True North is a summer program for guys aged 11-15 (7-10-year-olds with a male adult sponsor accompanying them) at Venture Church in Austintown, Ohio, where we learn wilderness survival skills while building a solid foundation for life. At each session, participants will get hands-on training and experience in things like fire starting, shelter building, navigation, and foraging in safe and positive environment. 

 

We will also develop things like survival mentality, self-confidence, teamwork, discipline, preparation, and problem-solving as part of each session. Toward the end, we'll gather around the campfire to discuss how the skills we've learned relate to life and how we can develop a solid foundation for life by learning the truth of God. Our property features five wooded acres, so most of the activities will take place in the woods, rain or shine (as long as the weather is safe to be in). 

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Venture Church has been part of the Austintown community for more than 115 years and many of the True North volunteers, including pastor Eric, are lifelong Austintown residents and Fitch graduates. This is our home which is why we feel led to provide a free program like True North to young men in our community as a fun and engaging Summer activity that will help them thrive. If you have any questions about True North, please email Eric (Venture's pastor) at eric@myventurechurch.com. 

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Already registered? Here are some things you need to know before True North:

 

1. Wear outdoor attire that can get messy: Clothes and shoes that can get muddy are a must. We will be in the woods unless weather makes it unsafe. We highly recommend pants and long socks. We will teach the kids to identify and avoid poison ivy, but long pants and socks will help protect them from accidental contact and insects.  

2. Bring preferred bug repellant if opting not to use the Off we provide: We will provide and highly encourage the use of Deep Woods Off bug repellant which is effective against both mosquitoes and ticks. If you have a different bug spray you’d like your child to use, please provide it each week, or send them already wearing it. Because of the possibility of ticks and definite presence of mosquitoes, all participants should wear bug spray, including application to shoes and pant legs. 

3. Bring a water bottle: We will provide a water cooler and cups but encourage each child to bring an easily identifiable reusable water bottle to ensure they stay hydrated and reduce waste. Even in the shade of the woods, hydration is extremely important during outdoor activity. 

4. Come with a positive attitude: Parts of the True North experience will be challenging. We will work with each participant to encourage them to learn, adapt, and accomplish each task. A positive attitude and willingness to fail, try again, and eventually succeed will be very useful!

5. Do not bring cutting tools: The use of cutting tools will be closely controlled by adult volunteers. Even if your child has been trained and is permitted to use cutting tools, please ensure they do not bring them to True North. We will teach cutting tool safety, but this activity will be observational, not hands-on for the kids. We are exploring an optional activity this summer where parents/guardians attend with their child to supervise their use of cutting tools.

6. Please eat before arriving: We will often provide snacks, especially campfire foods like s’mores and occasionally hotdogs, but dinner will not be provided, so it's best to make sure your participant gets a meal before attending. 

7. Talk to you child about the experience: We hope True North provides a great summer experience for each participant. We plan to have a lot of fun, but we to help each other establish a firm foundation for life. So be sure to ask your child about what they learned, especially during the fireside chat that will end each session.