November 2006: Camping on Mount Dessert Island

November 2004: Acadia National Park Clean-up with the Boy Scouts, Blackwoods Campground

S enjoys the view from the rocky shore.

Rowena's first camping trip!


A smoky time was had by all!

Keeping warm with hot drinks

Staying warm around the campfire at night.

November 2003: Black Woods Camp Ground, Acadia Nat'l Park Clean-up

2006 SuperActivity: Camp Roosevelt

On this SuperActivity, we were close to home and got to sleep in cabins... though really primitive, they were cabins.

W tries to get the Dutch Oven fire going as S looks on... W gives a little side action going to try to get the fire to catch... Chris gets a free dinner when he stops by after work and spends the night at the camp with us.

One evening appeared to be family children's night as D's and W's children eat supper with us. A meets S for the very first time.

As scouts, we are bound to do our community activity before leaving the camp at the end of the week. We cleaned out and organized a tool/supplies closet.

We did a Map & Compass class which W lead... We then attempted to try out what we learned: T tries to keep the compass lined up at a certain setting. The tree stump was part of our "straight line" and I thought looked pretty neat... later we attempted to bushwack on a compass reading and ended up at this pond... W thought he knew where we were (and we found out on the map) but we were on this dead end road somewhere, not sure where, with trucks going in and out (the end was a gated area)


Rosie took some time away from camp with me to get a little dock diving, frisbee fetching action in to her week away. Needless to say, the water was quite cold, so we had to play in small sessions in order to let her warm up between swims.



We got to do some activities on the COPES course which is basically a ropes course at the scout camp. Here we started with some warm up activities.

Then we got to move on to higher, more challenging and more photogenic activities.

We also took some time to use the canoes out and paddle around Fitts Pond. There are rocks that follow along one side and it is very beautiful. D was my paddling partner. (as was Rosie who hates canoes). Rosie and I pose in front of Fitts Pond.

Setting up for the days high ropes activity... L and Rosie watch the set up and meditate... team work gets them up this huge ladder! They did an awesome job together, zipping right up!

W partnered up with me and WE made it up too! This trip was awesome for me because it let me know that I could still do these things after all these years and after so much has changed.


W hooks his wife up for an unscheduled climb up the climbing wall. R did super!

W zips up the wall. Chris shows up and give a hand (and foot) on the wall too! A at the top of the wall (that was his post). T looks down for a photo. D & A at the top of the wall... and who is that on the end of the belay line? ME (with W by my side)! Climb on Dude!

I get my turn on the wall, and again proved to myself that I haven't lost my climbing touch!

... and the new Venture Crew #847 waves to welcome all to our camp.

2005 SuperActivity: Camden Hills State Park

Day one we arrived and helped set up the site that would be our home for the next five days.

Rowena helped (well, not really)... W finds a creative way to tie up a tarp... S throws a smile as she sets up her tent.

A few of us explore the camp ground and followed a trail down to the shore for a thoughtful moment. Rowena had never seen waves before... she wanted to herd them back out to the ocean.

L snuggles down in her tent for the first night.

H (That's me!) poses on a small mossy trail... The dream catcher I made from shells and feathers I found.

We took a trip to the Rockland Breakwater and walked to the end to check out the lighthouse at the end. It was very foggy when we got out there. We got to see a "ghost ship" in the fog appear and then disappear. (Okay it was only a Schooner full of tourists).

We went kayaking & Canoeing on Megunticook River in Camden, Maine. Even Rowena participated in the activity. It was her first time in a kayak (she was not thrilled.)

D Paddles the canoe... Meeting of Conoes... Rowena and Me... T paddles away from the launch area... D and W paddle together... L bails out and hangs out in a hammock... I past a patch of water lillies... Lee tries out the kayak.

Rowena is Exhausted after a busy day.

Everyone participated in mealtime preparation. We broke up in teams and each had his/her own job.

Rowena proved to be a major cot hog.

A few of us took a rather damp hike up towards Megunticook and down the Mt. Battie Road.

The next day we took a walk up Beech Hill in Rockport, Maine and looked around before hiking out another trail.

The view of Penobscot Bay from Beech Hill was beautiful.

We needed to hang out our tents the last day to dry them out a bit before packing up to leave. It had been a fairly wet week, but fun nonetheless.

We took a drive up Mount Battie for a group photo... I had someone take a pic of Rowena and Me. On a clear day, one would be able to see Camden Harbor behind us.

L waves good-bye before we depart from Mt. Battie and head back to Bangor.

