http://morland.ca/NW_Scouters_Club/
The NW Scouters' Club is a co-operative of Scout Troops.
Representatives of member Scout Troops gather to share ideas and
experience, plan joint activities, and pursue other projects of mutual
benefit.
On Friday evening, 11th Kitchener and 1st Maryhill were camping at
Mohawk. Terry Warner (9th Waterloo) was the only other Scouter who came
out for the NWSC campfire and pot luck. We need to have a better plan
for this event. On Saturday we had 20 youth in attendance. There were
sufficient senior Scouts to have one move with each group and one to
help at each station. The program ran smoothly and on time.
- Rob will circulate the agenda.
- Time will be 9:30 a.m. Â 3:00 p.m.
- Times will be in accordance with the planning document already on the NWSC web page.
- We should encourage Troops with youth in the Saturday program to camp over on Friday night. A first opportunity for an outing.
- A Scout Campfire separate from the Club campfire.
- This is a great opportunity for new leaders as well.
- We still need volunteers for the sessions. See the program when circulated.
The group reviewed the Introduction to Scouting Day. Four troops attended of which one camped out. Twenty-four participants rotated between the sessions. Eight sessions were run: axe and saw, knife, stove and lantern, fire, first aid, map and compass, knots, and no trace camping and packing. Discussed timing of sessions, as some needed additional time to run: e.g. stove and lantern. This item will be considered next year when the planning of this event is done. Conclusion was that it was a successful day.
The Introduction to Scouting Day will be at Camp Mohawk from 09:30 to
15:30. Ted will look after getting word out. This training session will
cover the basics for the new youth to get their permits. If time and
instructors permit other items will be covered as well. Help is needed
to run the different sessions. Please contact Ted if you can help. Each
youth is responsible to bring their own lunch or if a troop is coming
they can make their own lunch.
Saturday, September 29 was chosen for the Introduction to Scouting Day.
This will be organized at the next meeting, in August.
The day will begin at 09:30 at
Camp Mohawk.
To manage traffic, cars should arrive by this time and not leave until
after this time. Starting at 09:40, there will be four 40-minute
sessions, followed by an hour for lunch. Starting at 13:20, there will
be four 30-minute sessions. Closing will be at 15:20 and departure at
15:30. Troops are responsible for their own lunch.
- Morning Events
- Knife, Axe, Saw — Ted Claxton
- Pitch a Fly (knots) — Jay Treacy
- First Aid — Rob MacDonald and Bill Hopf
- Fire Safety and Construction — Mark Wilson
- Afternoon Events
- Packing for Camp — Ted Claxton
- Stove and Lantern — Heather Hewitt-DeBrusk
- Map & Compass — [Liam Morland and Dean Watt]
- Leave No Trace Camping — Jamie Leggott
Scouters discussed the Introduction to Scouting Day and agreed that it
should run much like in the past. Volunteers will be needed for the
various events:
Morning Sessions
- Knife, Axe, and Saw — Safety and use
- Pitch a Fly — Teaches and applies bowline, two-half-hitches,
taut-line hitch, and sheet bend
- First Aid — Severe bleeding and shock
- Fire Lighting — Two match fire
Afternoon Sessions
- Preparing for Camp — Demonstration of good and bad packing for camp
- Stove and Lantern — Fuelling, lighting, and safety
- Map and Compass — 16 points, orient map, walk bearing, take bearing
- Leave No Trace — Minimizing impact on the environment, and
respecting nature and other visitors
About 20 Scouts attended for training. In addition, several older Scouts
and about a dozen Scouters were present to teach the new Scouts. A wide
game did not take place since no one had volunteered to arrange one. The
turnout for the Club meeting preceding the event was thin. A meeting in
late August, further in advance of the event, might work better next
year.
Scouters decided to have four 40 minute sessions on the morning, four 30
minute sessions in the afternoon, and a hour for lunch.
Morning Sessions
- Knife, Axe, and Saw — Safety and use (John McCuish)
- Pitch a Fly — Teaches and applies bowline, two-half-hitches,
taut-line hitch, and sheet bend (Jay Treacy)
- First Aid — Severe bleeding and shock (Liam Morland)
- Fire Lighting — Two match fire ([Mark Willsie])
Afternoon Sessions
- Preparing for Camp — Demonstration of good and bad packing for
camp (Ted Claxton)
- Stove and Lantern — Fuelling, lighting, and safety (Mark
Wilson)
- Map and Compass — 16 points, orient map, walk bearing, take
bearing ([Keith])
- Leave No Trace — Minimizing impact on the environment, and
respecting nature and other visitors ([Liam Morland])
Scouters discussed the program for the Introduction to Scouting Day.
