Scouting Life Summer 2014 by Moongate Publishing Inc.

Knife Skills • Amory Winners • Leave No Trace

SCOUTING LIFE SOURCE A RE

FOR SCOUT E

SUMMER 2014

PM 40064684

VOLUME 44, ISSUE 3

Scouting Life Summer 2014

GEAR UP FOR GREAT, SAFE SCOUTING ADVENTURES Visit your local Scout Shop or shop online at Scoutshop.ca • SLEEPING BAGS

Scouts.ca

• TENTS

• BACKPACKS

• CAMPING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

It starts with Scouts.

VOLUME 44 ISSUE 3

SUMMER 2014

CONTENTS

8 3 Editor’s Note: Meet your new editor

21 National Scouter Profile: Elizabeth Smith-Windsor

Rencontrez le nouveau rédacteur en chef

22 Company Adventure: Leave No Trace

4 CEO’s Corner: Working together 6

Message du DG : unir nos forces

24 Book Reviews

Outdoor Skills: Knives, from Beaver Scouts to Venturer Scouts

27 The Language of Praise and Encouragement

8 Knife Skills: Cleaning a Trout

28 Looking Back and to the Future: World Jamboree Retour en arrière et regard vers l’avenir : Jamborees mondiaux

10 Knife Skills: How to Make a Featherstick

34 Calendar of Events

14 Adventure Week in Review: Review It!

Calendrier des activités

Inspirez-vous de la Semaine de l’aventure pour faire un retour sur vos activités!

36 Scouter’s Album: We asked, you submitted. Now send us more!

17 2012 Amory Award Winners

Scouting Life Magazine is produced for Scouts Canada three times a year by Moongate Publishing Inc. 120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 1100, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2 416-930-1664 • www.moongate.ca Scouting Life Magazine addresses timely topics about leadership in Scouting. Editorial contributions are made on a voluntary basis. Unsolicited submissions welcome. Advertising policy: Advertisement of a product or service does not indicate endorsement by the publishers. The publishers do not assume any responsibility by warranty or otherwise with respect to products advertised.

SCOUTS CANADA EDITORIAL BOARD Andrew Price, Executive Commissioner and CEO Daniel Fay, Deputy National Commissioner, Communications Kaylee Galipeau, National Youth Commissioner and Chair of the National Youth Network Steve Kent, Past Chief Commissioner, Contingent Leader 23rd World Scout Jamboree 2015 Doug Reid, Deputy National Commissioner, Program Services Clément Belanger, Group Commissioner & Akela, 1st Hull John Petitti, Executive Director, Marketing & Communications

Publisher Yolanda Thornton Editor Jay Millar Graphic Design Egg Design Advertising Sales Manager M adeleine Hague Tel: 519-853-2439 Email: madeleine@moongate.ca

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YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION: Registered members of Scouts Canada: $13.56 (includes HST) Non-members: $13.56 (includes HST) Outside Canada: $27 (U.S.); $37 (Other foreign) Single copy: $3.00

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Scouting Life is printed on recyclable paper. ISSN 0711-5377

Scouting Life Summer 2014

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EDITOR’S NOTE • MOT DU RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF

MEET YOUR NEW EDITOR RENCONTREZ LE NOUVEAU RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF Hello, my name is Jay Millar, and I am happy to introduce myself to you as the new editor of Scouting Life magazine.

Bonjour, je me présente, Jay Millar, nouveau rédacteur en chef du magazine Scouting Life. Je suis extrêmement heureux d’occuper ce rôle, car

I’m excited for this opportunity, as I have

je suis scout depuis ma tendre enfance, depuis

been involved in Scouting since I was a

mon entrée chez les scouts louveteaux, à London,

Cub Scout growing up in London, Ontario.

en Ontario. J’ai de beaux souvenirs des rencontres,

I have fond memories of going to meetings,

de mon manuel des louveteaux, de mes efforts

reading through my Cub Book, working on

pour obtenir des badges, des jeux et des activités de

badges and playing games and going camping

camping. Je me suis ensuite joint à une troupe de

with a gaggle of kids. After that I joined a Sea

scouts marins, la seule de ma région à l’époque. Chaque

Scout Troop, the only of its kind in the area. Each

printemps, nous mettions nos canots à l’eau dans les

spring we dropped our canoes into some gravel pits north of the city and work on our canoeing skills in preparation for our yearly 10-day trip among the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay.

carrières au nord de la ville en préparation de notre périple d’une dizaine de jours à travers les 30 000 îles de la baie Georgienne. Quand mon plus vieux a eu cinq ans, je me suis rappelé à quel point

When my oldest son was five, I remembered all the fun I’d had, so

j’avais eu du plaisir chez les scouts. Nous l’avons donc inscrit chez les

we went to sign up for Beaver Scouts. What I didn’t bargain for was

scouts castors. L’animateur des scouts castors m’a alors informé qu’ils

the Beaver leader informing me that if my son wanted to join

avaient besoin d’animateurs pour pouvoir inscrire mon fils. Du jour au

Beavers, they needed leaders. And so I was quickly reintroduced to

lendemain, je réintégrais les scouts en tant qu’aide-animateur. Cela fait

Scouting as an adult and became an assistant leader. I have been

maintenant 15 ans que je m’implique auprès du 85th Old Mill Scouting

involved with the 85th Old Mill Scouting Association through

Association, chez les castors, les louveteaux et les scouts, suivant le

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts for 15 years now with both my kids.

parcours de mes deux enfants.

It is a very exciting time for Scouting as we undergo our

Le scoutisme vit des moments excitants, avec la revitalisation de ses

revitalization, and I’m excited for the role that Scouting Life will

programmes, et je tiens à ce que Scouting Life joue un rôle important

play in this. As a writer, I believe in the power of story – why else

dans tout cela. En tant que rédacteur, je crois qu’un récit peut avoir une

do we create logs and reviews of our outings if not for the

valeur immense : pourquoi rédigerions-nous des carnets et des journaux

possibility of sharing the stories of our adventures and keep the

personnels si ce n’était pas pour partager et préserver toute l’énergie et

energy of our Scouting lives alive and full of wonder? Within the

l’émerveillement de nos aventures? Au cœur des récits que nous

stories we share, there will always be information – but there is

partageons, se trouvent divers renseignements sur nos activités, c’est vrai,

also something essential that keeps the adventure going. So I

mais il y a aussi quelque chose d’autre, quelque chose qui permet à

would like to become a story collector. I invite you to share your

l’aventure scoute de se poursuivre. C’est pourquoi je me suis donné la

Scouting stories, as well as your thoughts and comments, as we

mission de collectionner vos récits. Je vous invite donc à me raconter vos

move forward. That way I can share them with Scouters across

récits de scoutisme, à me faire parvenir vos opinions et vos commentaires.

the nation in Scouting Life. Just write me at jay@moongate.ca –

Ainsi, je pourrai les partager avec les scouts d’un océan à l’autre dans

I look forward to hearing from you.

Scouting Life. Écrivez-moi à jay@moongate.ca. Au plaisir de vous lire!

