Venture program led to marriage
Most people wouldn’t think of
scouting as an organization
where one might find a future
mate, but for McMinnville
natives Josh and Laura Jennings
Stoner that’s exactly what
happened.
Both have been members of
Venture Crew, a relatively new
program of Boy Scouts of
America that allows young men
and women from 14 to 20 years
of age to get involved in scouting,
take on new and challenging
activities, and learn leadership
skills that will serve them well as
they move into adulthood.
Though the couple technically
met in band, both say Venture
Scouting is where they really got
to know each other and where
their romance subsequently
bloomed.
“We knew each other from
band in high school,” Josh said.
“But we didn’t really get to know
each other.”
The two joined the local group,
Venture Crew 631 led by Kelly
McVey, in 1999 when Josh was a
senior in high school and Laura
was a freshman. The pair started
dating soon after.
“We started dating the
summer after I graduated,” Josh
recalled, “and we just hit it off.
We dated for four years before
we got married.”
Laura said she liked Josh early
on as well.
“I had a crush on him,” she
said with a shy smile. “I liked
him. I knew him through band,
of course, and I thought he was
really cute and really nice.”
Joining Venture helped move
the romance along though.
“I got in Venture,” Laura said,
“and it was conveniently also a
way to get to know him. Not just
to have fun, but to get to know
him. But I never expected that he
would be my future husband.”
There was one problem early
on that, fortunately, lessened
with time.
“My biggest holdback was the
age difference,” Josh said. Both
agreed the almost four year age
difference seemed pretty major at
first, but soon evaporated as the
couple got a bit older.
“It was hard being a senior in
high school and her a freshman,”
Josh said. “But once I got out and
got over the age difference it was
all clear,” he added with a laugh.
It’s been a banner year for the
couple as, not only did they say
their wedding vows, but they
also made an appearance in the
“Boy Scouts of America
Fieldbook,” a national publication
of the organization. Josh
appears on page 157 and 401,
while Laura appears on page 400.
Along with Josh and Laura, the
book also features Jason
Vandyke, Jason McVey and Ryan
and Craig Wemyss from Venture
Crew 631.
Obviously Venture Crew
scouting has meant a lot to the
couple, and both say they want to
stay involved with it as long as
possible, even playing a leadership
role eventually.
“I want to stay involved for a
long time,” Laura said. “Now
that we’re getting older we could
be adult leaders.”
And what lies in the future for
the couple?
“Raising a family,” says Josh.
With children both hope will
become involved with scouting.
“We’ll make it a choice,” Laura
said. “We’re not going to force
them, but we’re going to encourage
them.”
“We want to give them that
option,” Josh added. “I would
love to be a scoutmaster for my
kids growing up.”