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.
25th Kitchener Scout Troop.
1st Maryhill Scout Troop.
The meeting opened at 19:00. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
Pierre described the PL workshops that they have run in the past. These have been weekend camps which cover much of the Pathfinder Leadership badge and are based on Scouts Canada's new Patrol Leader's Handbook. The camps have been in a cabin at Camp Everton, usually in the fall. Pierre finds that weekend long PL events provide good opportunities for bonding, and sufficient time to do scenarios and to cover the large amount of material in the Handbook.
Some Scouters felt that a successful PL workshop could be conducted in a Saturday, perhaps at Camp Mohawk. This could be combined with a workshop for Scouters to help them make better use of their patrols, in particular by using the Court of Honour. It was decided to run a PL event on the last weekend in September, 2001 and to discuss the nature of the event at the next meeting.
The Club will hold its spring social on Tuesday, May 29 at Camp Mohawk. All troop-section Scouters are invited to attend. Scouters will gather at 17:30 and eat starting at 18:30. A campfire will be held at 20:00. Ben offered to arrange to have sausages donated. Pierre offered to arrange for salads. Numbers of attendees will have to be known in advance so that proper quantities of food can be arranged.
Liam has arranged to have St. John Ambulance run a Standard First Aid course on May 5 and 6 at NWD Scouthouse. Any Scout or Scouter aged 13 or above may attend. The cost is $50 (it is normally $70). Please register your participants at the next Club meeting. This course completes the requirements for the First Aid challenge badge.
The Scouters discussed what events they would like to Club to run in the future. It was agreed to hold off on most events until the fall since most troops will already have completed their planning for the spring. It was agreed that dates should be set early so that troops can plan around the events that they want to attend.
The Club can approach events in two ways. First, the Club could run an event for its members. Second, the Club could provide training and resources to Club members which would allow troops to run their own event. For example, the Club could provide a workshop on running troop bike hike camps and information about potential routes. Individual troops could take this and run their own bike hike.
Liam suggested the Club hold a Klondike Derby. At a Klondike Derby, patrols of Scouts pack their gear on a Klondike sled (like a small dog sled) and navigate a challenging route from station to station. Scouters at each station test the Scouts on Scouting skills, such as knots, fire lighting, distance estimation, compass bearings, and first aid skills. The day finishes with an awards banquet. This event could be held in town at a place like Bechtel Park, or at a camp or Conservation Area.
Pierre suggested that the Club could run a Combined Court of Honour for member troops concurrent with regular Club meetings.
South Waterloo District has six canoes, a trailer, paddles, and PFDs. These can be rented for the weekend for $25 per canoe.
The Club scheduled the following events:
The Club decided to run a lightweight hike on November 2-4 or 16-18, 2001 (the earlier date will be used unless the Atironta Region Camporama is held after October 15). Scouts would carry all their gear with them. Several possible routes, all on the Bruce Trail near Highway 401 (Bruce Trail map #11) were discussed: Camp Manitou to Mt. Nemo Scout Reserve, Camp Manitou to Kelso, and the Hilton Falls side trail. The hike could start at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area.
Ben showed a first aid/survival kit that can be made for under $10. First aid supplies can be bought at Shoppers Home Health on Gage St. in Kitchener. Orange garbage bags appear brown at a distance while yellow ones remain visible to attract rescuers. KW Surplus has high quality surplus medical tweezers available. Black film cans off gas chemicals. Use clear ones, particularly for food. Any Zehrs with a photo centre should be able to provide these.
Fire starters can be made from egg cartons, dryer lint, and wax. Free wax may can be collected from churches or people who do catering and use candles on tables. Matches can be waterproofed by dipping their heads in wax or coating them with nail polish. Cotton balls rolled in petroleum jelly make great fire starters. These can be lit with a spark and can be stored in a film can. Ted suggested that the Club could have a scrounging corner where extra supplies, such as wax, could be left for others. Lloyd said a scrounging room might be a better fit.
Scouters would have liked to have seen more people at the meeting. Several people volunteered to call around to encourage people to come out. Scouters should consider bringing a friend to the next meeting.
The meeting was closed at 21:15. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 at 18:45 at NWD Scouthouse.
—Minutes prepared by Ted Claxton and Liam Morland.