Jay Millar

Editor in Chief, Scouting Life Magazine

Rédacteur en chef, magazine Scouting Life Scouting Life Summer 2014

CEO’S CORNER • MESSAGE DU DG ANDREW PRICE

WORKING UNIR NOS TOGETHER FORCES

Friends in Scouting: t has been about six weeks now since I moved into my new role as Executive Commissioner and CEO. Part of my transition involved taking steps to stop living out of a suitcase! A few weeks back, I spent some time driving a well-packed car from Calgary to Ottawa. Along the way, I had an

opportunity to make some rewarding stops to meet Scouters in Regina and Winnipeg. No matter the location, every time I meet

Chers amis du scoutisme, éjà six semaines se sont écoulées depuis le début de mon nouveau mandat de commissaire général et de directeur général. Au cours de cette période de transition, j’ai enfin pu poser mes valises! Il y a quelques semaines, je conduisais une voiture pleine à craquer entre Calgary et Ottawa. Sur ma route, je me suis arrêté

à Regina et à Winnipeg et j’ai eu la chance de faire des rencontres très enrichissantes. Partout où je vais, à chaque fois que je rencontre des

with Scouters I am inspired by the passion we share for the

bénévoles, je suis inspiré par la passion que nous partageons pour la

Scouting Mission and providing great, safe Scouting adventures

mission scoute et la mise en œuvre de belles aventures scoutes en toute

for more Canadian youth.

sécurité pour plus de jeunes Canadiens.

We have all worked hard to ensure solid recruitment and

Nous avons tous travaillé fort pour mener de solides campagnes de

registration campaigns in May and June. Areas and Groups have

recrutement et d’inscription en mai et en juin. Les secteurs et les

been planning events, Recruitment Toolkits have shipped, and

groupes ont organisé divers événements, les boîtes à outils pour le

the Help Centre is ready to support new and existing Scouts as

recrutement ont été expédiées et le centre d’assistance est prêt à

they look to stay involved. Spring registration has become an

assister les nouveaux membres et les membres actuels qui souhaitent

important way to recruit and retain youth for next year, but as I

demeurer actifs. L’inscription du printemps est devenue un important

was driving through the Prairies on days featuring the best

outil de recrutement et de rétention des jeunes pour l’année suivante.

weather we’ve seen yet this year, I had to ask myself why we only

Alors que je traversais les prairies en voiture, profitant des premières

look to bring new members on board twice a year.

belles journées de l’année, je me suis demandé pourquoi nous nous

I know we all share a focus – to help develop well-rounded youth better prepared for success in the world. We know that we can achieve this by providing Canadian youth with opportunities

limitions aux deux périodes annuelles de recrutement pour accueillir de nouveaux membres. Nous partageons tous une même mission, c’est-à-dire d’aider à

to try things they wouldn’t try elsewhere. So many of these

développer des jeunes bien équilibrés et mieux préparés à la réussite.

“firsts” are best experienced in the spring and summer months

Nous savons que c’est en donnant la chance aux jeunes Canadiens de

when days are longer and warmer and when the other risks are

vivre des expériences uniques que nous pouvons accomplir cette

less prominent. During Adventure Week, we shared a number of

mission. Les mois qui se prêtent le mieux à ces premières expériences

ways to extend our reach and engage Scouting youth in planning

magiques sont souvent ceux du printemps et de l’été, quand les

Scouting Life Summer 2014

for summer adventures. A number of Areas and Councils have

journées sont plus longues et plus chaudes et que les autres risques

also made deliberate efforts to expand summer programs. If we

sont moindres. Pendant la Semaine de l’aventure, nous avons suggéré

are going to engage with as many young Canadians as possible,

plusieurs façons de prolonger nos activités et d’encourager nos jeunes à

we need to be prepared to welcome them to Scouting whenever

planifier des aventures au cours de l’été. Plusieurs secteurs et conseils

they are eager to join, offering them chances for new experiences

ont également déployé d’importants efforts pour développer des

right away.

programmes estivaux. Si nous souhaitons mobiliser le plus grand

My Scout Cub Pack in Calgary recently attended a resource fair

nombre de jeunes Canadiens possible, nous devons être prêts à les

at the local elementary school to promote our programs and invite

accueillir dès qu’ils ont envie de se joindre à nous et leur offrir la chance

youth to try them out. What surprised us was the number of youth

de vivre de nouvelles expériences sans tarder.

and parents asking for summer Scouting opportunities and camps;

Mes scouts louveteaux à Calgary ont récemment participé à la foire

over half of those interested in Scouting specifically wanted to

des ressources de l’école primaire locale afin de promouvoir nos

know how to get started right away. The same interest has

programmes et d’inviter les jeunes à les essayer. Nous avons été surpris

presented itself on a national basis. Between March 1 and April 15,

du nombre de jeunes et de parents intéressés par nos activités estivales

2014, close to 1,200 new find a Group requests were registered by

et nos camps : plus de la moitié des personnes intéressées par le

our Help Centre. The vast majority of these requests related to

scoutisme souhaitaient commencer dès maintenant. Le même intérêt a

parents and youth looking for a Scouting experience now.

été exprimé à l’échelle nationale. Entre le 1e mars et le 15 avril 2014,

Sadly, more than half of these find a Group requests went

notre centre d’assistance a reçu près de 1200 demandes « Trouver un

unanswered; those parents who did receive responses were often

groupe », et dans la vaste majorité des cas, les parents et les jeunes

told to wait until next fall so that they can get better value from

cherchaient à faire l’expérience du scoutisme le plus tôt possible.

the Scouting experience. What I know from working with Scouts

Malheureusement, plus de la moitié de ces demandes sont restées

and Scouters for most of my life is that each and every experience

sans réponse, et plusieurs se sont vus répondre d’attendre l’automne

is valuable and irreplaceable; we are supporting the development

prochain afin de tirer meilleur profit de leur expérience scoute. S’il y a

of citizens one adventure at a time. At a time when we know

une chose que j’ai apprise au cours de ma longue carrière auprès des

youth and their parents are seeking more outdoor adventures

scouts et des bénévoles, c’est que chaque expérience vécue est

and camping, it pains me to ask these youth to wait before

importante et irremplaçable. Nous soutenons le développement des

joining in the fun. We all know that there is a strong relationship

citoyens de demain, une aventure à la fois.

between summer programming and youth retention – let’s work

À un moment où les jeunes et leurs parents sont à la recherche

together to find ways to share summer Scouting with any young

d’aventures en plein air et de camping, je trouve difficile de devoir leur

person who is interested.

demander d’attendre avant de se joindre à nous. Nous savons que les

If we are going to grow and be more vibrant than ever before,

activités estivales contribuent de manière importante à la rétention des

we need to work together as One Scouts Canada. We need to

jeunes, alors nous devons travailler ensemble à trouver des façons de

remain open to new options and ways of delivering Scouting. We

faire vivre le scoutisme d’été à tous ceux qui le souhaitent. Si nous

need to remain focused on supporting relevant, youth-led

souhaitons grandir et devenir une organisation plus dynamique que

programs year-round. I vividly remember my summer Scouting

jamais, nous devons unir nos forces. Nous devons rester ouverts aux

experiences – from campfires to paddling to hiking in the

nouvelles options et façons de faire. Nous devons nous concentrer sur

backcountry. I ask you to join with me to enable more Canadians

la réalisation de programmes pertinents et dirigés par les jeunes tout au

to make new Scouting memories. We can and we will make a

long de l’année. Des feux de camp au canot, en passant par la

difference, one Scout at a time.

