal patrol. The Venture Patrol is headed up by Alex C. with Glenn Gordon and Aaron Slosman
providing adult mentoring and guidance. If you are interested in doing more high adventure activities, then Troop 85’s Venture Patrol is the group for you!
Venture Patrol Events 2011-2012
- September 18: Steak Ride
- We will be riding bikes 25 miles to Beaver Island State Park, cooking an awesome steak lunch, and then riding back. We will need some parent volunteers to
help us with picnic supply delivery.
- October 28-30: Fishing trip at Lake Sampson
- Lake Sampson is located on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region. This trip will be mainly a fishing trip with lots of fish based meals. It will be a nice
relaxing weekend.
- December 10: Downhill Night Skiing at Holiday Valley
- We will be skiing from 3:30 p.m. until up to 10:30 p.m.
- February 24-26: Cross-Country Skiing
- We will be cross-country skiing at Allegany State Park, with a possibility of snowshoeing.
- April 6-8: Hickory Creek Backpacking
- This will be our first qualifying hike for the Cranberry Lake 50 Miler.
- May - Memorial Day Weekend: Wilderness Survival Campout
- The Venture Patrol will be going on a barebones wilderness survival campout. You are only allowed one school sized backpack. This will fulfill some wilderness
survival requirements.
- June 22-24: Backpacking at Holimont
- This will be our second and final qualifying hike for the Cranberry Lake 50. If you don’t attend the April or June campout, you cannot go to Cranberry
Lake.
- August 19-25: Cranberry Lake 50
- We will be going to Cranberry Lake near the Adirondacks. Important: If you have not attended Philmont (2010) or High Peaks (2011), you must attend either
April or June's hiking trips. There are no exceptions!
In addition to these trips, the Venture Patrol is planning to participate in the Ride for Roswell. It will be very exciting, and it will generate great publicity
for the troop, especially if we have a large turnout!
Important Reminders
- You must be at least 14 years of age to attend Venture Patrol events. There are no exceptions! If you are 13, you will have received this in an e-mail, as
you may be eligible for trips later in the year.
- These trips do not replace regular troop events. You are not excused from troop camping just because you are in the venture patrol.
More on the Cranberry Lake 50
The Venture Patrol will be earning their 50 Miler Award while hiking the Cranberry Lake 50 backpacking trail this coming summer. The trip will have lots of
swimming and fishing opportunities. During this 6-day trip, we will be backpacking through two wilderness areas and hiking 50 to 60 miles. We will also be
visiting the college campus that trains adults for careers in the outdoors called the Ranger School at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
