Shannette

Shannette is a dedicated leader, mentor, and adventurer with over 20 years of service in the United States Navy. Throughout her military career, she has served at five commands, completed four deployments, and developed strong leadership, resilience, and teamwork skills.

A proud former Girl Scout, from Oakland, CA. Shannette is also the mother of two adult children. Becoming a mother at a young age, graduating high school at 16, and joining the Navy at 19 shaped her determination, discipline, and commitment to helping others grow through life experiences.

After spending much of her Navy career in San Diego, California, she now calls Jacksonville home and plans to retire from the Navy next year.

While she always enjoyed hiking and the beach, her love for adventure grew after meeting Jonathan in 2021, opening the door to new experiences, travel, and outdoor exploration.

Jonathan

Jonathan brings thoughtful planning, structure, and consistency to Venture Scouts. His approach ensures the program runs smoothly, safely, and with clear expectations while still allowing youth the freedom to learn through experience.

As a leader, Jonathan brings:

Strong organization and intentional preparation

A calm, steady presence that builds trust

Clear structure and accountability

A focus on confidence built through problem-solving and experience

He believes outdoor experiences help young people develop independence, resilience, and responsibility. Jonathan focuses on creating environments where youth feel supported enough to try new things, learn from mistakes, and grow at their own pace.

Why We Founded Venture Scouts

Venture Scouts was founded by Jonathan and Shannette out of a shared belief that young people deserve spaces where learning feels engaging, supportive, and rooted in real experiences. We saw a need for a program that blended outdoor exploration, leadership development, and community care without pressure, competition, or exclusion.

This program was built intentionally to be beginner-friendly, age-appropriate, and grounded in trust. We wanted to create a space where youth could build confidence, learn responsibility, and develop practical skills while feeling safe, respected, and encouraged every step of the way.

Venture Scouts exists because we believe growth happens best when young people are given structure, guidance, and room to explore.

How We Lead Together

We lead Venture Scouts as a team, balancing structure and care, planning and flexibility. Together, we are committed to creating experiences that are thoughtful, engaging, and rooted in safety and respect.

We are present at every session, actively guiding, mentoring, and supporting youth as they grow. Venture Scouts is not just something we organize. It’s something we lead with intention.

Contact

Questions? Reach out anytime, we're here.

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