In fact, learning how to effectively plan is the next aspect of Venturing that I think is especially useful. The Gold award includes a challenge to each Venturer to take responsibility to plan two activity programs based on at least two different experience areas. These also overlap very well with the development areas established in the Duty to God program. What is interesting about this planning is that the activity should be extensive enough that it takes a few months to prepare for.
Part of the challenge of activities in the Church is that we are to plan activities with a purpose. It seems, from my experience, that youth want to plan activities based solely on the activity or a specific aspect of fun or adventure. But the guidelines from the Church Handbook of Instructions emphasizes that the first step should be to assess the needs of the group members, and then plan activities that will take care of these needs. (Of course, fun is a recognized need.)
By planning activities to meet a particular area of development, crew members are able to experience the process of planning around the needs of the group. They will gain experience in general planning as well as the ministry-based planning that the Church encourages.