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.
Report by Scouter Ted Claxton.
The NW Scouters' Club held its first canoeing event June 22-23, 2002. A total of eighteen Scouts, five Scouters, three Venturers, and two Rovers participated from the 11th Kitchener, 7th Cambridge, 17th Cambridge, and 20th Cambridge.
The event was an introduction to canoeing. On Saturday we went to the Pinehurst Conservation Area between Paris and Cambridge, camping in a group site. Scouter Ben had arranged for canoes for everyone. The group was divided in two. One group learned and practised basic canoe skills while the other group learned water safety and went swimming. Everyone participated in the instruction sessions.
The Cambridge troops had tinfoil dinners while the Kitchener troop had beautiful hamburgers. In the evening, a number of the Scouts went out exploring the camp. The evening closed with a song-filled campfire. By about 22:30, everyone had crashed for the night.
Sunday saw us up early to make breakfast and pack up. We then proceeded to the Freeport Bridge where the canoes were waiting. Once organised, we headed down river with Scouter Ted in the lead. Scouter Ben rode shotgun and was waiting at the Fountain Street Bridge where we had our break. Two Venturers in kayaks, Scouter Kim, Scouter John G., two Rovers, and an instructor provided a safety patrol on the river. Scouter Lyle brought up the rear and shepherded the stragglers. After a break at Fountain Street we proceeded to River Bluffs Park where we pulled out. Scouter John Ferguson came with the bar-b-que equipment and we had a picnic to round out our experience.
The weather was hot both days with some intermittent showers on Saturday.
Budget was $25.00 per person for canoe costs, $7.50 for food, $4.00 for camping fee, and a $3.50 contingency. Total: $40.
The event was well suited to the experience level of the Scouts. The original plan for a trip from West Montrose Bridge to River Bluffs would have been a struggle for a number of the youth and Scouter Ted.
Several troops expressed an interest in the trip at the Spring Thaw BBQ. Ben has a large group coming and has book several canoes. Canoes are $50 each for the weekend, including paddles, PDFs, delivery, and pick-up of canoes. Several of the 17th Cambridge Venturers, with ORCA certifications, will be coming. Anyone interested in participating should let Ben know as soon as possible. Canoes should also be booked as soon as possible. Contact Ben for information about booking canoes.
The canoe trip will start at 09:00 on the Saturday at West Montrose Covered Bridge. The trip will be about seven hours, depending on the flow conditions. Ben will scout out the route the weekend before to get an idea of the flow.
The Club decided to hold the canoe trip on the Grand River from West Montrose Covered Bridge to River Bluffs Park in Cambridge, camping at Camp Mohawk. Ben will scout the route. Ben will ask 17th Cambridge Rovers to run a wide game on the Saturday night and the 17th Cambridge Venturers, many of whom have Ontario Recreational Canoeing Association (ORCA) certification, if they would like to attend. Canoes may be available from 1st Elmira, 1st New Dundee, and South Waterloo District. The SWD canoes are Colemans, which Ben does not recommend due to their extreme flexibility.
