Voyageur Council Venturer Advisors’ Forum

Voyageur Council Venturer Advisors’ Forum

Meeting Minutes for April 7th, 2009

Scout Headquarters - National Boardroom

Al McPhee	1^st Greely	Joe Vautour	25^th Nepean
Alan Griffin	112^th Nepean Rovers	John Stalker	Valley Highland AC
AllanYates	1^st Merrickville	John Dougherty	DAC Odawa
Bill Bowman	1^st Nepean	Leah Elwell	Rideau Area Rovers
Brenda Cumming	1^st Osgoode	Marilyn Johnson	OPE
Brian McAuley	7^th Prescott	Matthew Janssen	Carleton Area Rovers
Bruce Morton	14^th Gloucester	Mike Jowett	AC Nepean
Christiaan Burchell	1^st Nepean	Nigel Ward	1^st Kanata
Cyndy Courtland	Carleton Place	Perry Schippers	LCS & 2^nd Gatineau
Dean Smith	2^nd Orleans	Phil Edens	123 rd Ottawa
Doug MacKinnion	112^th Nepean	Ray Renton	1^st Dunrobin
Doug Proud	1^st Greenwood	Roger Aston	3^rd Ottawa
Doug Zahody	3^rd Orleans	Sarah Szabo	Nepean Rover Crew
Ernie Koshman	Nepean Rover Crew	Sue Robertson
Francesca Viney	Nepean Rover Crew	Stephen Smye	1^st Wakefield
Gil Lepine	4^th Orleans	Stewart Ross	DAC Nepean
Jan Stodola	7^th Kanata	Tamara Wilson	Nepean Rover Crew
Jim Smith	27^th Nepean	Tim Harbinson	137^th Ottawa
Jocelyn Remus	7^th Kanata	Tim Redpath	1^st Stittsville
Joel Martin	8^th Orleans	Wally Gale	14^th Gloucester

Opening Remarks:

Wally opened the meeting, highlighting the need to move relatively quickly through the ambitious agenda to leave ample time for the special presentation on Whitewater Safety.

Thanks to Robert Sylvester for taking notes at last meeting, as Jocelyn Robinson was away.

Past Events:

None to report.

Upcoming Activities:

VenClimb2- (April 17-19) – Report given By Christiaan Burchell

This is a great training course, offered to Leaders and Senior Section Youth. Participants will learn safety and more complex skills.

The cost of $50.00 includes accommodations and food at OPE, and use of the equipment.

List course is limited to 12 participants, if you are interested registration is ASAP.

Camp Opemikon Work Weekend (April 24-26) - Report given by Wally Gale for Tim Taylor

Important last Notes:

Registration is closed for this event. Those already signed up are asked to contact your youth ASAP and get final counts of youth and adults and sexes to Tim, so that sleeping accommodations and work assignments can be arranged. Also please LUG A MUG! For all of the meals as OPE kitchen is not 100% up and running. Please pay your $10 at Council office, prior to camp.

More information is available on the VAF web site or from Tim Taylor by email (quappelle264@gmail.com) or by phone (819-561-1613).

Marilyn was available to answer questions and provided an update on the status of Camp Ope operations during this period of renovations after the basement/kitchen fire. A temporary kitchen trailer will be moved closer to the dining hall to provide for catering needs over the next couple of months. The camp is otherwise fully operational.

Camp Traill – Work Weekend (April 24-26) & Troop Summer Camp- (June 12-14) - Report given by Mike Jowett

The work weekend is still open to volunteers – a good option for those unable to register for the Ope Work Weekend. Cost is $15 with a deadline of the week before to allow time for purchase of food.

Offers of Service for the Troop Camp are still needed in all areas, with an objective of having senior youth leading the camp. OOS cost is $20.00 (includes food, t-shirt, and crest). Registration packs are available on the Voyageur Website, registration needs to be in by May 28. Registration can be handed in at Scoutfest, or Jim McQuaid (613)-791-5900.

RSVP – (May1-3) – Report given by Tamara Wilson

Please have your registrations in by April 24^th to Tamara Wilson. Registration forms can be found on the VAF website. http://web.ncf.ca/ad554/rsvp2009.pdf RSVP is a linking camp for senior Scouts to Sr. Sections and Pathfinders to Sr. Branch. It is a great camp with lots of activities. It is hosted by Nepean Rover Crew.

White Water Courses - Report given by Bill Bowman / Daniel / Michael Wall & Stephen Smye

Pre-training (April 26)

Starts at 10:30 at OPE and is mandatory for White Water 1. (If you cannot attend contact Bill Bowman ASAP)
$3.50 for lunch if not attending OPE work Weekend (Please contact Bill if you need lunch, if you did not sign up at back of the room)

WW1 (May 22-24)

50 people signed up , max is 80
A couple of OPE canoes are still available for rent

WW2 & Small WW1 (May 29-31)

54 people signed up for W2, max 60
14 people for WW1, max 10
Some OPE canoes are still available for rent

Kayak 1 & 2 (May 29-31)

26 signed up, max 30
Prerequisites are WW1 canoe for K1, and K1 for K2

WW3 (May 22-24)

28 people signed up, max 30

The final deadline for registration/payment is the next VAF meeting, May 5^th, although all of the courses will likely be full before then. See the VAF site for detailed information and registration. To ensure no registrations have gone astray, Bill and Stephen ran through the list of groups registered.

