So what did YOU do this weekend?  Instead of hanging around the house and staying out of the cold and rain, the Crew loaded up their packs and headed over to Dungeness Spit on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  We were immediately rewarded as we crossed the Hood Canal Bridge westbound, as the clouds parted and a brilliant January sun popped out, illuminating the snow-capped Olympics.  We parked at the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and Recreation Area, which was once a massive Voice of America radio broadcast site, donned our packs, pulled out our trekking poles and headed for the trailhead.  There's a $3 per "family" charge that helps pay for maintenance, so we decided that since the 14 of us came in 3 vehicles, we'd pay $9.  That sounded reasonable, didn't it?  There's an overlook platform at the edge of the trees on the bluff, then the trail quickly descends to the beach at the base of the Spit.

The weather and scenery couldn't have cooperated any better.  Within minutes, we were already beginning to strip off layers of jackets and vests as we walked the Spit.  Even the tides were on our side, so that we could mostly walk directly on the beach rather than scamper across the rocks and driftwood.  Dungeness is the longest natural sand spit in the United States, and juts out 5.5 miles from the Olympic Peninsula and ends at the Dungeness Light, once a manned Coast Guard station that's now automated and has volunteer guides who live in the old Lighthouse Keeper's house for a week at a time, year round.  There's a beautiful grass lawn and a fresh water well at the Light.  After lunch and a climb up to the top of the Light, we loaded up and hiked back.  It was a little over 11 miles round trip, with Dante taking "honors" (if you want to call it that) for hefting the heaviest pack at over 60 pounds.  Please don't ask what he was carrying, but we can all testify that it was natural, organic materials.  Staying hydrated was important, as well as making sure our packs fit well and shoes and feet were cared for.  Everyone changed out at least their sock liners once we reached the Light, and relaxed our bare feet on the grass while eating lunch and watching the ships sail by on the Strait.  It was truly a day to take in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

BSA has just published a new required training continuum for Venturing adults if the Crew has an outdoor program.  Obviously, our Crew qualifies.  Starting January 1, 2010, the following training courses must be completed.  Any Advisor or Associate Advisor who has not completed the required regimen by December 31, 2010 will be dropped from the Charter Roster, and will not qualify as a 2010 Centennial Quality Unit.  After 3 years of earning the Quality Unit award, we do NOT want to lose it in the Centennial year.  Those courses marked with an asterisk (*) are mandated for continued registration, those not marked are required for varying events.

1. *Venturing Fast Start.  This is an online course at www.myscouting.org and does not expire.
2. *Venturing Youth Protection.  This is also an online course.  It is a different course than just BSA Youth Protection, and is valid for 2 years after completion. We recommend taking BOTH courses.
3. *This is Scouting.  This is also an online course, and replaces the discontinued course of New Leader Essentials, which was a classroom course.
4. *Venturing Leader Specific Training (VLST).  This is the classroom course that all of our registered adults (less one) have completed. We will pass on the dates for the coming dates and locations for VSLT.
5. *Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS).  This was previously not required for Crews, but has now been added.  This is OVERNIGHT course, usually a Friday PM and Saturday morning and short afternoon.  IOLS was a course for just Boy Scout Troop adults, but the curriculum has been changed to include Webelos (Cub Scout) adults, Boy Scout adults, and now Venturing adults and Venturers. Watch for an announcement of the dates and locations for IOLS.  If you have sufficient BSA experience and outdoor skills that can be demonstrated to a registered BSA trainer, we believe the course can be “challenged” and credit earned, however we will check with the District Training Committee.
6. Safe Swim Defense.  This is an online course as before, and is valid for 2 years after completion.  Required for outings on the water.
7. Safety Afloat.  This is an online course as before, and is valid for 2 years after completion.  Required for outings on the water.
8. Hazardous Weather.  This is an online course, and is required for at least 1 of the adults who go on an outing with the Crew.  The course is meant to help plan and determine if an outing should proceed or be cancelled or terminated due to weather.   In order to obtain the mandatory Tour Permit and insurance coverage from the Council, one of the adults must attest to successful course completion. 
9. Wilderness First Aid.  This excellent 16 hour course is required for the Crew to proceed on any High Adventure outing.  The certification is good for three (3) years.  Everyone who went on the Whitewater Rafting Trek last summer completed this course and will remain valid until August 2011.  There is usually a cost associated with this training.  This is mandatory for at least one adult or Venturer on this year’s Philmont Expedition.  Conner, Jeff, Brody, Dante, Jake, and Mrs Z will carry valid WFA certifications to Philmont this year.
10. CPR.  This life-saving course only takes a few hours and is given by Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue on a regular basis for free.  Completion of CPR training is good for 2 years.
11. Climb On Safely:  This is also online and provides all the information you need to meet the minimum requirements for a climbing activity.  This does not consist of any training or certifications in climbing, but provides the essential components of a safe outing.
12. Trek Safely.  Online course for planning High Adventure outings.
13. Physical Wellness.  Online course that was originally developed for adults going to the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, but recommended (usually means will later be mandated) for all.

On line courses at www.myscouting.org require you to set up an account with your BSA membership ID number.  That number is printed on your membership card.  If you do not have a card and cannot find your BSA ID number, please contact the Crew President, Advisor, or Crew Chair.   Once you have completed any of these training events/courses, we will need a copy of your completion certificate for our Crew records.  Claiming completion is insufficient; we need a copy of the actual certificate for insurance purposes in accordance with American Legion policy.  Note: Online courses do not work in all browers; use either Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 and above or Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and above.  Firefox will also need the latest Java plugins.

Finally, while these BSA courses are originally targeted at adults in the “younger” BSA programs, Venturing places the leadership of the Crew squarely on the Venturers themselves.  Translation: the Venturers need to cajole/plead/annoy/nag the adults who haven’t completed all their training, and should complete the training themselves as an example to the adults.

You may not have known that Pistol Shooting is an activity permitted in Venturing.  The Crew took advantage of the program availability, and courtesy of the Poulsbo Sportsman Club's pistol club, enjoyed a great day at the range.  The weather was cool and cloudy with virtually no glare.  That allowed for great target acquisition.   An excellent NRA safety briefing was given by the range master, and we started with .22 caliber target pistols.  First, you have to learn which is your dominant eye, since that eye will be used for aligning your sights (aka aiming).  If you're right-handed, your left foot is kept forward; left-handed people put their right foot forward.  Lean your shoulders forward.  Learn to breath comfortably and slowly.  Don't hold your breath with your lungs full, but let most of the air out and relax your diaphragm.  The more you can relax, the better you'll shoot.  Don't put too much finger through the trigger-guard.  Only the ball of the tip of your index finger should contact the trigger.  Don't pull the trigger, since it makes you anticipate the firing and you'll flinch.  If you flinch, you'll pull your weapon off of the target.  Instead, you very, very gently squeeze while concentrating on your sights.  If you're actually surprised when the round goes off, you'll deliver the bullet directly where you were aiming.

We shot everything our instructors brought from their personal inventory, including several semi-automatics of different caliber and manufacturers, and a couple of revolvers.  One of the long-barrel revolvers must have been straight out of a Clint Eastwood movie.  Do you feel lucky?  We received briefings on each weapon, learning its characteristics, handling guidelines, and safeties.  We shot from 15 feet until we became proficient enough to keep a tight grouping of rounds on the center of the target.  Once we were comfortable, the coaches moved the firing line back to 45 feet and we fired some more.  Proper technique at that distance was imperative, else the rounds never found the target.  After almost 3 hours of shooting, your hand muscles begin to ache and your clothes smell mightily of gunpowder.