High Adventure Activities
Overview- At-risk-youth have limited access to mental and physical challenges. The Navigators provides programing that challenges youth to reach above mediocrity. Through the Boy Scout Co-ed Venturing Program, teens (14-20) are thrust into worlds never thought of by this sub-culture. The Navigators combine hands on activities with a comprehensive social skills training program. The projected outcome is a program that produces mature self-reliant youth that discover alternatives to delinquent behaviors.
The Venturing program offered by The Navigators provides youth with a vehicle to connect them with outdoor high adventure. During weekly meeting youth will plan project, programs, activities, trips and progress through the venturing training program designed to reach the coveted Ranger Award (similar to the rank of Eagle Scout). The Navigators has a relationship with several state and local organizations, like Aquarena Springs and the Buffalo Bayou Foundation, that allow youth engage in worthy causes like the preservation on critical habitats and archeological sites. Through projects like this youth make an entry into a whole new world of opportunities. Meetings are managed and lead by youth and overseen by adult advisors. This along with projects and activities, make meetings productive and conducive to personal growth. Leadership skills and responsibility are outcomes of weekly meetings. Training for the Ranger Award includes 6 core courses with 4 electives. Courses require training, education, practical application, and a presentation to the group. Courses include First Aid, Wilderness Survival, Communications, Camping, Hiking, and much more. The Venturing component of Navigators is appealing to at-risk-youth, while providing a healthy structure that is conducive to personal growth and not compatible with delinquent behaviors.
Hands on activities provide structure, motivation and an environment that is conducive to change. These activities, like building a robot or constructing a 200 gallon aquarium, help build character and self esteem. During the construction phase of each project, crew members interview professionals and businesses that are in business constructing professional models. During the interviewing process crew members establish relationships that can help them career development. Through ownership of projects, crew members discover purpose and meaning to participation in projects. One project that was successful was taking a donated car and decorating it for the annual art car parade. Hands on activities provide crew members focus for their attention and a measurable outcome they can be proud of.
The social skills training are critical in the change process. At-risk-youth are equipped to thrive in a counter-culture set of values, but fail in the main stream culture. In healthy family systems, children are equipped with proper social skills to become productive citizens by the age 9. Without these skills the youth will fail in school, jobs, relationships with authority figures and personal health. They will thrive in counter-culture activities like drug use, sexual promiscuity, delinquencies, and conflict with authority figures. Through an effective training manual youth can progress through 10 major social skills with 5 activities per social skill. The notebook provides structure and feedback on progress. This is helpful for parents and referral sources. Parental programs are mandatory and can be provided in workbook form, workshops, and classes. The social skill portions of this program provide at-risk youth with necessary tools to be successful in mainstream society.
The key to success for the Navigators is its ability to motivate youth and providing them with tools for success. The venturing program gives structure to the program, with manuals and training programs developed by BSA. The social skills program provides essential tools to help youth communicate and function in mainstream society. The predicted outcome of the program is a group of at-risk youth that find they being successful in mainstream society, without trying.
The Venturing program offered by The Navigators provides youth with a vehicle to connect them with outdoor high adventure. During weekly meeting youth will plan project, programs, activities, trips and progress through the venturing training program designed to reach the coveted Ranger Award (similar to the rank of Eagle Scout). The Navigators has a relationship with several state and local organizations, like Aquarena Springs and the Buffalo Bayou Foundation, that allow youth engage in worthy causes like the preservation on critical habitats and archeological sites. Through projects like this youth make an entry into a whole new world of opportunities. Meetings are managed and lead by youth and overseen by adult advisors. This along with projects and activities, make meetings productive and conducive to personal growth. Leadership skills and responsibility are outcomes of weekly meetings. Training for the Ranger Award includes 6 core courses with 4 electives. Courses require training, education, practical application, and a presentation to the group. Courses include First Aid, Wilderness Survival, Communications, Camping, Hiking, and much more. The Venturing component of Navigators is appealing to at-risk-youth, while providing a healthy structure that is conducive to personal growth and not compatible with delinquent behaviors.
Hands on activities provide structure, motivation and an environment that is conducive to change. These activities, like building a robot or constructing a 200 gallon aquarium, help build character and self esteem. During the construction phase of each project, crew members interview professionals and businesses that are in business constructing professional models. During the interviewing process crew members establish relationships that can help them career development. Through ownership of projects, crew members discover purpose and meaning to participation in projects. One project that was successful was taking a donated car and decorating it for the annual art car parade. Hands on activities provide crew members focus for their attention and a measurable outcome they can be proud of.
The social skills training are critical in the change process. At-risk-youth are equipped to thrive in a counter-culture set of values, but fail in the main stream culture. In healthy family systems, children are equipped with proper social skills to become productive citizens by the age 9. Without these skills the youth will fail in school, jobs, relationships with authority figures and personal health. They will thrive in counter-culture activities like drug use, sexual promiscuity, delinquencies, and conflict with authority figures. Through an effective training manual youth can progress through 10 major social skills with 5 activities per social skill. The notebook provides structure and feedback on progress. This is helpful for parents and referral sources. Parental programs are mandatory and can be provided in workbook form, workshops, and classes. The social skill portions of this program provide at-risk youth with necessary tools to be successful in mainstream society.
The key to success for the Navigators is its ability to motivate youth and providing them with tools for success. The venturing program gives structure to the program, with manuals and training programs developed by BSA. The social skills program provides essential tools to help youth communicate and function in mainstream society. The predicted outcome of the program is a group of at-risk youth that find they being successful in mainstream society, without trying.