randonnée en forêt, je me souviens comme si c’était hier de mes activités scoutes d’été. Je vous demande de travailler avec moi afin de

Yours in Scouting:

permettre à plus de Canadiens de chérir de tels souvenirs scouts. Nous pouvons et nous allons faire une différence, un scout à la fois. Salutations scoutes,

Andrew Price Executive Commissioner and CEO aprice@scouts.ca Andrew Price Commissaire général et directeur general aprice@scouts.ca Scouting Life Summer 2014

FEATURE

OUTDOOR SKILLS

COLONY

KNIVES, FROM BEAVER SCOUTS TO VENTURER SCOUTS

Scouting Life Summer 2014

ince knife skills are definitely better left until

explain that sometimes people can get hurt and it is

youth reach an appropriate age, why not

important to know how to care for minor injuries such

prepare Beaver Scout-aged youth for

as a cut or a scrape. Supply each group with a first-aid

something everyone should know how to do

kit. All the Beavers should wash their hands with soap

before they learn how to use a knife? Where there are

and water (or use hand sanitizer). Use some Hallow-

sharp edges, such as knives, there are bound to be

een makeup to simulate a cut on one of the Beaver

cuts, and while it might be questionable for Beavers to

Scouts, and then demonstrate how to wash the cut

work with knives, there should be no problem at all

with soap and water, or use the sterilizing wipes from

providing Beavers with a little know-how when it

the first-aid kit. Show the Beavers how to properly

comes to basic first aid. So, in preparation for when

apply a bandage. Then they can be invited to paint

they are old enough to work with knives, why not

their own cuts and scrapes and practise cleaning and

show them how to properly clean a cut and apply a

bandaging the wounds. For extra practice, Beavers

bandage? This activity could even be built into an

can try the ultimate challenge: applying a bandage to

age-appropriate themed meeting thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about

one of their own fingers! The idea here is to provide

emergency preparedness. All you need are some

the Beavers with some practical skills they will want

first-aid kits (especially bandages). To make this

to know long before they ever get down to actual

activity a little more exciting, some Halloween

knife skills. In a way itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of like learning to ski; the

makeup can be used to simulate injuries. Divide the

first thing anyone should learn is how to fall and get

Beavers into groups, each with a Scouter. Scouters can

back up.

PACK TROOP

t may feel unwise to think that knife skills should

If blades really make you nervous, you can always use

be considered as an activity to engage in with

sturdy plastic knives. Because of the age difference

youth younger than Scouts. In our current era of

between younger and older Cubs, you could also have

helicopter parenting and extended safety issues

only older youth handle the knives. After giving the

(with no disrespect to safety!), probably handing a

Cubs clear instructions regarding what they will be

knife to a Cub Scout would be low on your list of good

expected to do with the knives, they can use their

ideas. After all, there will be plenty of opportunities for

knives to cut food while Scouters supervise. It should

youth to work with knives during their years as Scouts.

be made clear to everyone up front that if anyone

That is why there are tests and permits to go along

starts to fool around or use their knife for something

with the responsibilities appropriate to that age group.

other than has been instructed, they will be removed

That said, there are ways to introduce those at Cub age

from the activity (and you will have to be prepared to

to the knife as a tool with a specific purpose, and to

act on this if necessary). Afterward everyone can enjoy

teach them that these tools should be respected.

the food that has been prepared, which can be a

Consider an activity that can take place during a

reward for their hard work, teamwork and co-opera-

meeting that isn’t specifically about knives – some-

tion. This activity will subtly introduce knife skills and

thing simple, such as preparing a healthy meal, during

responsibilities to the youth, and actually provide

which the main focus would be about good food to eat

some instruction and hands-on knowledge, without

as part of a balanced diet. This activity could include

making the activity specifically about knives. Cubs can

cutting up some fruit, or anything else that is part of

learn some basic skills they can carry forward into

the menu. This will give you an opportunity to show

their Scouting years, when knives become something

the youth how to respect even a simple kitchen knife.

they can earn the right to use with less supervision.

ssuming that your Scouts have earned

fish market and purchase a whole fish. As part of an

their knife permits, here’s an activity that

outing it can be a little more difficult to plan -- some-

can provide a challenge as well as teach

one has to catch a few fish that are worth eating! But in

them a skill they have likely not had the

either case, the steps remain relatively similar once

opportunity to learn on their own; how to clean a fish!

you have a fish to clean. Once you have a fish, you will

Some things the Scouts will learn: how to determine if

want to prepare it soon after either picking it up from

a fish is suitable for this activity, what tools are

the market or catching it (whoever is picking it up

required to clean a fish, and how to actually clean and

from the market will want to do so just before the

fillet a fish. This will also provide some opportunities

meeting if possible). The next step involves setting up

to work on or brush up on some other skills, such as

a surface out of doors, preferably something like a

how to sharpen a knife so that it can perform the task

tabletop, and covering it with newspapers. It is

at hand effectively. In terms of planning, this activity

preferable to clean fish outside as it can be a messy job

can be done as part of a regular meeting, or you can

– it is best to do it somewhere that can be hosed down

make it something that can be done on a Troop

afterward. If you are on an outing this problem has

outing. The former is rather simple in terms of

already been taken care of for you.

planning. Someone just has to make sure to stop at the

Scouting Life Summer 2014

KNIFE SKILLS

The following are instructions for gutting and filleting a trout, which is a common enough fish from either market or fishing line.

CLEANING A TROUT

I nsert the fillet knife into the anus near the tail. Draw the knife toward the head, splitting the fish to the base of the gills.

Illustrations: Celia Krampien

Scouting Life Summer 2014

S pread the abdominal cavity with your fingers. Reach in and pull out the entrails. Place them in the bucket you set aside for this purpose.

Rinse the cavity out with a good stream of water. Use a garden house or faucet to rinse the outside of the fish, too.

FILETING A TROUT

1 2

Remove the head and the tail (if they haven’t been already). I nsert the knife behind the gill cover. Lift it slightly away from the fish’s body and insert the knife, cutting downward until the knife hits the backbone. Turn the knife so that it is aligned with the ribcage, and push it down so that the tip extends about midway down the fish’s body. Now run the knife along the ribcage, separating the meat of the fish from the ribs.

Push the knife through the fish’s vent. This is the small hole located on the underside of the fish. Continue cutting along the bones until the fillet ends, at the tail.

Pull back the fillet. Pull it away from the ribcage, and use the knife to loosen it where it is still attached. Lift the fillet away from the body and set it on the plate.

6 7

Remove the head if you like. Trout are often cooked with the head on, but pan fish heads are usually cut off behind the gills.

