A project or expedition may require people with certain skills and members of the Unit will have varying knowledge and experience of these.  The difference between the standards the team has and the standards the team requires is the training the team needs.  The acquisition of these skills will make up much of the Unit's programme for the year.  In the case of a new Unit, they will probably have little past experience to draw on and the leader may not know the capabilities of each member.

      On the Practical Skills Chart we have suggested one way of trying to assess what training individual Venture Scouts may require.  The regular meetings should be used not only to plan the project but for training and can include items such as basic First-Aid, Swimming or include some team building exercises.  This is important in a Venture Unit, where new members will have joined since last year and is worthwhile where the members have not worked together before.  A resource pack is provided to each 15+ Unit containing suggestions on a range of popular activities which might be helpful in planning the Unit's programme for the year.

      The Unit's programme of activities can include events such as camps and short hikes, to build up both fitness and expertise.  If the expedition is going to involve rock climbing or some other activity like this, practise near home is obviously to everyone's advantage - either on the real thing or a climbing wall.  A weekend away to familiarise everyone with the equipment is a good idea.  Don't forget to include some activities of a purely social nature - creating a team spirit.

      As a movement, we are pretty good at covering the practical training necessary to run a successful project or expedition.  Some research into an area beforehand will usually pay off and make the whole experience worthwhile.