Jackson Venture Crew 400 enjoys Scouting activities
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON- ABoy Scout troop known as Jackson Venture Crew 400, the first coed special-needs Boy Scout Troop in New Jersey, will host a fundraising dinner on Feb. 22.

Chicken and all the fixins will be available 6-8 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, 54 Magnolia Drive, off Bennetts Mills Road. Tickets can be purchased at the door and will cost $10 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. Proceeds will benefit the Jackson Venture Crew 400.

"This is the first co-ed special-needs Boy Scout Troop in New Jersey," said Carmen Esposito, who is the founder of the troop and one of the adult leaders along with Theresa SantaMaria.

The troop supports itself through member dues and fundraisers. The Scouts meet at the Jackson Senior Center on the second Thursday and the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

"It began when my son Joey, who is 31 and has special needs, was in Troop 34 and he became an Eagle Scout. It was very difficult for him even though he was a very avid Scout," Esposito said.

She said although Joey did not understand as much as the other Scouts, he loved being involved and went as far as he could go.

"I have always loved Scouting, and the older I got, it became harder to stay in a troop," Joey said. "I was very happy when Mr. (Vincent) Rubio (the former head of the Commission for the Handicapped and Disabled) suggested that we start up a troop for handicapped boys and girls."

Joey said he enjoys being with his friends and working on projects with them. Bowling, camping and cooking are among the activities in which they participate.

Esposito said the troop came into existence when she made some inquiries and joined up with some of her friends and the outcome was the co-ed special-needs Scout troop.

"The kids now have a ball," she said.

Stacy Bisignano, 30, said, "I like the Venture Crew 400 Scout troop. I like the things we do.We went bowling.We cooked for the chicken dinner at the VFW."

Stacy said she enjoys seeing her friends at the troop meetings. The Scouts in Jackson Venture Crew 400 range in age from 10 to 36.

Dawn Mazzi, 36, said she loves being a Scout. She was the first president of Jackson Venture Crew 400 and attends meetings on a regular basis. As a teenager she helped with a Brownie Girl Scout troop and was also involved in school with Scouts.

Dawn's grandfather was a careerArmy officer and she connects her participation in Jackson Venture Crew 400 with those memories. She especially likes learning about safety, first aid and the fire company, and she likes to discuss what she has learned.

Esposito said some of the Scouts in the troop are in a wheelchair.

"We do as much as we possibly can and most important is that they have fun doing it," she said, adding that the troop receives a lot of support from the township and from the VFW.

There are nine members in Jackson Venture Crew 400, and plans call for the troop to be opened up to people from neighboring municipalities. For more information call (732) 928-5835.