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.
Tony Skells, Service Scouter, NWD.
Erick Rivera, 49th Kitchener Scout Troop.
The meeting opened at 19:00. Liam welcomed everyone and read a short passage from the writings of Baden-Powell. The gathering rose and recited the Scout Law. Introductions were made around the table.
Liam described by purpose and nature of a Scouters' Club. The name of the club and its charter was agreed upon as follows: "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." Liam provided background information on what it means for an association to be defined as a co-operative. A co-operative is a democratic association where people come together to co-operate to meet common objectives. More information is available from the International Co-operative Alliance.
January 19-20, 2001 was confirmed as the date for the winter camp. The camp will be at Camp Everton. Troops may arrive at camp on Friday, though the camp will officially open on Saturday at 10:00. The camp will focus on winter Scouting skills, in particular, shelter building. A conference approach will be used, allowing Scouts to choose what and how much skill learning to do. Troops should include the Winter Scouting badge in their programs leading up to camp to prepare their Scouts for it. Several requirements can be completed at camp. Jim suggested that some less experienced troops may want to come to camp for the day.
Other program ideas included: toboggan packing, cooking, baking, fire starting, wide game, hot air balloons (made from dry cleaning bags, tether with fishing line), boot hockey, snow pitch (baseball in the snow), ice snake (pole sliding game), GT Derby, tobogganing, pioneering, and snowshoeing.
The use of hay as a shelter flooring was discussed. There was the concern that it would be difficult to get rid of. Burning was suggested; others thought it would not burn well. It might be acceptable to leave hay in the Adirondacks. NWD's Santa Claus Parade float was suggested as a possible source of hay. Diane to investigate. [Note added after meeting: Camp Everton can provide hay for $2 per bail.]
Ted will book the Activity Shelter as a headquarters. The tarp walls will be put up and propane heating used. Propane will cost about $100 for the weekend. Ben can provide a propane heater. Camp Everton has 100lb. propane tanks that can be rented. A fee of $2 or $3 per person will be required to cover the cost of the propane and the Activity Shelter. The fee will be set at the next meeting and should be paid at camp.
Troops are to make their own arrangements to stay at Everton, based on the kind of terrain in which they would like to camp and how close to the shelter they want to be. Troops should keep in mind that a group, probably a Cub Pack, will be in Lion's Lodge.
Details of the camp will be finalised at the next meeting. All troops who plan on attending the camp should be represented at that meeting.
Liam described the opportunities for a summer camp at the Haliburton Scout Reserve (HSR). HSR is a wilderness area of more than 5000 acres almost touching the South-West corner of Algonquin Park. The main camp is situated around Kennabi Lake. On its shores are nearly two-dozen campsites accessible only by water and a bunch of activities areas for sailing, kayaking, rappelling, archery, riflery, survival, snorkelling, and more. Away from the main lake, hiking trails wind there way through forests and marshlands, over rocky areas, and past quiet lakes, each with its own campsite for overnights. Troops come to the reserve for week-long camps (Saturday to Saturday). Troops book a site and time slots for HSR-run activities. The rest of the program is up to the troop. A regatta is held every Thursday afternoon and a closing campfire is held on Friday. The HSR Medical Centre is staffed with nurses and a doctor. A grocery store and trading post are on site. Every campsite has a swimming area and an intercom phone for emergencies.
HSR charges $105 per person for the week. This includes all programs costs but the bullets at the rifle range. Including food, one can easily run a camp for less than $200 per person.
Liam suggested that troops interested in having a summer camp consider getting together for a camp at HSR. Liam's troop will be going, probably August 18-25, 2001, and will likely have space for a few patrols to join them. A composite camp, where individual Scouts sign up to participate, is not what is being suggested here. This is an opportunity for a troop, including its Scouters, to have its own summer camp. By having several troops camp together, a shortage of experience or of Scouters will not be a problem. Scouters desiring more information about HSR or whose troops are interested in attending should contact Liam.
Liam outlined their vision for this time of sharing. The time can be spent discussing a topic of mutual interest, hearing from one or more Scouters who had prepared ideas to share, or any other idea and experience sharing activity.
Liam led this meeting's Pentagon by showing a number of Scoutcraft projects. The first was a fondue fuel burning stove made from an apple juice can, and snack sized fruit cocktail can, and some wire. These are ideal for preparing canned ravioli or similar food, and can also be used for cooking other small meals, including frying a steak. Each Scout can have their own stove and make their own meal, for example, on a hike.
The second project was a chain for keeping track of boil bag or foil meals. It is a piece of thin chain about 50cm long with a Battery Testing Clip (Canadian Tire item #11-0221-2) on one end and a tag engraved with the Scouts' name or a design held on the other end with an S hook. Engraving can be done with a carbide vibrating engraver. Tags can be bought at Spaenaur on Victoria St. (Item #121-412: Round Blank Tag (one 1/4" hole) 1 1/4" dia x 0.32" thk. Anodised aluminium). The Club could coordinate a bulk order as this brings the cost down significantly. A Scouter (sorry, we neglected to record who) mentioned that they may be able to get such tags donated from a locksmith.
The third project was a really cheap source of woggles. Take a old racing bike inner tube (UW Bike Centre always has a pile) and cut it into pieces about 2.5cm long. Turn inside out. The result is a plain black woggle that does not slide off during games. Ben shared that a drop of silicon caulking on the inside of a cloth woggle will prevent these from sliding off.
[Pierre suggested after the meeting that the Club run a Patrol Leaders' workshop in the spring.]
Attendees were happy with the timing of the meeting (gather at 18:45 for 19:00 start) and appreciative that it had opened with the reading from BP and the Scout Law. Meetings should open with something of this nature, perhaps a song. Scouters noted the effectiveness of the free format. Larger print should be used on any future handouts. The donuts were good. It was agreed that troops should rotate the provision of refreshments. Jim volunteered to take care of the next meeting.
The meeting was closed at 21:07. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 9, 2001 at 18:45 at NWD Scouthouse in the Library.
—Minutes prepared by Ted Claxton and Liam Morland.
