The Venture Expeditions Story

   Our Story   

Adventure Roots

Venture Expeditions is a non-profit organization creating adventure-driven campaigns for communities to benefit the world and discover their souls. Since beginning in 2002, Venture has grown into a worldwide community of people focused on bringing God’s justice and hope to people throughout the world. 

Venture started when Aaron Smith and two other students from North Central University decided to bike across the nation. None of them had extensive biking experience. But they were passionate about a cause: an Argentine church community in need of a building. They biked from waves of the Pacific to the sandy beaches of the Atlantic, peddling more than 3,000 miles. When they finished, they had raised more than $17,000 for the South American congregation.

International Growth

The next summer, the group increased to five. They launched a non-supported trip across Europe. At the same time they began in Portugal, a heat wave swept the continent. They biked through 100-degree heat, camped every night, and showered only when an opportunity to get water arose (the sprinklers near the Eiffel Tower provided a cool, although brief, relief). They completed the tour together and again raised over $23,000 thousands of dollars to minister the to spiritual and physical needs of Africans living with HIV/AIDS.

Venture grew, conducting campaigns each summer and broadening its focus. People biked around the Baltic Sea, hiked mountains in Colorado, and even canoed the headwaters of the Mississippi river; all for a cause. It caught the attention of best-selling author Donald Miller, who was in the middle of writing his fifth book, A Thousand Miles in a Million Years. In 2008, along with several others, he biked across the United States on the Ride:Well Tour, which raised awareness and financial support for Blood:Water Mission.

Expanding the Team

In 2006, Ryan Skoog formed a team of experienced, passionate leaders as Venture’s Board of Directors, making it an official non-profit organization. During 2009, Venture hired Josh Iniguez as the Tour Director.

In the summer of 2010, Venture partnered with Blood:Water Mission, and International Justice Mission (an organization rescuing people from modern-day slavery). In that summer, a total of 78 men and women biked in five trips, three across the United States, one across Turkey, and one across Thailand. Two hiking tours took place, one in Colorado and one in Tanzania. More than 150 people participated in local one-day events.

The summer’s growth culminated with Venture's Just+Hope Campaign launch. The Just+Hope Campaign provides financial and spiritual support for projects in Thailand, Burma, India, China, and Indonesia. The campaign brought new tours, rides, local one-day events, and long-term missions internships.

Into The Future  

Venture’s focus on providing hope and justice has never wavered. And it never will. Whether running in a local 5K or biking across Europe, Venture participants will continue to raise awareness and financial support, connecting local Christian communities to those experiencing oppression—providing both justice and hope.