Note that Black Bear Camp is available for the WW1/3 May 22-24 weekend [confirmed by Tim Taylor after the meeting]. No serviced sites are available for trailers.

Reports:

VRSC, Lost Children

Doug MacKinnon noted that 49 green identification vests with the scout logo on them are available – light sport mesh vests in large and X-large. If you would like to borrow them for your next public event 112 Nepean is their current home. It is quite possible they belong to Council and may find a different home.

Joint Council Activities

About 10 youth attended a double-feature of 2 Indiana Jones movies at the Mayfair Theatre for the March event.

April’s JC event is going to be rock climbing at Coyote Rock Gym ( http://www.coyoterockgym.ca/) on April 18^th

Cost will be dependent on confirmation from people. If there are more than 12 people a private session will be booked; otherwise the public time period will suffice. Please contact Ruth ASAP to tell her you are attending. Advisors are welcome to attend. Ruth.ninga@hotmail.com

May Camp (May 15-18) May Camp information is now up on the VAF website, the theme is Jim Henson’s Muppets (Fragile Rock, etc.). Bus transport is available, with departure from Scout HQ at 6:30 pm Friday and returning for 1 pm Sunday afternoon. Please impress upon the youth that prompt pick-up by parents on Sunday at Scout HQ is necessary. Note the policy of no money - no reservation, so please get your reservations in ASAP.

Cost is $45 if taking the bus from HQ or $40 if parents drive.

Training and Development:

Woodbadge II Senior Section Training Weekend 3 (May 8-10) - Report given by Stewart Ross & others

This Outdoor Skills component will highlight hands-on base camp cooking techniques using from Dutch ovens to solar stoves, avoiding the use of standard 2-burner stoves. Participants will work in groups and prepare each others’ meals. Further information will follow directly to participants. Drinking water management, camp project, high tarp, and formal campfire will round out the weekend.

Woodbadge I Senior Section (April 24-25) – Report given by John Stalker

A reminder was sent out for participants to please do their homework.

Information is available on the Council website. Cost is $6.00 and the venue is National HQ. For more information please contact Michelle Niefer at either (613) 257-1333 or mniefer@sympatico.ca

Other Business:

Scoutfest 2009 (April 18)

- a reminder to register quickly for this all-section leaders’ conference to be held in Smiths Falls, details on the Council website.

Couch Rally (Sept 2009) –Report given by Mike Harris (Nepean Rover Crew)

Mike provided the latest information and requested feedback from VAF members present concerning the proposal distributed earlier via email. The organizing committee held its first meeting, and is trying to get the central plaza of city hall for a BBQ and games after the event. Mike read through most of the rules, and the advisors gave some suggestions. The cost of the event is $15 which will include a burger, hotdog, crest and pop. This event will be open to non-scouts who are trying out scouts for the first time. Registration and more information will be out before the end of this season. Proposed date is September 12 with the start time suggested for 10am, and end time at 5pm, followed by the BBQ and various team building challenges.

There was significant discussion about couches including strict rules as to what constitutes a couch. Couches and their transport are the responsibility of participants before, during and after the event.

Registration will open at the June VAF meeting.

Mike Harris can be contact at mikeoharris@gmail.com and there is a Facebook group for those who are interested, located under Voyageur Couch Rally 09.

Planning meetings continue every 2^nd Tuesday of the month at Scout HQ in the Buffam Room at 7:30 – interested Venturers/Rovers &/or Advisors invited to join in.

Next year’s theme is “Who is the rightful Queen of RoVent”, a murder mystery. There will be clues and challenges, part of the new theme is that groups arriving late Friday or Saturday will not be at a disadvantage as they will be able to get the clues and try and unravel them just like everyone else. As in past years, there will likely be a Woodbadge 1 course held concurrently, although no one has set this up.

Sr. Section Activities Subsidies - Report given By Mike Jowett

Council has approved the subsidy envelope for VAF-based senior section activities for the next fiscal year. High adventure activities in particular are very expensive and this will help. The number of Venturers as a percentage of the overall registrations in Voyageur Council has risen consistently in recent years despite the opposite tendency in the overall membership, and high adventure activities are considered a major reason for this. Key organizers of VAF-based activities will sort out proposed priorities for allocation of this money. Mike emphasized the obvious need to use this money wisely, noting that this is the only section to receive a blanket subsidy at a time when the Council budget is under increasing pressure.

