Venturing Crew 128
Welcome to Crew 128 from McLean, Virginia
We are a co-ed crew chartered by St. John's Episcopal Church.
August 2022 - Crew 128's GAP Ride & Raft
Our Venturers rode over 150 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland, and spent a day rafting the lower Youghiogheny River. They enjoyed a steady 12 mph breezes in the shade, cold mountain whitewater, and the finest maple syrup in the Mid-Atlantic.
This is the story of our Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Ride & Raft high adventure trip. Read the story.
JTE Gold for 2021!
Congratulations to Crew 128 for achieving Gold in the BSA's unit quality assessment program, the "Journey to Excellence" (JTE). In recognition of their leadership, each crew officer received a Letter of Commendation from the Crew Advisor, and each crew member is entitled to wear the JTE patch on your uniform. (See where to place the patch on your uniform.)
Venturing for Vittles 2021 - 2,855 lbs.!
WE ASKED; YOU ANSWERED! Crew 128 thanks everybody who participanted and contributed to this year's Scouting for Food event. Last year's donation yielded 2,100 lbs., and this year we collected 2,855.3 lbs. That's a 655.3 lb. increase!
Thank you to our neighbors, St. Johns parishioners, Troops 128, and Pack 665 for making this a meaningful service project in support of SHARE of McLean. Read this year's story.
Fall Backpacking Trip on Sleepy Creek Mountain
In October of 2021, six Venturers from Crew 128 hiked over Sleepy Creek Mountain on an overnight backpacking trip in West Virginia. It was a trip of many "firsts." For some, it was their first backpacking trip and the first time cooking like backpackers. For all of us, it was the first time backpacking in the Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area. And for Crew 128, it was the first co-educational backpacking trip thanks to some new members. Read the story.
Adirondacks - Crew 128's Five-Day Trek
While the Washington DC Metro area suffered under blazing heat and humidity, five Venturers and three adults from Crew 128 spent five days in the cool wilderness of New York's Adirondack State Park and Sabattis Scout Reservation's Seton Trek Center. Read the story and see the pictures!
2021 - Adventures Abound!
Crew 128 has had an amazing first half of 2021 that has included conservation projects, a three-Eagle Court of Honor, and LOTS of outdoor adventures. Read the stories:
May - Backpacking with Danger Noodles in Shenandoah National Park
June - Court of Honor for Three Eagle Scouts
October - Backpacking on Sleepy Creek Mountain
Backpacking with Danger Noodles - May 2021
May is a great time for backpacking in the Mid-Atlantic states like Virginia. The weather is much better than the oppressive heat and humidity of July, and the full forest canopy provides plenty of shade. Crew 128 took advantage of these conditions on an overnight adventure in the Shenandoah National Park. So did the danger noodles.
Biking to Herdon - April 2021
There's nothing like exercise and ice cream to put a smile on a Venturer's face! Read about our ride to Dairy Queen!
JTE Gold for 2020!
Congratulations to Crew 128 for achieving Gold in the BSA's unit quality assessment program, the "Journey to Excellence" (JTE). In recognition of their leadership, each crew officer received a Letter of Commendation from the Crew Advisor, and each crew member is entitled to wear the JTE patch on your uniform. (See where to place the patch on your uniform.)
Space Invaders - March 2021
Crew 128 and Crew 648 teamed up to remove invasive species from Upton Hill Regional Park. Read the story.
Big Schloss was a Big Deal!
Backpacking in November is now a tradition! In 2019, we camped on Mill Mountain and hiked to Big Schloss! Read the story.
Bike Camping in Southern Maryland
Crew 128 cycled 40 miles with loaded bikes for a camping adventure in Charles County. History, DQ, physcal challenges, and more!
The Spark at Ramseys Draft Wilderness
Venturers from Crew 128 and Boy Scouts from Troop 128 experienced winter conditions atop Hardscrabble Knob in the Ramseys Draft Wilderness in November 2018. It sparked a renewed interest in our Venturing Crew. That spark turned into a flame of enthusiasm after a serious situation: off-trail, near dark, fog, at the top of the mountain. Read the story.