Traveling to exotic places, experiencing other cultures, making real contributions to world peace, having close friends around the globe, playing sports and going on outdoor high adventures in countries you may not have heard of before....

International Scouting offers this and more to Venturers. The Southern Region VOA invites you to explore the world with us, and to help make it a more peaceful planet.

World Scout Jamboree
The 22nd World Scout Jamboree will take place from July 27 to August 7, 2011, in Rinkaby, Sweden. (That's just outside Kristianstad, Skane.) The Southern Region hopes to send two full contingents of Venturers between the ages of 14 and 17; Venturers 18 and older can also go as International Staff. Visit the World Jamboree website at http://www.worldscoutjamboree.se/en/ to learn more about it, and join the SR Venturing in Sweden, 2011 group on Facebook to share your plans with the rest of us.

The European Camp Staff Program sends US Venturers and Scouters, over 18 years of age, to serve as staffers in Scout camps in Europe. (In 2009, our own Area 1 President, Emily Dighton, will be on the staff of a camp in Portugal.) A major portion of these costs are covered by the program, too! Learn more about the European Camp Staff program at the website of the International Division of the BSA: http://www.scouting.org/en/International/ecamp.aspx.

The World Friendship Fund makes Scouting possible in countries devastated by war and natural disasters. In some of these countries, their entire national Scouting program operates off the equivalent of only 1000 US dollars. We have a new tradition in Southern Region Venturing: taking up a collection of pocket change for the WFF at every Venturing event above the Crew/Ship level. (This includes routine meetings and get-togethers like Roundtables, Forums and Venturees. The idea is to make it "routine" for us, rather than a special event.) Pass a hat, and give the collection to a Scouting professional to send in to the International Division. Your pocket change, even if it's only a few dollars, can make a huge difference.

Bring the world to your Council: Participate in Jamboree on the Internet and Jamboree on the Air in October each year. Host a Scouting group from another country, (http://www.scouting.org/International/ProgramEnrichment.aspx#wbe) and make sure that your Council camps participate in the International Camp Staff program. (http://www.scouting.org/international/icamp.aspx) Ask to serve on your Council's International Committee.

Southern Region Venturing is going to expand our opportunities to make the world a little smaller - join us for this great adVenture!