Yesterday and Today
To paraphrase Robert Frost, two paths diverged in the woods and we took the one less travelled, and this continues to make all the difference. We seek daily to explore new opportunities and to participate in community – making contributions and building relationships. In so doing we show that we are capable and contributing members of society.
Venturers began in 1986 as a “forestry related training program” under the Federal Job Creation Strategy. A project was launched involving 6 full-time participants with disabilities to create basic fire protection for a 60 acre property, the Entheos Retreat Centre just outside of Calgary.
We have continued to evolve and expand since these humble beginnings. Today we have 40 participants based at Host Sites in: Medicine Hat/Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Elbow Valley Station/Kananaskis Country and the Bragg Creek area (Burby Firehall).
Over our 25 year history, and even today, we contribute at camps (Easter Seals Camp Horizon, Scouts Canada – Camp Gardner and Kamp Kiwanis), community organizations including Friends of Cypress Hills, Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society, Snowbirds Seniors Fellowship in Bragg Creek, Calgary Horticultural Society and various community projects.
We are a registered nonprofit society with charitable status. Nine full-time and one part-time staff are employed and a voluntary Board of Directors provides direction and oversight. A number of volunteers have joined us to share their energy and expertise to support our participants and staff.
Our Mission Statement was recently updated, following a Strategic Plan Review Session. We believe it better reflects who we are and what we do:
”The Venturers Society is committed to the Physical, Emotional and Intellectual development of our participants with disabilities. This is achieved through participation in and contribution to the communities we serve and daily contact with the wonders of our natural areas.”
OUR STRATEGY FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
We have adopted Values, Principles, Goals and Strategies to ensure the Society continues to flourish in future and provide a safe, stimulating and supportive environment for our participants and staff.
OUR VALUES
We acknowledge the many contributions of our participants, staff and host sites.
We value the calming, spiritual and healing effects of nature.
We strive for balance between work and play, rights and responsibilities.
We promote a supportive environment that encourages individual, group and community enrichment.
We provide financial accountability and advocate sustainability.
OUR PRINCIPLES
Our community strives to:
Provide an environment that celebrates and rewards the gifts, talents and attributes of each of its’ members and nutures the possbilities for personal growth.
Encourage a sense of belonging, through compassion, acceptance, mutual trust and mentorship.
Generate feelings of responsibility toward others, thus encouraging everyone to work together toward common goals.
Embrace the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms through the method in which we conduct our activities and create an awareness of rights and privileges.
Acknowledge that working and playing in natural environments is a privilege and is critical to our identity and success.
Encourage a greener, life-sustaining approach in the reduction, reuse, recovery and recycling of resources we impact in our daily activities.
To receive a hard copy of our Strategic Plan, including our Goals and Strategies, please email us at vensoc2@shaw.ca or respond in the Comments section. To see our Strategic Plan brochure online please visit the Publications tab.
We can never get a re-creation of community and heal our society without giving our citizens a sense of belonging. Hunter “Patch” Adams
