From: "Voyageur Admin" <office@voyageur.scouts.ca>
To: <office@voyageur.scouts.ca>
Subject: Seasons Greeting from Scouts Canada - Voyageur Council Communications
Team!
Date: December 12, 2003 12:44 PM
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GREETINGS! Please copy and share this special e-newsletter with members in
your group! It is sent to all registered members, using e-mail addresses
from the new Membership Management System. Please help us in reaching as
many
of our members as possible by asking fellow scouters if they have received
this special e-newsletter. If you are aware of someone who is not receiving
this and would like to, please contact our office with the Scouter's name,
e-
mail address, and Area so that we can add them to the distribution list. We
thank you in advance for your assistance and patience in this process.
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Seasons Greetings from your Voyageur Council Communications Team!
We are pleased to share with you our latest "Celebrate our Voyageur Spirit"
e-
newsletter which features articles by youth and leaders from across our
Council about recent Area and Group events. This is the first of three e-
newsletters about Area and Group events that we plan to share with you via
the Voyageur Vision list. The next two are scheduled for March and May.
(Our other "Celebrate our Voyageur Spirit" e-newsletters with other themes
are posted directly on our Council website at www.voyageur.scouts.ca and on
our Discussion Groups)
Of particular interest in this issue is the story by Scouts Nicholas and
Rachel of the 69th Ottawa entitled "Ottawa 69th goes for broke on Apple Day
2003" and the story by Scout Zachery of the 4th Orleans Dragon Troop
entitled "The Princess Louise Clean-UP"
Some of your Scouts might like to work on their Communicator badge this
year. One of the requirements that they might choose is to "serve on the
editorial or writing staff of a magazine or paper during the time two (2)
issues are published. Show that you were able to rewrite and improve an
article or manuscript, while still retaining important information. Write
at
least two (2) articles."
We would welcome any Scouts who would like to work with us on our "Celebrate
our Voyageur Spirit" e-newsletters or on the Voyageur Vision e-newsletter.
Ask your leader to send us an email or drop us a line!
Yours in Scouting,
David Wray
Communications and Public Relations
Voyageur Council
communications@voyageur.scouts.ca
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CELEBRATE OUR VOYAGEUR SPIRIT 21 !!!
Awesome Area and Group Activities
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OTTAWA 69TH GOES FOR BROKE ON APPLE DAY 2003
by Scouts Nicholas and Rachel
Ottawa 69th Scout Troop
After hours of standing in the freezing cold rain, the Ottawa 69th Beavers,
Cubs and Scouts tramped back to their “church base”. Soaking wet but very
happy, we counted our donations. Today had been Apple Day 2003.
We had a great turnout. All but a few of our registered members and leaders
gave their time to stand in front of local businesses asking for donations
from passersby. We earned $1400 (more than we have ever raised!) and all
that
money will go to Group camping equipment and events such as bowling, slot
cars, and parties.
This was a big accomplishment for us considering we only had half the
members
we had last year. The main reason for our success was our enthusiastic
participants and of course, the cute little Beavers!
Who could resist one of our Beavers, who upon returning from a 2 year stint
in France with his family and just starting to learn english, would approach
potential donors and ask: "DO YOU WANT TO BUY A HAPPEL?"
*****************************************************************
THE PRINCESS LOUISE CLEAN-UP
by Scout Zachery
4th Orleans Dragon Troop
On the 15th of November 2003, the 4th Orleans Scout Troop Decided to take
action against the constant pollution of a local stream that is the namesake
of our Scout Group. Our community and Group name, Fallingbrook, came from
the beautiful falls named for Princess Louise.
4th Orleans Dragon Troop has been cleaning up the wooded trails surrounding
the Falls as an annual outing. The garbage pick-up inspired us to plan a
clean-up of the basin at the foot of the Falls. The effort was planned by
the Scouts as a community service and environmental activity.
This clean-up proved to be quite an undertaking. The Scouts, armed with
rubber gloves, rubber boots and a lot of determination, were left to their
own resources with the clean-up. The Scouts entered the garbage filled hole
that once was a popular local tourist attraction prepared to take on
whatever
came their way. This area was so popular with hikers in the past that
Princess Louise decided to paint the Falls, hence its name. But now the
Falls basin and the Falls itself had become choked with garbage.
