Have you ever seen the word “Scouting” written in this manner: “ScOUTing”? We refer to this as “the OUT in Scouting”. It is one of our defined practices and what makes us unique from many other youth organizations. Outdoor adventure and a desire to educate youth in the ways of nature were life-forming factors for our founder, Lord Baden-Powell and subsequently in the formation of the Scouting movement itself.

To test the idea of scouting, Lord Baden Powell planned an “experimental” camp. In August 1907, 22 boys ventured to Brownsea Island off the coast of England, to learn skills such as pioneering, first aid, orienteering and outdoor cooking. Voyageur Council, under the able direction of Camp Chief Doug Hall and his team, recently staged our own Brownsea Camp for Scouts. Over 700 youth and leaders experienced many of the same activities as the original 22 boys. Congratulations to Doug and his team for a simply fabulous adventure that challenged our youth’s skills, provided a hands-on taste of Scouting history and indeed rejuvenated the spirit of all who attended or visited. Next Scouting season will see a Council-wide camp for Cub Packs and for the very first time a camp for senior sections which will include senior Scouts, Venturers and Rovers. Stay tuned to fall editions of the Vision for further information on these upcoming adventures.

In the meantime what outdoor adventures do your youth have in their program plans for this spring and next fall? Do you have an urban hike around your local community, nature trail walks, night hikes, day jamborees, weekend standing camps, canoe trips, mountain biking excursions, rock climbing camps, white-water tripping or backpacking through the hills? Get out and enjoy the “great outdoors”.

Marilyn Johnson, Your Council Commissioner

WHAT’S NEW or NEEDS A REMINDER

WAIVERS – CONTRACTS – LICENSES
This is a reminder to all volunteer members, including leaders and Group Committee members alike, that you are NOT to sign any waivers, contracts or licenses on behalf of your Group or any committee under the umbrella of Scouts Canada. This sort of paperwork must be reviewed by our Council Field Executives and signed by our Executive Director. If you are requested to sign any for use of facilities or to participate in any activity please contact Tim Foreman or Guy Latour at the Council office for assistance.

STORAGE OF GROUP RECORDS
The Scouting year runs 1 September to 31 August. However, many Groups conclude their active part of the year by mid June. This is a reminder to Groups that your outdoor activity paperwork needs to be sorted by section, placed in an envelope marked with the Group’s and Area name, and sent to the Council office on Baseline Road for storage. This includes all activity forms required by the Outdoor Activity Guide, all Physical Fitness Certificates and all Parent/Guardian Consent forms. Also, a copy of the Group’s year-end financial records is to be forwarded to the Council Treasurer by 31 October 2003.

WEST NILE VIRUS
With the prime camping season upon us, the media is showering us with information on the West Nile Virus. If you are going to camp, or sending your child to camp this summer we recommend you update yourself on the suggestion protection steps for this disease. The Government of Ontario has both a toll free line and a web site address that covers this information. Ontario residents may call the Ministry of Health info line at 1-877-234-4343. All of our members may visit the web site at www.HealthyOntario.com.

Marilyn Johnson, your Council Commissioner

Voyageur Council is pleased to announce and congratulate the following members who have recently been recognized:

* The MEDAL OF MERIT was presented to Scouter Dale Bush (1st Greely, Rideau Area)

* The REGIONAL YOUTH AWARD was presented to the following Venturers from 1st Greely, Rideau Area: Michael Beaudoin, Andrew Beaudoin, Billy Boudreau, Daniel Bush, and Alex Estabrooks.

* The REGIONAL YOUTH AWARD was presented to Scout John Delorme of 14th Gloucester, Odawa Area

* The REGIONAL YOUTH AWARD was presented to Venturer Jonathan Bennett of 8th Brockville, Upper St. Lawrence Valley

* The QUEEN'S JUBILEE MEDAL was presented to Nathalie Dussault, 2nd Orleans Group Chair, Odawa Area.