There will be four activities in each of the morning and afternoon.
Many Scouts do not know how to light a match. This will be taught as
part of the Stove and Lantern session in the morning. The Fire Lighting
session will be in the afternoon.
Senior Scouts who are interested in helping teach a session
should be invited to do so.
Viet and Matt will create an activity for older Scouts, such as a
pioneering demo. It was estimated that there would be ten older Scouts.
Older Scouts will organize the lunchtime wide game.
Sessions and volunteers:
- Knife, Axe, and Saw — Safety and use: Ted & John
- Pitch a Fly — Teaches and applies bowline, two-half-hitches,
taut-line hitch, and sheet bend: Jay
- First Aid — Severe bleeding and shock
- Fire Lighting — Two match fire
- Stove and Lantern — Fuelling, lighting, and safety: Mark
- Compass — 16 points, orient map, walk bearing, talk bearing
- Preparing for Camp — Demonstration of good and bad packing for
camp
- Leave No Trace Camping — Minimizing impact on the environment,
and respecting nature and other visitors
Scouters briefly discussed the program for the Introduction to Scouting
Day on Saturday, October 1. The day will run 09:00/15:00 at Camp Mohawk.
The program is primarily to teach basic outdoor skills to new troop
members. It was suggested that there be an activity for older Scouts,
such as cooking or building a monkey bridge that the others could play
on.
Introduction to Scouting Day will be Saturday, October 1 at Camp Mohawk.
The day provides new members of the troop the opportunity to learn basic
Scouting skills and to meet each other.
In attendance were 28 Scouts, 5 Venturers, and approximately 10
Scouters. The event started and ended on time. There were eight stations
with four in operation in each of the morning and afternoon. Each troop
arranged its own lunch. An after lunch wide game was organized by
Venturer Steven Harnock and Scouter Ted. The consensus is that this was
a worthwhile event. A date for for next year will be fixed in the
Spring.
Some suggestions for making more effective use of older Scouts and
Venturers at the end are to involve them more in teaching or having them
build a monkey bridge for the Scouts to play on.
Ruth Millard asked whether something similar could be organized by the
Scout section at the Cuboree for senior Cubs.
The group discussed the program for the Introduction to Scouting Day.
Scouters volunteered for various positions. Activities will be:
- Knife, Axe, and Saw — Safety and use (John McCuish).
- Pitch a Fly — Teaches and applies bowline, two-half-hitches,
taut-line hitch, and sheet bend (Jay Treacy).
- Emergencies — Severe bleeding and shock (Volunteer
needed).
- Fire Lighting — Two match fire (Volunteer needed).
- Stove and Lantern — Fuelling, lighting, and safety (Mark
Wilson).
- Compass — 16 points, orient map, walk bearing, talk bearing
(Ted Claxton).
- Preparing for Camp — Demonstration of good and bad packing for
camp (Ken Arnett).
- Leave No Trace Camping — Minimizing impact on the environment,
and respecting nature and other visitors (Liam Morland).
Scouter Jay proposed a Introduction to Scouting Day for new Scouts and
Scouters. The Club decided to run this event on Saturday, October 2,
2004 from 09:00 to 15:00 at Camp Mohawk. New Scouts and Scouters will
learn basic Scouting and outdoors skills. Participants will rotate
through a series of workshops, inspired by the BP Woodsman requirements,
such as: First Aid, emergency kit/BP Kit, water safety, getting lost,
knots, fires, maps, bird/tree/animal identification, tent use and care,
packing for camp, conservation/leave-no-trace, and safety and use of
knives, axes, and saws. Scouter Ted will investigate the possibility
that Scouters could receive credit for the outdoor skills module of
their Woodbadge training.
Following the training will be a BBQ social for Scouters.
The members discussed holding an Introduction to Scouting day in the
fall to train new Scouts and Scouters in basic Scouting skills, such as
those that were contained in the BP Woodsman badge. Saturday, October 2
was selected as the date. Planning will be done at the next meeting.