The fish is ready to be filleted.

Turn the fish over and insert the knife behind the gill cover. Using the same method, slice into the fish until the knife hits the backbone. Turn the knife so that it is aligned with the ribcage, push it down until the tip extends about midway down the fish’s body, and run the knife along the ribcage to separate the meat from the ribs. Push the knife through the vent. Keep cutting along the bones until the fillet is cut off at the tail.

Pull back the fillet. Carefully lift it from the ribcage, using the knife to loosen it where it is still attached. Lift the fillet from the bones and place it on the plate.

PROJECT

HOW TO MAKE A FEATHER STICK

ereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another activity that will give Scouts a chance to practise using their knives toward a practical goal. Attempting to start a fire in the damp or rain can be a laborious process. Making a feather stick could mean the difference between being able to start a fire and keeping warm or spending a cold and miserable night in camp. Split wood will burn much better than whole wood, even if it is raining. Even if the wood you are using is damp, the inside will still be dry. Feather sticks are simply large branches split down into smaller pieces to reveal the dry wood within, which is then shaved so that the shavings remain attached to the stick, providing both tinder and kindling in the same handy package.

Illustrations: Celia Krampien

Scouting Life Summer 2014

Step 1

Step 3

Select a piece of dead, standing wood, about 5-7 cm in diameter and about 30-60 cm in length, which is straight and has no knots along its surface. Dead standing wood are branches and twigs that have fallen but haven't reached the floor because they have been caught by other branches or trees. This way the wood will be relatively dry because it hasn't been lying on the damp ground.

Once the initial branch has been cut into several smaller pieces, select one and place it lengthwise on something sturdy. The ground is probably best. Take a sharp knife and run the blade down the length of the stick away from your body starting at about the halfway point. You need to try to shave the wood as thin as possible, and stop just before the bottom of the stick so that the shavings will curl up as it nears the bottom. These are the "feathers" and you should try and keep them attached to the wood. Each shaving made will create a new ridge; make a slight turn in the wood and cut down this new ridge. By moving the angled blade down each ridge and repeating the process, you will create a nice bouquet of shavings which is what you want for a decent feather stick. You will want to make several feather sticks to get a fire going quickly. If the feather stick is made correctly, it will have thin shavings next to thicker shavings. The thin shavings will catch a spark from a flint or fire striker, which will then ignite the thicker shavings to create a longer lasting flame. While carving your feather stick, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry if some of the shavings fall off. These can be placed individually on your tinder bundle or flame.

Step 2 Take the wood you have selected and, depending on its size, split it lengthwise into at least four pieces. This can be achieved by placing a knife at the top of the stick and using another piece of wood to hit the knife through the stick.

Even if it is cold and wet when setting up camp, a few minutes of extra effort spent creating several feather sticks will quickly help to create a nice fire for warmth, water purification and cooking. Once the fire is going, more feather sticks can be prepared and kept dry, to assist in re-igniting the fire in the morning.

Source: www.smartbushcraft.com

Scouting Life Summer 2014

COMPANY 12

kay â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so you have earned your permits as

components of a knife and to have an understanding

a Scout and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve become quite skilled

of how these components are assembled. What are

at using your knives in a variety of ways

the tools you will need to gather to build your knife?

and for a variety of purposes. Have you

How will you finish your handle, and how will you

ever considered making your own knife? There are

sharpen your blade? Knife building is an activity that

kits that can be purchased at your local Scout Shop.

could be done as a group at one or more Company

Grohmann Knives (www.grohmannknives.com) have

meetings. Building your own knife will take you

kits in virtually every style of knife they sell. Deciding

further into understanding what design features

what kind of knife you will build will have you

(such as the shape of a handle, or the length of a

consider what you will be using your knife for. If you

blade) make a knife more useful for a given task.

are more adventurous, you could consider research-

Venturer Scouts who build their own knives will come

ing techniques and building a knife from raw materi-

away from the experience with a greater appreciation

als. Either way, you will need to do some research into

of the craftsmanship and application of these

the art of knife building in order to learn the required

important tools.

Scouting Life Summer 2014

NIGHT

~ An Exciting Camping Adventure ~

SAFARI

SCOUTING LIFE

at JUNGLE CAT WORLD Fun and educational Wildlife Show - meet some amazing Creatures Night Time Guided Tour through Cat World Zoo Www.junglecatworld.com

Evening Meal & Snacks

Heated Bunkhouse Accommodations

45 minutes east of Toronto

Meets Requirements for World Scout Environment Award

SEND US YOUR STORIES AND PHOTOS! Stories about your leadership ideas and experiences. Pictures of youth in action. Contact the Editor directly at scoutinglife@scouts.ca

3667 Concession Rd. 6 Orono, Ont. 905-983-5016 info@junglecatworld.com

ScotiaJamb 2015 ADVENTURE, WILDERNESS AND FELLOWSHIP in Scouting await you at SJ in Nova Scotia. So mark July 11 - 17, 2015, in your calendar. Come experience Nova Scotia, including wilderness camping, canoeing, sea kayaking, ziplines, climbing wall and much more. For information contact Herb Ripley at hripley@ns.aliantzinc.ca or Thomas Oickle at oickletm@gmail.com

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Scouting Life Summer 2014

FEATURE

ADVENTURE WEEK AND BEYOND

REVIEW IT! INSPIREZ-VOUS DE LA SEMAINE DE L’AVENTURE POUR FAIRE UN RETOUR SUR VOS ACTIVITÉS!

IT’S IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE REVIEW AS PART OF THE PROCESS OF SCOUT ACTIVITIES. THIS ENCOURAGES SCOUTS TO LEARN HOW TO REFLECT UPON THEIR EXPERIENCE. IT HELPS THEM TO DETERMINE HOW TO REVISE OR ENHANCE FUTURE ACTIVITIES. 14

Scouting Life Summer 2014

PRENEZ LE TEMPS DE FAIRE UNE RÉTROACTION DE VOS ACTIVITÉS SCOUTES. VOUS ENCOURAGEZ AINSI LES SCOUTS À APPRENDRE DE LEURS EXPÉRIENCES. VOUS LES AIDEZ À DÉTERMINER DE QUELLE FAÇON REVOIR OU AMÉLIORER LEURS ACTIVITÉS FUTURES.

egardless of what age group you are working with, youth and Scouters should take time to talk about any adventure they’ve just shared, whether at the end of the activity or at their next meeting.

uel que soit l’âge du groupe, les jeunes et les animateurs devraient prendre le temps de discuter de l’aventure qu’ils viennent de partager, à la fin de l’activité ou au cours de la réunion suivante. Voici quelques idées de

questions pour guider votre rétroaction, mais n’hésitez

What did you learn or observe while doing this activity?

pas à inventer les vôtres :

• • • • •

Qu’avez-vous appris ou observé pendant l’activité?

