When Abigail C., 17, of Sonoma Valley, Calif., saw all the things her brother was able to experience with his Boy Scout troop in the Redwood Empire Council, the Sonoma Valley teen decided it was time to seek the thrill of the outdoors herself.

“I wanted an opportunity to join other girls to do crazy stuff we normally don’t have an opportunity to do at home,” Abigail told the Sonoma Index-Tribune.

It was this quest for adventure that lead Abigail to establish a new Venturing crew, where she and other girls could learn new skills, take on new challenges, and develop character.

Venturing, a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America, provides positive experiences to young men and women 13–20 years of age to help them grow into responsible and caring adults.

With the help of community and family members, Abigail began to lay the groundwork for the new crew. Before long, other adventure-seeking girls like Abigail were ready to join the crew.

As plans for the crew moved forward, the girls witnessed the helpfulness of Scouts, firsthand. A local Boy Scout troop and the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley helped get the Venturers off to a strong start by giving them a place to meet and offering to share outdoor equipment.

Thanks to the initiative taken by Abigail and her founding crew members, the girls have been able to experience an array of adventures, including cold-weather camping, star-gazing, and team-building exercises such as completing a ropes course.

The crew has faced obstacles, but by working together, these Venturers have also gained valuable leadership skills. For example, scheduling can be a challenge since girls live in both Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. The members are also full-time students and participate in extracurricular activities.

According to the Sonoma Index-Review, the girls agree Venturing is worth the effort because of the experiences the program provides.

Abigail, who now serves as the crew president, told the Sonoma Index-Tribune how beneficial the Venturing program has been for her. “It’s amazing how we’ve grown as a group in the first year, and the skills and perspectives we’ve gained.”

Read more about this Venturing crew in the original story by the Sonoma Index-Tribune.

To learn more about the adventures and opportunities Venturing offers to young men and women, check out the video below then head to beascout.org.