SuperActivity 2004: Baxter State Park

October 2006 Activities: Mental Illness Awareness Week

2006
October 11th- Tour of Channel 5
September 10-15- SuperActivity @ Camp Roosevelt
August 2nd- Equestrian trip
July 19th- Indian Island tour
June 7th- Tour of WKIT/ZON/DME

What Is A SuperActivity??

A SuperActivity is a week long trip that we plan all year for. Our first SuperActivity (2004) was to the Baxter State Park area, Nesowadnehunk Stream Camping Field, somewhere near Millinocket, Maine. A bunch of us did some heavy duty hiking and some discovered what their limitations were (in regards to hiking). We ate a lot of good food, enjoyed the wild life, slept in tents and made out pretty good with the weather. We swam in a cold river that had waterslides... well, okay they were only smooth rocks. One of our advisors saw a bear! Both in that unplanned party was frightened by the other.

SuperActivity 2005 was spent at Camden Hills State Park in Camden, Maine. The weather was not as good as last year. It rained I think every blessed day! Some of us hiked up Megunticook Mountain, went kayaking on Megunticook River, walked the Rockland Breakwater, we all took turns cooking, and we had hotdogs at Wass's in Rockland. Even Rowena the Service Dog got a hotdog there!

Crew Codes and Bylaws:

I. Preamble: Venturing Code
As a Venturer I believe that America's strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strenght and traditions of our people. I will therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life. I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve it and enrich it. I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life. I will acquire the Venturing attitude that seeks the truth in all things and adventure on frontiers of our changing world.

II. Crew Bylaws

A. Objectives

The objectives of Crew # 847 is to develop opportunities for consumers of CHCS to participate in fun and enjoyable activities that:

(1) Stimulate personal growth,

(2) Improve physical health and well being,

(3) Suppoet stability and recovery with mental health,

(4) Increase social interactions with others, and

(5) Promote self esteem.

B.Membership

Membership shall be open to all clients of CHCS. No prospective member shall be denied or disqualified from membership due to his/her race, creed, collor or gender. All members must be registered as Venturers and agree to the crew's code and bylaws.

C. Officers

(1)The elected officers shall be present, a president, two vice presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer. The president, with the approval of the advisors shall appoint an activity chair and make other assignments as needed. The duties of the officers shall be as prescribed in the Venturing Leader Manual.

(2) The normal term of office shall be for one year starting on April First. Elections shall be held in March.

(3) No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.

(4) The president shall appoint a nominating committee, which shall consist of three (3) members. The committee shall interview and present a complete list of candidates who have agreed, if elected, to serve to the best of their abilities.

(5) Nominations may be presented from the floor by any member. If the nomination is seconded and the candidate agrees to serve, s/he must be included on the ballot.

(6) On the day of the election there will be only one ballot per member.

(7) All contested ballots will be secret.

D. Crew Business

Crew budiness will be conducted under the principles of "Robert's Rules of Order". Voting on all issues will be by majority, with the exception of changes or amendments to the bylaws, which will require a two-thirds vote of the total membership. A quorum shall consist of more than the majority of the membership for votes on routine business.

E. General Meetings

General meetings will be held every Wednesday from twelve (12) noon until two p.m. (2 p,m.).

F. Officer's Meetings

Officers' meetings will be held at least once a month, after the regular general meeting.

G. Newsletters

The crew will bublish a newsletter every other month, which shall include all meeting dates and other information of interest to the membership. The newsletter will serve as the historical record of the crew.

H. Dues

Dues will be $11.00 per year, payable at anytime during the year. All dues must be paid in order to participate in any activity.

I. Money -Earning Projects

All money earning projects must be approved by a majority vote of crew members. Members who do not participate in a project will not be entitled to any benefits of the funds earned. All projects must be approved by both the Advisor and the Scout Council.

J. Penalties

1. Crew

2. Officers

K. Absentees

About Us...

The Venture Crew # 847 is outdoor adventure- focused FUN created for clients of (CHCS) Community Health & Counseling Services of Bangor, Maine and the Boy Scouts of America.

We do many types of activities such as (but definitely not limited to) Camping, Hiking, Kayaking, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Fishing, Learning outdoor skills, learning how to use a map & compass, Event planning, sharing leadership roles, Going to new places, making new friends and last but not least on this list... HAVING FUN!

Hello!

This Blog is presently under construction!
Our goals for this blog are to provide a space on the internet to post a monthly newsletter for VC members, to post events, share photos from trips and events and keep everyone informed on what events are coming up and how to get involved.
PLEASE STAY TUNED AS I WORK TO GET THIS THING FINISHED, UP AND GOING!