The clean-up proceeded as planned on a cool, clear Saturday. The Scouts,
aided by their Leaders, attacked the piles of trash carelessly thrown into
the stream and the forest surrounding the Falls basin. The Troop had
removed
several bicycle frames, shopping carts, discarded televisions and even a
motorcycle frame from the pool and stream. The Scouts and Scouters worked
with ropes and a come-along to pull the half buried rubble from the pool and
stream. Many bags of garbage were collected from the woods surrounding the
basin and from the stream banks themselves. It was obvious that the effort
had paid of; the area had not looked this good in years. Unfortunately, the
clean-up was halted prematurely when the water turned milky white with soap
suds. Our effort had fallen victim to a thoughtless prank.
"It looked like someone threw a bar of soap into the stream," said one
Scout, "The water turned completely white with suds and though some of the
Scouters and Scouts tried to keep working, we had to pack it in." The
Scouts
were trying to help the community and were rather disappointed by this
person's actions. Despite this, the Scouts agreed that they had made a
pretty good dent in the mess and vowed to come back in the Spring to
continue
the clean-up.
The Falls, as they are known to the Scouts are more than a popular natural
feature to the 4th Orleans Scouts. They have been the backdrop for many
Investitures and the scene of many Cub and Scout evening hikes. But more
importantly, the Falls and its feeder stream, collect several other streams
and make their way into the Ottawa River about a half kilometre away. The
Ottawa River is the major supply of drinking water for the Cities of Ottawa,
Hull and Gatineau.
In addition to help keep the surface water clean, the Troop is also trying
to
preserve the surrounding woodland. Urban forests are becoming less and less
common. People seem to be under the impression that there are lots of trees
and the forests are suffering from serious neglect and destruction. In
Ontario, this is becoming more and more of a problem as human beings
are "developing" the natural environment and cutting down the urban forests.
I don't know why they call it "development" because nature already has a
perfectly developed way of dealing with problems; we just need to give
nature
a chance and perhaps a bit of a helping hand.
The 4th Orleans Scout Troop is already planning to return to finish their
work in the spring of 2004.
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73RD GLOUCESTER RMEMBRANCE DAY VISIT
by Sherry Oake
Akela 73rd Gloucester Cubs
This past Remembrance Day was also Meeting Night for the 73rd Gloucester
Cubs
and Scouts. As this night was one of our "Out Nights" (ie not at the
school),
the Scout and Cub Leaders conferred and decided it was a perfect opportunity
for a field trip to the National War Memorial, and surrounding environs.
The Troop and Pack met at the South Keys Bus Station and took OC Transpo
downtown. For most of the 7 Cubs this was a great adventure! (Our Scout took
it all in stride.) We made our way to the War Memorial, where it was great
to
see many other people visiting as well.
As we explained about the Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the
kids grew quieter. We spent some time examining the War Memorial: the
sculptures, their dress, the dates on the wall and the three wars
represented
there.
As we were leaving, we stopped at the Tomb again, and I explained how many
people choose to leave their poppies here and say a quiet prayer of thanks
and remembrance. Without prompting, all 8 youth were lined in a straight row
in front of the tomb, heads bowed, and praying in their own ways. What
caught
me was the sincerity and personal intensity of each youth during this time.
After a few minutes we moved on past the NAC. The spell was broken and they
became their usual rambunctious selves again. We went to Confederation
Square, and saw the Aboriginal Veterans Memorial, as well as two surprises:
a
City of Ottawa monument to men who were in the Boer War, and another city of
Ottawa monument to participants in Cut Knife Hill (North West Rebellion) in
1885! So our youth had a real history lesson that night as well!
We left Confederation Square and made our way back to the McKenzie King
Bridge bus station. Before hopping the bus we got one more event in: a quick
look at the war paintings in the foyer of National Defence Headquarters
(copies of some in the War Museum). There they saw depictions of combat from
the air, navy and (of course) the land wars that Canada has participated in.
They saw "The Ghosts of Vimy Ridge" and soldiers landing on D-Day.
We took the bus home and met the families. I was able to give them all
handouts and copies of books about Canada's war contributions (thanks to
Veterans Affairs Canada), which they can read if they want to know more
about
Canada's war history. It was a great experience for us all, and I suspect
that they might find Canadian history just a bit more interesting now!
*****************************************************************
HERITAGE AREA FALL SCOUT CAMP
by Adrian Camfield
Scout Co-ordinator, Heritage Area
Heritage Scouts' Area fall camp was held on Oct 24-26 at Camp Traill,
property of Upper St. Lawrence Valley Area and some 30 km west of
Brockville.