What did you enjoy about this activity? What was a challenge for you in this activity? What might we do differently next time? What did we learn that we did not know before? How can we ensure that everyone’s as involved as possible next time? • What worked really well during this adventure? • What did not work out as planned? • Did you take any photos that you’d like to share? • What advice would you give to someone new doing this activity next year? Try to avoid asking “yes or no” questions, or allowing for reviews that categorize parts of an activity without questioning more deeply. Reviews like “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” or “Apple & Onion” are okay from time to time, but these don’t help the youth to develop understanding through their experiences as effectively as other kinds of review. Too many reviews ask the youth to simply criticize; this does not help. Empower them to seek new ideas, to properly digest their own experience and see what they would do next time they experience a similar event. Sometimes review will happen quickly and sometimes it will need more time. Review can happen informally while hiking out from the camp, or more formally while sitting in a group at a post-activity meeting. It’s not where you ask the questions that is important, but to give the youth a chance to reflect on their adventure guided by the Scouter.

Celebrate It Here are some great ways to share your adventures. • A calendar is a great souvenir. Many apps, stores and websites offer some fun templates that you can use to create something meaningful for all participants. • A slideshow of the pictures and video clips that the youth have taken is a great way to have them remember their great experience. It’s also a great way to share that experience with others. • Give a presentation to friends and family, talking about your adventure. Invite your Group’s sponsor, and be sure to give thanks for its support. • Send a picture of your adventure in to your local newspaper. Show your community what Scouting’s all about! Some tips: make sure to include a caption of what is happening in the photo and a short description of the event. And always ensure you have permission from everyone in the photo.

• • • • •

Qu’est-ce que vous avez le plus aimé à propos de cette activité? Qu’est-ce qui a représenté un défi pour vous pendant cette activité? Que pourrions-nous faire différemment, la prochaine fois? Qu’avons-nous appris de nouveau? Comment pouvons-nous assurer une meilleure participation de tout le monde la prochaine fois? • Qu’est-ce qui a très bien fonctionné pendant l’aventure? • Qu’est-ce qui n’a pas fonctionné comme prévu? • Y a-t-il des photos que vous avez prises que vous aimeriez partager? • Quels conseils donneriez-vous à ceux qui feront cette activité pour la première fois l’année prochaine? Évitez de poser des questions fermées, qui se répondent par « oui » ou par « non ». N’encouragez pas les scouts à catégoriser trop simplement les différents aspects d’une activité. Il faut aller au-delà des comparaisons de type « bon, correct ou mauvais » et « pommes et oranges », qui ne permettent pas aux jeunes de comprendre comment ces expériences peuvent les faire grandir. Trop de rétroactions se contentent de critiquer, et ce n’est pas une approche très constructive. Donnez-leur la responsabilité de chercher de nouvelles idées, de bien réfléchir à leur expérience et de trouver de meilleures façons de réagir à une situation donnée. La rétroaction ne prendra parfois que quelques minutes. D’autres fois, il faudra y consacrer plus de temps. Les rétroactions peuvent se faire de façon informelle, en randonnée, ou de façon plus officielle, en s’assoyant en groupe autour d’une table au cours de la réunion suivant l’activité. Ces questions peuvent être posées n’importe où, l’important est d’offrir la chance aux jeunes de faire une réflexion sur l’aventure, guidée par l’animateur.

Soulignez vos bons coups! Voici plusieurs excellentes façons de partager vos aventures : • Un calendrier constitue un beau souvenir. Plusieurs applications, magasins et sites Web proposent des modèles amusants dont vous pouvez vous inspirer pour créer quelque chose d’évocateur pour tous les participants. • Un diaporama des photos et vidéos prises par les jeunes est une excellente façon de conserver le souvenir d’une expérience mémorable. C’est aussi un bon moyen de partager cette expérience avec les autres. • Faites une présentation à vos amis et à votre famille à propos de votre aventure. Invitez les commanditaires du groupe, et n’oubliez pas de les remercier de leur soutien. Remerciez également tous les bénévoles qui ont rendu cette aventure possible! • Envoyez une photo de votre activité à votre journal local. Montrez à votre communauté de quoi est fait le scoutisme! Petits conseils : n’oubliez pas d’inclure une légende expliquant ce qui se passe sur la

Scouting Life Summer 2014

Amory Adventure Award

CAMPFIRE THOUGHTS photo ainsi qu’une brève description de l’évènement. Assurez-vous BY JARED GUDNASEN

The Amory Adventure Award is given annually to the Venturer Scout Company that displays the most initiative in conceiving, planning and executing an epic outdoor adventure. You can read reports written by the 2012 Armory Award winners in this issue of Scouting Life. The 2013 winner of the Amory Adventure Award is the 31st Burlington Venturer Company. The second-place Company is St. Mark’s 38th Brant, and the third-place Company is 1st Orillia. Congratulations to all three Companies, and to all who submitted! 31st Burlington submitted a fantastic 100-page log that included heaps of information about planning a nine-day canoe trip in Temagami, the trip itself and reflections on the adventure. The submission included a spiral-bound log with plenty of supporting colour images, and a CD that included a PDF of the log and nearly 1,000 photographs! The Company hit the water in mid-July of 2013 and covered nearly 150 km of beautiful Northern Ontario wilderness. Stay tuned to the next issue of Scouting Life magazine to read about their adventure, as well as read reports from the second and third place companies. How can your Company submit to the 2014 competition? First, get started planning an adventure. Your adventure will need to be at least four days in duration – but the more ambitious the trip, the more impressed the judges will be! Keep detailed records of every element of the planning, doing and reviewing of your adventure; meeting minutes, budgets, fundraising efforts, training and practicing the adventure itself and personal reflections from all who took part in the adventure. Include plenty of colour photographs and supporting graphics. Be creative, and have fun! You can read reports written by the 2012 Amory Award winners in the following pages of this issue of Scouting Life. For details and due dates for the 2013 Amory awards, visit scouts.ca/ca/amory-adventure-award

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que toutes les personnes présentes sur la photo aient signé le consentement pour l’utilisation de leurs images.

Prix de l’aventure Amory Le Prix de l’aventure Amory est remis annuellement à la compagnie de scouts aventuriers s’étant démarquée par l’audace dont elle a fait preuve dans la conception, la planification et l’exécution d’une aventure en plein air absolument unique. Vous trouverez les histoires des gagnants du Prix de l’aventure Amory 2012 dans cette présente édition de Scouting Life. En 2013, le Prix de l’aventure Amory a été décerné à la compagnie 31st Burlington. La compagnie St. Mark’s 38th Brant a obtenu la deuxième place et la compagnie 1st Orillia, la troisième. Félicitations aux trois compagnies et à tous les participants! La compagnie 31st Burlington a composé un magnifique journal de 100 pages remplies d’informations utiles sur la planification d’une expédition en canot de 9 jours sur la rivière Temagami, sur les aventures qu’ils ont vécues ainsi que les conclusions qu’ils en tirent. Leur dossier de soumission comprenait un journal à reliure spirale avec des tas d’images en couleurs, un cédérom avec une version PDF du journal ainsi que près de 1000 photos numériques! La compagnie a mis ses canots à l’eau à la mi-juillet 2013 et a parcouru près de 150 km au cœur de la nature sauvage du Nord de l’Ontario. Surveillez la prochaine édition de Scouting Life pour en apprendre plus sur leur aventure ainsi que sur celles des gagnants des deuxième et troisième places. Votre compagnie souhaite prendre part au concours cette année? Premièrement, commencez par planifier votre aventure. L’expédition doit être d’au moins quatre jours, mais plus votre aventure sera audacieuse, plus vous aurez de chances d’impressionner les juges! Prenez des notes détaillées sur chaque aspect de la planification, de la réalisation et de la rétroaction de votre aventure : les procès verbaux des rencontres, les budgets, les activités de financement, la formation et la pratique, l’activité elle-même et les réflexions personnelles de chacun des membres de l’expédition. Ajoutez une foule de photos en couleurs et de supports visuels. Soyez créatifs et amusez-vous!

