The Venture Scout Challenge
Challenge is an event often referred to as the "Mini-Explorer Belt." Challenge (now in its 20th year) was founded by Brian O'Connor from Cork- today the Spirit of Challenge Trophy is named after him. Like the Belt it involves teams of 2 Venture Scouts of the same sex(In recent years different sex teams have also been allowed on the Challenge) but hiking takes place in Ireland with participants walking 100 km in 5 days while living on a budget of 4 euro per person per day. While Belt entrants have to struggle with warm climates, Challenge competitors are subject to the whim of the Irish weather system which even in Summer can be quite grim, though previous walkers have said that the rough weather is all part of the fun. Successful entrants receive the Challenge woggle. The Venue for 2007 was supposed South East Ireland and Wales but this has been postponed until 2008. Challenge was originally run (every second year) by SAI. The SI Challenge is run annually. The events were:
- 1987 - West Cork
- 1989 - County Galway
- 1991 - Thurles, County Tipperary
- 1993 - County Kilkenny
- 1995 - County Kerry
- 1997 - County Sligo
- 1999 - West Cork
- 2001 - Isle of Man
- 2003 - County Donegal
- 2004 - County Clare
- 2005 - County Kildare
- 2006 - County Mayo, County Roscommon, County Galway
- 2007 - Ireland, Wales (Postponed until 2008)
- 2009 - Ireland, County Kerry - "Desmond"
- 2010 - Ireland / Wales
- 2011 - Ireland West
Read more about this topic: Venture Scouts (Scouting Ireland)
Famous quotes containing the words venture, scout and/or challenge:
“It is not quite safe to send out a venture in this kind, unless yourself go supercargo. Where a man goes, there he is; but the slightest virtue is immovable,—it is real estate, not personal; who would keep it, must consent to be bought and sold with it.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Simone Clouseau: Jacques would make a wonderful father. He has many redeeming qualities, you know.
Sir Charles: Name one.
Simone Clouseau: Oh, he’s kind, loyal, faithful, obedient.
Sir Charles: You’re either married to a boy scout or a dachshund.”
—Blake Edwards (b. 1922)
“The only use of an obstacle is to be overcome. All that an obstacle does with brave men is, not to frighten them, but to challenge them.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)