Sometimes teenagers and young adults find themselves battling boredom because don’t have much to do, but one local group of young people has found plenty of excitement – in Venture Scouting.

Venture Crew 135, a co-ed Scouting group based in Smyrna, gives young people ages 14-21 a chance to experience all kinds of adventures – activities like sailing, hiking, scuba diving, archery, medieval reenactment and more.

The crew members won’t get bored because they direct it themselves, with help from advisors. They decide what they want to do, based on their own interests.

“Anything they want to do, they can do,” said associate advisor Paul Johnston.

Crew 135 also spends time teaching other groups and doing community service. The group teaches things like CPR and first aid to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups and others who request it.

“We do a lot of teaching,” Johnston said. “What we do is we learn, we do and we teach.”

The group, which stared about a year and a half ago, is affiliated with the Boy Scouts but is open to both boys and girls.

Some members of Crew 135 are Boy Scouts, some are Girl Scouts, and some have never had prior Scouting experience, Johnston said.

Crew 135 meets twice a month at its sponsoring organization, Smyrna Wesleyan Church on West Commerce Street in Smyrna. But they also make sure to plan an activity each month.

“We don’t want to sit around,” Johnston said.

On the community service side, Crew 135 has adopted a wetland at Cedar Swamp. Members of the group cut down invasive plant species at the wetland and plant new trees.

Crew 135 members also do volunteer work based on their interests.

Andrew Altemus volunteers with the Wilmington Western Railroad, while Carrie Johnston volunteers at the Brandywine Zoo.

The group also does work with the Special Olympics.

Johnston said Crew 135 started out with only five members, but is now up to about 10.

“Little by little, we’re growing and expanding,” he said. “Our crew has been trying to grow and serve the community.”

The group holds fundraisers to support its trips and events.

Steven Morris of Clayton is an Eagle Scout in Troop 239, but he also joined Venture Crew 135 because it was something fun for him to do once he turned 18.

Andrew Altemus, another member of the crew, said his favorite trip was hiking 20 miles through the Batona Trail, part of the Wharton Track in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Altemus said he was pretty tired at the end, but had fun in the process.

Carrie Johnston said she especially enjoys the competition of the Klondike Derby. Johnston also said she’s become more confident in herself since joining Crew 135, and new talks and participates more.

Tracie Johnston, the head advisor for Crew 135, wants the crew members to learn individual leadership skills, “so they can be leaders in the world, and just to have fun.”

“Each of the kids is learning leadership, learning life skills, learning job skills,” said Paul Johnston.

“At the same time, they’re having fun,” Tracie added.

Pastor Dan Orshaw of Smyrna Wesleyan said the goals of Crew 135 make the group a good fit with the values of the sponsoring church.

“We’re always looking for ways to help youth in the community, and the Venture Crew is just a wonderful thing for young people to be involved in,” he said.

Orshaw said Venturing is a positive activity that helps young people develop leadership and have fun in the process.

“It’s a very good tool for developing the youth of our community,” he said.

Crew 135 is always looking for more members and more adults to help.

For more information about the group, call Paul Johnston at (302) 223-1648 or send an email to luketarr@yahoo.com.