Beavers: Spring Ideas for your last few meetings
Cubs: Canadian Environment Week (June 1-7, 2003)
Scouts: Brownsea Island Jamboree Memories
Scouts: Congratulations to our MedVent Unit!
Venturers: Congratulations to our MedVent Unit!
Venturers: Ottawa Citizen article re: MedVent Unit
Venturers: Other MedVent Units extend congratulations
Rovers: Scouts Own Resources
Groups: Scouts Canada Salutes Grete Hale
Groups: Congratulations to our MedVent Unit!

To subscribe to any of our Discussion Groups, send an email to " communications@voyageur.scouts.ca" with the subject line "Subscribe (name of group)". An invitation will then be sent to you, which will require your reply in order to join.

In order to make the System ready for the fall, we will be taking all persons with a status of 'prospective' who have been 'prospective' for more than 4 months and making their status 'inactive-unknown'. We will do this same task on a monthly basis. This means a 'prospective' status can be applied to a member for only 4 months, after which they will automatically be changed to 'inactive'. This should allow plenty of time to place youth in a group, or get volunteer screening information for a volunteer, but also purge the system of 'prospective' members that have decided not to join us.

In terms of our system 'probationary' and 'active' are one in the same, but in terms of a leaders record there is a lot of weight behind that word 'probationary'. The main reason for this is not to purge the system of 'prospective' members - they will still be in there, with a status of 'inactive-unknown'. The purpose is to keep the 'prospective' listings up to date and to make it easier for a group registrar to pick up the new volunteers. When an adult registration is confirmed the status automatically changes from 'prospective' to 'probationary', so there is no need to manually change them. As you can see modifications are constantly being made to MMS. Constructive comments are always welcome. As your group begins to wind down for the season please remember MMS will be up and running all summer. Up-grades and changes will be made during the summer. I suggest you logon occasionally to keep up-to-date of the changes.

Thank you, Lynn Levitan, Voyageur Council Registrar, ext. 502 llevitan@scouts.ca

June 7 Chief Scout's & Queen's Venturer Award Ceremony
August 10-17 Advanced Outdoor Skills & Program Planning and Delivery Course
Nov 1 Scouts Canada Annual Food Drive

Saturday, June 7th, 2003 - Christ Church Cathedral - 439 Queen Street, Ottawa
Information packages have been mailed today to all youth and leaders who registered for this event.
Thank you, Cathi Wilkins, Organizing Committee Chair, (613) 293-7943, catherine.wilkins@sympatico.ca

Please visit the web site for a registration package that includes all of the forms required to register for this year's family advanced course http://www.voyageur.scouts.ca/familyadvanced/ If you know of someone who may not have computer access they can contact the Council office.

For or contact Heather Chilvers, Course Leader at 613-692-3731, or chilversbb@rogers.com

On the weekend of May 2-4, 2003, over 700 Scouts, Venturers, Senior Cubs and Leaders converged on Baxter Conservation Area for our Council Scout Camp: Brownsea Island Jamboree 2003.

With the challenge of a bit of surface water and some great sunshine, we enjoyed a wide variety of activities including Archery, Survivor, Search and Rescue, raft building, BP Village and Rock Climbing. Top that off with a delicious ice cream cone “from the sea”, and the whole weekend was a BLAST!!!

I’d like to thank all the Scouters, MedVents, Offers of Service and my core team who made this event a thing to remember. Watch for a great Stetson-shaped badge to appear on campfire blankets everywhere!

Yours in Scouting, Doug Hall, Brownsea Island Jamboree Camp Chief, djhall@rogers.com

Congratulations to all the sections and groups who braved the mediocre weather we had and participated in this years Scoutrees Program. All indications are that planting went well and everyone had a fun time. We have applied for funding from the City of Ottawa for Areas that planted in the city of Ottawa . I require a report form each Area that planted in Ottawa stating the group & sections involved, Number of youth involved and their expenses to assist with the distribution of the funds to each Area.

