Odawa Fall Cubaree

What a blast !! This year's Odawa fall cubaree was tons of fun. It was held at the Apple Hill Scouting Reserve in Apple Hill Ontario. (see previous post for location info).

The event was organized by Scouter Bill Cain (1st Rockland's Akela) but certain tasks and duties were delegated as needed. Thanks Scouter Bill.

Other thanks to Scouter Jeff (Rockland's Group Commissioner) for manning the kitchen. Many thanks to scouter Joanne from ? (can't remember which group she's from) and to all others who helped (leaders and parent volunteers). (please don't take offense if I forgot your name). Without that kind've help and commitment events like this would never happen. Oh I almost forgot to thank the kids for being understanding, patient and smiling (despite the weather).

The camp was from Friday September 22nd to Sunday September 24th.

Friday was to setup, get acquainted and synchronize the weekend. The kids had a snack, there was a small informal campfire and they played "flashlight tag". It did not rain but the night was a bit chilly.

Saturday was the big day. We basically woke up to a downpour but fortunately the temperature was quite warm. The youth were separated into groups and sent off to the various activities: leather craft (bracelet), relay race, fossil hunt (real fossils) and the obstacle course. Based on some "informal" surveys, the fossil hunt and the obstacle course were the top activities. The fossils were real marine life fossils and the obstacle course featured a rope bridge that spanned across a pond. Here's a pic of the rope bridge:



One "unofficial" activity was grub eating (giving literal meaning to the term : lets get some grub). We got this idea from an arborist who happened to be on site that day. He told us about a grub that lives inside the stem of the golden-rod plant. This grub eventually turns into the "goldenrod gall fly". He mentioned that the grub is edible but also eatable. After trying it and showing it to some of the kids, it became quite a hit (yes they actually ate the grubs ... they have a nutty taste to them)

Other than eating grubs, breakfast comprised of pancakes and sausages. Lunch was chicken noodle soup with sandwich and supper was spaghetti with cesar salad. Mmmm salad ... :o)

We had the traditional camp fire at night. The groups did various songs, cheers and skits and Scouter John (from 1st Rockland) did his 'scary' story. (I'm forgetting the name of the Scouter who MCed the camp fire ... sorry about that but thanks alot for your efforts). :o)

Sunday was the time to pack, have breakfast, have a scouts own and play a little bit. The sun was finally out but boy was it windy.

Here are some numbers:

65 youth
18 leaders
5 parent volunteers

Groups that were present:
1st Greenwood (white fang and red fang)
2nd Orleans
92nd Ottawa
1st Rockland Scouts

Again, thanks to all who helped. Hope you had fun.

YIS
Shere Khan

2006 Odawa Fall Cubaree info

Okay, I won't bore you with an intro. I know you're looking for more info. Here it is:

(note: you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read some of the files. If you can't read the files, download Acrobat Reader by clicking here)

• Downloadable documents (camp activities, maps, rules, etc...) can be found at: http://www.1strocklandscouts.ca/cub-handouts/2006-2007/Fall_Cubaree/

• Another image showing a map to Apple Hill can be found here: http://www.1strocklandscouts.ca/maps/applehill.gif

• Another way to find your way is to use maps.google.ca and type "Apple Hill, Ontario" in the search field and then click on the Search Maps button.

• Directions from Rockland: There are many ways to get there but here's the route I followed last year (for a map see item #2 above):

• Follow Landry (route 8) to Bourget
• Keep on following route 8 all the way to the 417 and cross the 417 (you go over or under ... I can't remember)
• After you cross the 417 route 8 becomes highway 138. Continue on the 138 all the way to highway 43
• Turn left on highway 43 towards Alexandria
• Next, turn right on highway (or route ??) 20, also called Apple Hill Road

• Once in the town of Apple Hill, turn left on Kenyon Concession 2 (there might be a firestation near by) and follow until you see the signs for the camp.

• Stuff to bring can be found in your cub duo-tang handed out last night. Please use common sense. Look at the weather channel and send appropriate clothing. Better a bit more than not enough. Cub uniform/necker needed.

• If you have any questions or concerns please look at the "contact-us" page and give one the leaders a call.
  

YIS
Shere-Khan

PS: You can get extra info at the Apple Hill Scouting Reserve Website

1st Meeting

The 1st Cub meeting is just on the horizon. I think we'll have another good year. We'll have a good mix of returning and new cubs. Our new Akela (formerly Chil) has been busy all summer planning the year (it's basically all planned right down to the individual weekly meetings) good work Achila (haha .. inside joke). Myself (Shere-Khan) and Kaa are returning cub leaders. We have a new (cough cough) double-duty leader: Scouter Christine (Rack-Shaw). I say "cough cough" because she's not really new, she was the Akela a couple of years ago. And I say "double-duty" because she's also a scout leader.

Stay tuned for typical activities like our fall camp (coming up soon), Apple Day, hikes, etc...

MAJOR things that are new this year:

• Fundscrip ... A new way to raise money for our pack .. more info to come.
• Duty Six ... The weekly six that will be in charge of setting up at the start of each meeting.
• Sixer's council ... Sixers and maybe seconders to participate in program planning with the leaders.
• Sixes Points ... A scheme for attributing or deleting points per six. Sixes with the most points get rewards.
  
• Cub duo-tang or binder ... Just like at school each cub will receive a duo-tang so he/she can keep handouts and other info at hand. No excuses for not getting the info anymore. :o)

There are other things that we will be doing differently this year but the above covers the major points (plus I'm getting tired of typing ... ha ha)

All in all I think the kids will have fun while respecting each other. That is what we emphasize : RESPECT (and fun of course).


Okay here's my chance to be "deep" ...

Parents, as leaders we are not perfect. We are not paid nor formally trained to deal with youth as teachers (for example) are. We do have training available to us that is program specific and most of us are parents so we have "on the job" training so to speak. Every leader is different and brings a different perspective in life and the way things should be done. This is bound to create conflict eventually but that's what makes this world fun. (sort've, ha ha). Anyways, I think that all the leaders in our pack have an "open door policy" where you can approach any of us if you have questions, concerns or whatever. Don't be shy. It could be on any topic: camps, meetings, your child, another leader, the weather, body odour (joke), this blog, the website, it doesn't matter. All right enough is enough .... sorry for blabbing too much.

Please have fun this year.

YIS
Shere-Khan