AMORY AWARD WINNERS The Amory Award is given annually to the Venturer Scout Company that displays the most initiative in conceiving, planning and executing an outdoor adventure activity. The 2012 Amory Award is a little late in coming, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pleased to present our first, second and third place winners. For more information about this award including eligibility criteria and how to enter visit: Scouts.ca/amory-adventure-award

FIRST PLACE 43rd Winnipeg Chinese Venturer Company Witten by Derek Tan

Scouts. Not only the kids, but the parents also intermingle all the time as well. Whether it may be a social event or a shopping trip to

the states, we love to travel together.

(WCCC) from 15:00 -18:00. As a complete

back in Beaver Scouts. Through Beavers,

group, we have seven Cub Scouts and five

Cubs, Scouts and now Venturers, we have

Venturer Scouts. Instead of considering

bonded enough with one another to

ourselves solely a Scout Group, we consider

possess a special team chemistry. Some

ourselves a family. Unlike all the other Scout

groups have problems getting along to

Groups, we are unique in the way that we

finish a task, but we are able to work

operate as we are all friends outside of

together with no problems at all. A few

he 43rd Winnipeg Scout Group was

As a Venturer Company, we are a very

stared over 10 years ago. Almost every

tightly-knit group of guys. We have known

Sunday, we have our meetings at the

each other forever, and grew up with one

Winnipeg Chinese Culture Center

another since we were basically babies

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years back (while still a Scout Troop), we were also involved in the Winter Derby and Wilderness Challenge. We have placed 1st in the Winter Derby and 1st in the Wilderness Challenge. That alone demonstrates how efficient of a team we are. Almost all of us have managed to achieve our Chief Scout’s Award and our

Through Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and now Venturers, we have bonded enough with one another to possess a special team chemistry.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award. We hope to meet the standards for our Duke of

we live in Winnipeg, this trail is located a reasonable two hours east of home in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. Our goal for this trip was to scale out campsites so future groups will know how many people can fit on the sites and to clean up any garbage left by previous campers. Keeping the environment clean is something that we love to do. On this

The Mantario is respectfully known as

trip we gained key leadership skills,

Edinburgh’s Gold Award and Queen’s

the most difficult hiking trail in Manitoba.

pushed our physical limits, experienced

Venturer Award in the future. In the past

Trekking through 63 kilometres (one way)

new terrain, interacted with Mother

couple of years, we have also been active

of winding trails, muddy swamps, majestic

Nature, and discovered who we really are

with Quest, a combination of Groups from

forests and difficult river crossings (beaver

as people. City life is a stressful life and

Winnipeg, Thompson and Kenora that go

dams or logs) in two different provinces is

nothing is better than clearing your mind

on a week-long canoe trip in various

quite the trip. As it is our 10th anniversary

on the trail.

locations around central Canada.

as a Scout Group, we have decided to do

A yearly commitment that we have as

We had originally applied for this

something extraordinarily challenging that

Award just to say that we have met the

an entire group is the Manitoba Marathon

offered excitement, experience and

criteria for it. Winning this Award is just a

Green Team. What we do (being the

leadership. The Mantario trail was the best

bonus to everything that has happened.

majority of the Green Team) is attempt to

choice for us due to its difficulty, length,

The experience of completing this trip is

make the Manitoba Marathon greener. In

proximity to home, easy access to medical

already one in its own. The memories

2011, we were able to divert over 80 per

attention and isolation from civilization.

gained will never be forgotten. We better

cent of the waste from landfills to being

Closed due to the windstorm in 2008 and

ourselves as the years go on and will

recycled or composted.

various years of flooding, the trail was

continue to do what we love to do!

recently reopened after years of repair. As

hallenge. Perseverance Determina tion. Those three words best describe our canoe trip through Algonquin Provincial Park in August 2012. It

wasn’t the first time we had done a canoe trip – the year before we went on a trip through the Barron River Canyon on the east side of Algonquin – but this trip was definitely more challenging. For myself and four other members of the 1st Bolton Venturer Company, our Amory Award Adventure had a gruelling start. On our first day of paddling, we started across Kawawaymog Lake (at the Northern Edge

SECOND PLACE 1st Bolton Venturer Company Written by Alexander Court

of Algonquin), where we were paddling against the wind for much of the way. The trip got easier for us once we got off the lake and were paddling down a river, where we were sheltered from the wind, but we soon faced a downpour that left everything – our gear and ourselves – soaked to the bone. Fortunately for us, we had spent time

Scouting Life Summer 2014

before leaving preparing our gear and packing it in waterproof canoe barrels and bags. When you’re on a canoe trip, you really can’t afford not to waterproof your gear, because a majority of the time you and the water are just inches away from each other. We had very little portaging to do on the first day, however, the next few

Challenge. Perseverance Determination. Those three words best describe our canoe trip through Algonquin Provincial Park in August 2012.

days were full of portaging, which made for

Each day was also filled with unique memories as we paddled through varying parts of the rivers and lakes. The trip itself took a lot of training and preparation beforehand, but in the end the experience and opportunity to canoe through some of the most brilliant lakes and rivers in the province and witness the incredible scenery of Algonquin Provincial Park was

quite the challenge. The campsites that we

swampy part of the lake. Each of these sites

definitely worth it. It was a truly amazing

stayed at over the trip varied with each day,

posed different challenges to how we set

experience and a great Scouting adventure!

as we stayed at a site with a sandy beach, a

up our tents and bear bags, but each

Videos of our trip can be found here:

site with a rocky jut-out and a site next to a

offered a unique camping experience.

bit.ly/QGPWLo

rom August 7 to August 12 2012, the 38th Simons Creek Venturer Scouts went on a six-day thru hike in the Cline River Valley, which is just

east of the Columbia Icefield. We went through three different regions: Jasper National Park, the White Goat Wilderness Area and Banff National Park. On the trip there were six youth and three advisors. The trip consisted of a helicopter “hop” on day four of the trip. The helicopter brought us up in elevation and deeper into the backcountry, where we experienced amazing alpine terrain which few people get to experience. On the trip, we covered

THIRD PLACE

approximately 100 kilometres on foot, some of which without a trail. We also crossed three major passes and hiked through many types of environments such as bare alpine passes, boulder fields, and wide and narrow river valleys. The Venturer motto is Challenge, and this was the purpose of our trip. This trip was a huge success. It challenged us as

The trip challenged us as individuals and as a Company not only in the execution, but in the planning and preparation.