“Show Us Whatcha Got” Video Contest

Wally passed along information from Andrew Paterson announcing a contest for Venturers to produce a 1-minute video showing the best of Scouting – adventure/fun/challenges. Entries will be judged on 7 criteria and the top submissions will win food for their Venturer Company- 1^st prize valued at $50, 2^nd $30 and 3^rd $20.

Venturers are asked to post their company’s entry on ‘YouTube Group’ located at http://www.youtube.com/group/VoyageurSUWG, by September 4^th, 2009. For more information, watch for the VAF email distribution after tonight’s meeting or contact Scouter Andrew Paterson (613-531-2478).

Volunteer Opportunity for CN Tour (May 3)

Volunteers are needed at strategic locations along the route for the CN Cycle for CHEO (formerly the Nortel Tour). Please contact Shirley at the hotline 613 7658687 and leave a message on the volunteer line (alternate: shirleytrowbridge@hotmail.com) She will reply ASAP. Event is May 3 from 7:30am to 12:00 noon. T-shirt, lunch, bus transport to/from the assigned location and volunteer hours provided.

Special Presentation - White Water Safety - Allan Yates

The presentation reviewed safety considerations and related equipment for white water canoe tripping as illustrated by 1^st Merrickville Venturers’ trip down the Noire River last summer.

Overview:

Why progress to white water? Kids want challenge, new skills, it is easier than flat water.
When planning a white water trip versus flat water some differences to take into account are: Training, Travel speed, Personal safety equipment, and group safety equipment.
White water canoeing is dangerous, but these risks can be minimized but not eliminated, with the proper equipment and training.

Training:

Training should be required for both youth and adults - at least one, preferably two participants should have swift water rescue level 1.
All participants should have canoe 2 level skills, and one, preferably 2 should have Lifesaving society Boat rescue certifications.
Wilderness first aid is also highly recommended for at least 2 participants when you are at least a day away from professional medical attention.

Emergency Preparedness

Leave a copy of your trip plan with a responsible person
Carry a topographical map so you can navigate from the river to the road
Talk to John Stalker about rental of SPOT Satellite Messenger
Don’t just depend on electronics to survive, always have a map and compass
Be Prepared!

Route Planning

Venturers paddle and portage faster than Scouts
White water canoes are twice the weight of good flat water canoes
Plan for 20-40km of river travel per day, depending on the length and number of portages
Keep maps in waterproof map cases – Thompson’s Water Seal helps
Plan campsites, think what happens if the river rises overnight.
Proper sand tent pegs are very beneficial.

Rules of Thumb:

Items	Flat Water	Moving Water
Paddles 1Km	10-15 minutes	5-10 Minutes
Portage 500m	20-40 minutes	20-40 Minute

Safety Precautions

White water helmets worn when running rapids
PDF when on or near water, and they should be designed for fast moving water.
Equip PDFs with rescue knives in case a participant gets tangled in a capsized canoe
Participants should have quick release belts and pig tails on their PDF’s
When scouting rapids, helmets should be worn, paddles in hand and at least 2 throw bags
Write a detailed trip plan, including emergency evacuations points, food list, hospital locations, maps, and daily distance to campsites, portages and participants skills level and qualifications.

Safety Equipment, Personal Equipment

Saws, Throw Bags, First Aid kits, Canoe Repair kits, and Pin kits (for retrieving pinned canoes)
Camera and waterproof case
Packs (waterproof) - do not use garbage bags (tear easily & generate extra trash)
No external frame pack as they don’t pack well
Small heavy duty dry sack per canoe for sun tan lotion, snack, insect repellant, hats (don’t use light weight dry sack for this , they tear too easily)
Tents and shelters should be packed in dry sacks (wet tents are no fun)
White water canoes usually are outfitted with grab loops, but bring painters along as well for tying canoes up
Don’t leave painters attached (or stow them very carefully) as they can come loose and tangle people if the canoe flips
All types of flies can be found on river trips, except in winter! (Mosquitoes, Black flies, Horse flies, Deer Flies, Stable flies, sand flies and spiders.)

Running Rapids

Always scout rapids before running!
It is easier to run rapids with loaded canoe rather than with an empty one
Tie on all gear, paddles, maps, water bottles, packs, barrels, etc. When a canoe flips anything not tied down will float away or be lost.
On severe rapids (class III ) send the strongest paddlers through first to act as a safety boat at the other end; when in doubt, walk to the bottom of the rapids and setup a downstream ‘safety net’ (with throw bags available)
Pay special attention to large hydraulics, they can be drastically different depending on the water level

For more information, a great resource list, and river suggestions feel free to contact Allan Yates.

Next Meeting: Tuesday May 5^rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm

The Chair for the Venturer Advisor Forum is Wally Gale at vafchair@rogers.com.

Please contact Wally for any notices to distribute or ideas on future topics.

If you find any omissions or errors, please contact ……

Scouter Jocelyn Remus-Robinson at cascahawk@gmail.com or 613-592-4738