Venturers Kori McPherson, Chelsea Osborne and Jennifer Gore help during a recent fundraiser for Cindy Pace Hinz.

Venturing Crew give teens inside look at law enforcement

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Nine local teenagers are very familiar to Whiteville Police – in a good way.

The teens are members of the Whiteville Police Department Venturing crew. A subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America, Venturing is open to boys and girls who have completed the eighth grade but have not reached their 20th birthday.

Venturing is the next generation of the old BSA Explorers, a senior Scouting organization started in 1935. Venturers – who prefer to be referred to by the traditional name, Explorers – participate in many traditional Scouting activities, but the program is co-educational. Crews are geared more toward a career track, allowing Explorers a closer look at jobs such as law enforcement, firefighting, and other occupations.

Master Patrolman Chuck Cribb and Sgt. Marc McGee are the leaders of the crew.

“More than anything, Venturing is a way to build character in young people,” Cribb said. The crew chief led the Venturing crew at Whiteville High School while he was assigned there as a school resource officer. The crew disbanded after Cribb was assigned other duties with the department, and Cribb said City Manager Josh Ray and Chief Jerry Britt approached him about founding a crew from the police department.

The crew meets one to two times per month at the police department, and Cribb said each meeting features a presentation on some facet of law enforcement.

“We have speakers on constitutional law, victims’ rights, and specific programs about what the job entails,” Cribb said. “The idea is to give the members a good basis on which to decide if law enforcement is the career for them. We hope some of them decide to go on to be law enforcement officers.”

The crew also participates in several community service projects annually. Explorers have volunteered with Special Olympics, Relay For Life (where they have their own team) and other programs. Recently, crew members worked at the barbecue fundraiser for cancer patient Cindy Hinz.

Venturing isn’t all about work, Cribb said.

“We have several recreational outings planned,” he said. “We hope we can go whitewater rafting this summer – that was always a special event with the crew at the high school.”

The crew is also making plans for a trip to Camp Bowers in Bladen County this summer. Venturing crews have access to all BSA facilities, and Cribb said the crew is excited about taking on the newly renovated challenge course at Bowers. Challenge courses are similar to obstacle courses, except that many of the tasks require Scouts to develop and use teamwork.

The WPD Venturing Crew is open to all local teens, Cribb said.

“We’d like to see some more participation from out in the county,” he said. “And we really need some more adult volunteers. The ones we have are really vital, but we can always use more kids and adults.”

“We encourage parental participation anyway,” Cribb said. “We want everyone to know what’s going on, and how good of a program this really is. Venturing promotes moral values, hard work and good citizenship, but it’s about having some fun, too.”

Cribb credited District Scout Executive John Harniman with helping “get the ball rolling.”

Harniman said the WPD Venturing Crew is one of four started in the county since 2007, and the activity provides a different outlet for teens interested in an expanded Scouting experience.

“I’m encouraged by the response to Venturing,” Harniman said, noting that a Venturing rally and signup for all Columbus County will likely be held this fall.

Dues, which include full BSA insurance, are $13 per year. Interested teens should call the police department at 642-5111. Applicants under 18 must have a parent present to sign the application.