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.
Jim Williamson, 1st Freeport Scout Troop.
The meeting opened at 19:00 with a recitation of the Scout Law. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
Several people registered for the course at the meeting. Liam asked that any more registrations be handed directly to them soon.
The Club decided to use the NWD Camporee as an opportunity for promotion. An announcement about the Club will be made at the Scouters' meeting. A flyer, with upcoming dates and contact information, will be distributed. To make this easier, this information will be printed on a business card. Ben offered to take care of the printing. Club members at the Camporee may camp together. Dates for Club events will be put into the NWD calendar.
Ben has confirmed a supply of sausages and Pierre salads. Ted will get buns and marshmallows, and the key for the gate. Drinks are pot-luck (no alcohol). Brian will bring firewood, and a large pot and burner for cooking. Duncan will bring a large BBQ. Scouters can arrived at 17:30; eating to begin at 18:30. There will be a campfire and lots of time for chatting. Tony will call around to get firm attendance numbers. All should wear their uniforms.
After much discussion, it was decided to hold a weekend workshop for Patrol Leaders and Assistant PLs on November 2-4, 2001. Twelve participants are needed and there is room for up to 24. The workshop will be lead by Pierre and Tony. Ted will lead a workshop for Scouters on the Saturday where they will learn how to make use of their patrol leaders.
Proposed sessions for the weekend are: Intro to Court of Honour, What is a Leader?, Environment, Rights and Responsibilities of Patrol Leaders, Role of the PL and APL, Decision Making Skills — Consensus, Patrol Planning, Working with Challenged Youth, Discipline, Planning Scouts' Own and Campfires, Games, What's Next — Venturing.
The Club reviewed its calendar and set a few more dates. The canoe trip is an opportunity to earn much of the Paddling challenge badge. Completing the badge would require further work, such as a week at Haliburton Scout Reserve.
A sunny January weekend greeted about two-dozen Scouts at the NW Scouters' Club's first event: a winter camp. Scouter Ted Claxton gave Scouts a lesson on how to pack gear on a toboggan before they headed to their campsites in Everton Scout Forest. The next task was piling up snow for quinzhees (snow caves). After some tobogganing, Scouts returned to hollow out their homes for the night. The Scouts brought the Bill Evans campfire circle to life with songs and skits before having mugup and heading into the snow for the night. As the temperature dropped, some Scouts wondered if Scouter Liam was telling the truth about snow's ability to insulate. Come morning, any doubt was gone. It has gone down to minus 13.5 degrees Celsius overnight. In at least one quinzhee, it was plus 1. After a Scouts' Own, Scouts rotated through several activities and packed up to head home. At closing, the entire camp gathered for a photo on top of one of the quinzhees, demonstrating its strength. The camp gave Scouts the satisfaction of having met a challenge and proved for Scouters that great programs come from co-operation.
The Club set the date of the lightweight hike to be November 16-18, 2001. This is a full weekend hike where Scouts will carry all their gear with them. Several possible routes, all on the Bruce Trail near Milton (Bruce Trail map #11) were discussed: Camp Manitou to Mount Nemo Scout Reserve, Camp Manitou to Kelso Conservation Area, and the Hilton Falls side trail. The hike could start at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area.
Ted spoke of the importance of being heard, particularly in emergency situations. There is a difference between shouting and screaming. Shouting is loud, clear speech that comes from the diaphragm. In emergency situations, a voice speaking with confidence will be obeyed. This plays a vital role in preventing panic and coordinating people, such as when a crowd has to leave through a narrow doorway. This is an important skill for any Scout to have. Ted suggested that troops hold a shouting competition to see how far they can make their voices carry.
The Club decided to set themes for the Pentagon in advance and brainstormed several possibilities. These include: games, knots, lashings, campfires, Scouts' Own, ceremonies, and linking. Games will be the theme for the next meeting.
Scouters were pleased with the accomplishments of the meeting, consensus achieved, prompt start, pacing, increased participation, and that it started with a Scouting activity. Time allocation should be attached to the agenda for the next meeting.
The meeting was closed at 21:10. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 18:45 at Historic St. Paul's Church, 137 Queen St. S, at Church St. The theme is games.
—Minutes prepared by Ted Claxton and Liam Morland.