38th Simons Creek Venturers Written by Ryan Greico

individuals and as a Company not only in the execution, but in the planning and preparation. This was the longest backpack

helicopter, planning the route to hike, food

trip any of the youth on the trip had ever

and gear for the six days of backpacking,

done; there were some long days with

as well as safety considerations in the

some heavy packs, hiking up high passes

backcountry. All these challenges were

and through dense forests. Our group did

worth it as we got to see amazing scenery

extensive planning to organize the trip.

and experience new, remote parts of the

This includes the driving and shuttle pick

backcountry. We learned lots and it was a

up after the hike, the logistics of the

rewarding trip for us all. Scouting Life Summer 2014

Scouting Life Summer 2014

NATIONAL SCOUTER PROFILE

ELIZABETH SMITH-WINDSOR Just like you, the folks whose names you see on Scouts Canada communications and policies are Scouters too. They have Colonies, Packs, Troops, Companies and Crews of their own. We thought you might like to know a little more about them…

What’s your favourite camp recipe? Tinfoil dinners –

and we were looking up at the

FAVOURITE SONG FAVOURITE CAMP CAMP SONG

meat, potatoes, carrots, onions and mushrooms cooked right in the fire.

I wish I were a Scout, That’s all I want to be, But if I weren’t a Scout,

What’s your favourite game or activity?

A … I would be!

“Stick of Destiny”

most starry sky I

stands in a circle holding hands. A cardboard tube is placed

Hometown: Saskatoon, SK

a vivid and dancing

Current Scouting position at National: Member of the Board of Governors

display of the northern lights.

Are you married? My husband Ian and I have been married for four years.

hat is your W favourite Scout camp property?

standing up in the middle of the circle.

Anglin Lake Semi-Wilderness Camp –

Players must push/pull each other while

a beautiful lakefront camp set in

holding hands to make someone else

Saskatchewan’s boreal forest.

knock over the tube. The person who knocks it over is out and the game continues until there is one winner.

What is your favourite season to camp in? Summer – it makes for the best canoeing!

What your favourite Scouting memory?

Currently living in: Saskatoon, SK

have ever seen and

with Cubs Scouts or Scouts. Everyone

Name: Elizabeth Smith-Windsor

Standing on the dock at Anglin Lake

Is there something fantastic on your Scouting Bucket List?

Semi-Wilderness camp as a Venturer

Introducing another generation of my

Scout with three fellow youth. It was 2 a.m.

family to the Scouting Movement.

Scouting History as a youth member: I joined as a Beaver Scout at five years old and have been a member ever since. I received my Chief Scout’s and Queen’s Venturer Awards. I was also an instructor of outdoor skills and Canoe Guide with the Saskatchewan Service Corps, a specialized Venturer Scout Company that staffs the Anglin Lake Semi-Wilderness camp in Northern Saskatchewan. Adult Scouting History: I have been a Cub Scouter since I was 14 and have earned my Wood Badge I and II at the Cub Scout level. I was also a member of the Saskatchewan Council training team. I have been a member of the Board of Governors since November 2011. Current local Scouting Involvement: Cub Scouter with the 1st St. James’ Scout Group.

Scouting Life Summer 2014

COMPANY

COMPANY ADVENTURE:

LEAVE NO TRACE 22

Scouting Life Summer 2014

y the time you reach Venturer Scout-hood, presumably you have been on many outings. If we have been fortunate as Scouts, our Scouters have helped to organize a few trips that aren’t your run of the mill all-Section gatherings at a local campground or Scout property. You’ve hauled gear or paddled your way into the wilderness. You’ve struck camp somewhere a little out of the way. Farther out.

Here are some further thoughts that

Don’t return to a pristine area more

Gadd offers on the Leave No Trace

than twice per season. It only takes a few

method. They are based on the seven

trips into an undisturbed space to estab-

principles listed below but with broader

lish a human footprint. Travel in groups of

strokes culminated from his 40 years as an

no more than six. The larger the group, the

outdoorsman.

greater the impact will be. Whenever

Observe the motto “Take only pictures

possible, use an established path—even an

and leave only footprints” to remind

animal track. If there is no established

yourself to keep a respectful distance and

path, make sure your group spreads out to

be satisfied. On land that’s free of human

prevent creating one. Walk around

disturbance, don’t collect anything

vegetation rather than thrashing through

whether for fun or for food. All of it is there

it. You should even consider your boot

for a reason and we shouldn’t be taking it.

soles. Yes, the only thing you want to leave

If there is something you want to have a

behind are footprints, but you should

closer look at, make sure to bring your eye

consider just what those footprints might

to it rather than the other way around.

mean to a pristine ground covered in

One of the principles that all Scouts and

Stoop. And with regard to animals, give

fragile mosses, lichens and fungi. A soft,

Venturers should adhere to is the Leave No

them plenty of room. They need to live

subtle tread on your boot will have less

Trace method. In its truest sense, this

their lives without having to deal with

impact than a heavy, lugged tread.

philosophy usually applies when one is

humans all the time.

hiking and backpacking in areas that do

Another motto: “If you can pack it in,

Campsites won’t necessarily exist, so you should camp in places that can handle

not have officially maintained trails or

you can pack it out” might also be read as

your presence. If there is evidence of a

hikers’ campgrounds, but at the same time

“Don’t leave any garbage.” Further to this,

heavily-used campsite in a pristine area,

the principles are so good that they should

if you find any garbage left behind by

pitch your tent there to avoid spreading the

be considered no matter where you are,

others, pack that out too. This is especially

human footprint. Otherwise, keep away

even if you are visiting your local urban

true of food, which if either left behind or

from water, partly to avoid polluting, but

park. The point is to enter spaces without

ingested by wildlife can have damaging

also because waterways are often used by

doing lasting harm to them.

effects. Never throw food away, and plan

animals and you don’t want to disturb

meals carefully so you can eat everything

them. Don’t try to engineer a super-com-

with no leftovers, and pack out whatever

fortable tent site, and never dig a drainage

you don’t eat. Something you might be

trench around your tent. If you must build

happy to hear is that you should wash your

a fire, do so in a rocky place if possible, and

pots, cups and dishes as little as possible.

when finished make sure the fire is

There is also the issue of human waste.

extinguished with water and the ashes are

Urine isn’t really much of a problem, but

cool to the touch. When you break camp,

you should urinate on rocks or tree trunks

make as much effort as possible to remove

to avoid damaging fragile vegetation. Poop

all signs that you were there, including

is another issue. When you are hiking or

replacing anything that you happened to

camping in an officially maintained area,

move, and even removing evidence of your

there will be outhouses, but such conve-

own footprints by brushing them with your

niences will not be available in remote

hand or a fallen branch.