Scouter Randy Kemp of 96 Ottawa had created a special, large scale (1:3000)
map of the camp, and 70 Scouts and 25 leaders from seven troops gathered to
take advantage of it. On the Friday night, they used it for orienteering in
the dark, searching for control points marked with glow sticks on the
trails.
Friday night had some rain.
Saturday was dry albeit threatening. That day, Scouts had the opportunity to
try three orienteering courses of increasing difficulty, designed by Randy
with on-trail control points, on-trail and off-trail points, and off-trail
points only, respectively. Some of the Scouts (and leaders, too!) found
their
map-reading skills tested considerably by even the intermediate course.
After
orienteering, first-year Scouts worked on basic skills to qualify for their
warrant cards on axe and saw, stove and lantern, knives, and fires. Capture
the Flag was strenuous but engaging on an uneven, rocky ridge. Russ Jones of
36 Ottawa organized Saturday night's activities at the well-appointed
campfire site, which has log benches for all.
Light rain began early Sunday and continued during the day. It did not
hinder
the Scouts' Own in the outdoor chapel very much, although Scouts reading
parts of the service found their scripts a bit soggy. Nor did the rain
hinder
Scouts' enthusiasm for the final orienteering exercise. Perhaps the
brilliant
yellow of the leaves and the challenge of the competition compensated for
the
dampness. Among its positives, the camp gave many Scouts a new polish to
their map-reading abilities as well as the usual fun of time together
outdoors. On the other side, it left garages and basements festooned with
dripping wet tents, but that was a small price to pay for a generally fine
weekend. Heritage Area troops hold workshop and orienteering meet
HERITAGE AREA FALL OUTDOOR SKILLS DAY
On September 27, fifty Scouts from seven troops gathered in Pinhey Forest
behind (east of) the Nepean Sportsplex for the first Area event of the
season. Taking part were 1 and 3 Aylmer and 36, 72, 92, 96 and 114 Ottawa.
New Scouts learned outdoor skills at the Voyageur level, and more senior
Scouts worked on a pioneering project and enjoyed a scavenger hunt. Scouters
Randy Kemp and Keith Laughton of 96 Ottawa and friends from the Ottawa
Orienteering Club reviewed map and compass techniques with all the Scouts
and
guided them through a simple orienteering course, showing them the
fundamentals. After a brief shower that made all of us scramble for rain
gear, Scouts tried their new-found orienteering understanding as they raced
to find as many as they could of the 18 control points that Scouter Randy
had
placed in the Forest. They navigated using copies of the special large-scale
topographic map of the Forest created by the Orienteering Club.
Within easy reach of most Heritage groups, Pinhey Forest is a very fine
location for this kind of event. Part of the Forest, planted with pines some
40 years ago, provides lots of clear but shaded space for Scouting
activities. Check it out!
OTHER HERITAGE AREA SCOUT NEWS
(27 Ottawa) attendance at Brotherhood Camp, ON-QC-NY, 2500 Scouts, many
program choices including badge trading and climbing wall. Registration
deadline is usually in February.
(36 Ottawa) Canoeing on the Rideau River near Bronson Ave, Scouts with
paddling experience sterned the canoes.
(96 Ottawa) investiture and cook-out at Andrew Hayden Park
(24 Ottawa) canoe camp at Lac Philippe-rented canoes there and had excellent
parent help. Built air/water powered rockets from 2 litre pop bottles
pressurized with bicycle pumps - designs on the Web. Scouts planning a camp
at Awacamenj mino near Low - climbing wall, obstacle/commando course,
canoeing
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BACKGROUND:
Celebrate our Voyageur Spirit!
"Wow, that's what Scouting is all about!" Can you think of a couple of times
when this thought has crossed your mind? There are some truly AWESOME
examples of the Scouting Spirit in Voyageur Council.
We are featuring examples on our website and we encourage YOU to send in
your
recollections of such events this year. Send them to
communications@voyageur.scouts.ca with the subject line "Celebrate our
Voyageur Spirit". We encourage our YOUTH members to become our Field
Reporters and submit articles and photographs.
Share the Spirit!
Yours in Scouting,
David Wray
Communications and Public Relations
Voyageur Council
communications@voyageur.scouts.ca
Voyageur Council
1345 Baseline Road
Ottawa, ON K2C 0A7
1-888-726-8876
(613)225-2770 ext 500