Some issues did arise this year and in an effort to ensure next year runs more smoothly I would like to have a meeting with all the Scoutree coordinators to iron out some of the problems prior to next year. Please contact me at 225-2770 ext. 504 and let me know when we should meet. Thanks to all the hard work everyone put into this year's Scoutrees Program, Guy Latour, Council Field Executive, ext. 504, glatour@scouts.ca

The 3rd Annual OPE Work Weekend was held on the weekend of April 25th-27th. A total of 157 volunteers from 22 different Voyageur Council groups participated.

The following groups took part: 1st Greenwood, 28th Ottawa, Bells Corners, 25th Nepean, 1st Nepean, 2nd Orleans, 14th Gloucester, 2nd Gatineau, 123rd Ottawa, 1st Vars Navan, 1st Wakefield, 109th Ottawa, 1st Kemptville, 1st Williamsburg, 1st Glencairn, 4th Kanata, MEDVENT, Nepean District Rover Crew, OPE Rover Crew, OPE Venturer Company, Kim Moore Ede and the Johnson, Bartraw and Taylor families.

The weekend was a notable success and the hard-working participants accomplished an incredible amount of work getting the camp ready for the busy summer season. Whether landscaping or painting or renovating the recycling shed, all the assigned tasks were accomplished with tremendous enthusiasm and skill.

The organizers wish to extend their thanks to everyone who participated, for their dedication to the camp and their contribution to the weekend. Your efforts were much appreciated. Special thanks to the OPE Rover Crew and Venturer Company for their catering efforts and to Kris Kurs for his talents as our DJ for the Saturday evening dance.

Special bulletin: The 4th Annual Work weekend will be held on the weekend of April 30th - May 2nd, 2004. Mark your calendars and plan to be there!

Who's been at camp? It's been another busy month, with many groups using the facilities for their spring camps.

What's new at camp? The entire electrical system and lighting in the Dining Hall have been replaced.

Thanks to: Monty Clayton for his kind donation of materials for the new propane fireplace in the Dining Hall.

Did you know? The book “ Camp Opemikon – The First Sixty Years” is a wonderful verbal and pictorial insight into the development of our camp from 1938-1998. Compiled by our own Dick Cowan, it is available for purchase at camp for only $8. Ask the Warden for your copy.

Can you help? We are attempting to compile a complete collection of the annual camp badges (the 2 or 2 1/2 inch round ones) for display in the Dining Hall. We are missing the following years: 1938-1960, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1996 and 1997. We are also trying to expand our collection of equipment for our winter programmes and are seeking donations of cross-country skis (the non-wax kind), poles and boots. If you can help in either of these areas, please contact either Darrell or Tim.

Contact us! Questions/comments/suggestions on anything concerning your camp? Contact Darrell Bartraw (825-8886) or Tim Taylor (561-1613) or email us at opegroupcommittee@voyageur.scouts.ca

That’s right, the store is filled to the rafters with everything you need to make your summer adventure come true. So, Come on in and check out Ottawa’s largest indoor tent room. (why buy from a box!) Whether you are looking for tents, sleeping bags, rainwear, or mosquito repellant we have it all!

>Eureka—3/4 self-inflating mat: Reg. $49.99 … Now $34.99
>Chinook—0 degrees C rectangular sleeping bag: Reg. $39.99 … Now $29.99
>Woods—Moose River 4 person tent: Reg. $179.99 …Now $144.99
>Beginner’s Guide to birding: (With purchase of any pair of Tasco binoculars or monoculars) Reg. $19.99 … Now $7.99
>All Hammocks 10% off starting >From $39.99
>Rainwear From $8.99

Store Hours: Monday to Thursday 9-6pm / Friday 9-8pm / Saturday 9-5pm / Sunday 11-4pm.
Thank you for your past, present, and future support. Yours in Scouting, Ian Thomas, National Advertising Coordinator scoutshop@scouts.ca Tel: 613-224-0139 Fax: 613-224-3571

Questions? Comments or concerns about this e-newsletter? We welcome constructive feedback! Please e-mail us at office@voyageur.scouts.ca
Thank you.

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