Ben Gadd, author of The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook (see review on page 25) lists the following seven principles of the Leave No Trace methodology, which are worth knowing:

1 Plan Ahead and Prepare 2 Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 3 Dispose of Waste Properly 4 Leave What You Find 5 Minimize Campfire Impacts 6 Respect Wildlife 7 Be Considerate of Other Visitors

areas. In some cases it will even be

If you are looking for information,

necessary to cart out human waste along

Leave No Trace Canada (www.leav-

with your garbage. If such measures are

enotrace.ca) is a national not-for profit

not required, you should poop in individu-

organization whose website has lots of

al cat-holes dug into the ground and bury

information available. There are even

your waste by replacing the earth you dug

training programs you can enrol in.

up. Never bury toilet paper; this should be carted out in heavy ziplock bags.

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RE V I E W

here was a time when global positioning, the compass, and even maps didn’t exist, and still human beings managed to “find their way.” How do we know they arrived safely? The answer is simple: we, their ancestors, are here. In his delightfully anecdotal and philosophical book, The Natural Navigator, Tristan

Gooley – who teaches the art of natural navigation at the Royal Geographical Society and is the only living person to have both flown and sailed solo across the Atlantic – will reacquaint readers with the forgotten idea that human beings once made our way through the world without the use of technology. The book is both instructional and filled with interesting detours gathered from across ages, continents and cultures. There are some subjects one would expect to find, such as using moss to determine direction (“moss does not care about direction, but it cares greatly about moisture”), and there are many unexpected topics such as using a spider’s web as a compass. Sun, moon and stars are all given equal and formidable treatment, and there are excellent discussions of water, weather and the land – our natural environment offers many clues by which to navigate if one takes the time to notice them. Time itself becomes a fifth sense for Gooley, and he suggests that we should take the time to notice the world around us more fully, whether

The Natural Navigator: The Rediscovered Art of Letting Nature Be Your Guide Tristan Gooley The Experiment theexperimentpublishing.com ISBN 9781615190461 | 320 pages | US$14.95

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we are hiking in the wild or walking to the corner store.

ulled from more the 40 years of hiking and backpacking experience, this handbook is exactly the thing for anyone contemplating some serious hiking in Canada. This is not a “where to go” kind of guidebook, but a highly detailed volume filled with tips and tales that will show you how to be prepared by the

time you get there and then get back. The book is broken down into three sections: “Before you begin,” which includes many of the basics including some useful philosophy about why we go hiking and backpacking, some basics of walking and preparation; “What you need,” which covers clothing, footwear, gear and food, and “Going backpacking,” the section with the most information. Everything about choosing routes and companions, working with kids and pets, safety, and an entire section on troubleshooting and common things that go wrong. The longest part of this section is actually a full-length story of a backpacking trip, which lays out in practical terms the entirety of a hypothetical trip. This is wonderful because you can get a sense of how all the other pieces of the book are put to practical use. There is also a section that deals specifically with preparing for hiking in selected regions of Canada including the High Arctic and Northern Labrador, the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the Prairies, and so on. With lots of full-colour photos and

The Canadian Hiker’s & Backpacker’s Handbook: Your How-to Guide to Hitting the Trails, Coast to Coast to Coast

useful insets, including some recipes and even a skunk-spray remedy, this book is a terrifically practical resource, useful for those wanting to learn and for those who want to revisit the fundamentals.

Ben Gadd, with photos by Lonnie Springer and a foreword by Brian Patton Whitecap Books whitecap.ca ISBN 9781552859179 | 269 pages | $29.95

s the author admits in his introduction: “These are notes of an adventure.” In 2010, Steve Hainsworth spent 30 days hiking the 885 kilometres of the Bruce Trail from Niagara Falls to Tobermory. Following the Niagara Escarpment, Hainsworth recalls his experiences, usually written in simple explicative

paragraphs from notes he made at the end of each day. Each chapter is about the events of one day, and the 30 days of his trip are broken up into the various sections of the Bruce Trail itself; Niagara, Iroquoia, Toronto, Caledon, Dufferin, Blue Mountains, Beaver Valley, Sydenham and Peninsula. From them, readers can get a fairly good feel for each of the sections of the trail, and this is helped by the plethora of full-colour photographs that accompany the text. If there is anything lacking about this book in particular it is guidebook information about hiking the Bruce Trail; you will not find any particular information about what kind of equipment you should use, things to watch out for, where one can camp overnight, or if camping isn’t available, where else one can find lodging or food. This book isn’t meant to be read as a guidebook, rather it should be enjoyed for what it is; a memoir and a testament to the idea that hiking the Bruce from end to end is

Adventures With Bruce: A Thirty Day Hike Along Canada’s Oldest and Longest Footpath

possible, an experience that is filled with moments of inspiration and frustration alike. Along the way, Hainsworth meets many people who share stories and conversation, and

Steve Hainsworth AdventureProse Press adventureprose.com ISBN 9780987683007 | 109 pages | $18.95

Scouting Life Summer 2014

sometimes they help him out when he runs into trouble. And Hainsworth also provides some local history about the different places he passes through, although not in any great detail. One of the great tropes of the book are numbers: how many days he has been hiking, average distance hiked each day, actual distance hiked each day, even the number of mosquito bites (although greatly exaggerated) becomes a statistic. And of course, perhaps most importantly, we occasionally read how many kilometres he has left to go.

ow here’s something you don’t see every day: a full-length cookbook complete with a section of full-colour plates, filled with recipes for food you can prepare and take on trips deep into the woods. The challenge with any trip where you have to carry in the food yourself is, of course, weight and

bulk, but historically there have been answers to this problem that allow you to maximize the amount of nutrition you can carry.The secret? Dehydration. While it is certainly possible to pick up prepared packages of dehydrated foods from your local outfitter, why shouldn’t dedicated outdoorspeople be able to prepare food for themselves? If that sounds interesting to you, The Complete Trail Food Cookbook is the perfect place to begin. From preliminary information on the history, advantages and techniques to more detailed information about equipment, food choices and specifics about dehydrating particular kinds of food and storing them once they are dried, this book will get you started on the road to being a dehydration connoisseur. And that is just part one. Part two provides hands-on information about pretty much everything you will need to know about camp food – preparing menus and meal planning, packaging, storing and transporting and

The Complete Trail Food Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Campers, Canoeists and Backpackers

cooking dehydrated food. There are tips for group meals and sample menu plans for light

Jennifer MacKenzie, Jay Nutt & Don Mercer

side dishes and trail-food snacks and even desserts (why not end your meal with a little

Robert Rose

no-bake cheesecake?), and with lots of vegetarian options for those who don’t eat meat,

robertrose.ca

this book will keep you well fed and well nourished in the great outdoors.

ISBN 9780778802365 | 256 pages | $24.95

Scouting Life Summer 2014

and heavy camping. And of course, there are the recipes too. From main courses of almost anything from soups, stews, stir-fries, Tex-Mex, pasta, beans and even campfire pizza to

COLUMN

ENGAGING YOUTH

by Michael Burdo B.A., B.S.W. – Youth and Family Counsellor

THE LANGUAGE OF PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

outh love to be acknowledged and

may want to reconsider its use and focus

ENCOURAGEMENT HELPS:

recognized for the accomplishments