OPE work Weekend

Voyageur Council Venturer Advisor’s Forum

Tentative Calendar of Events for 2006-2007

Name	Group	Name	Group
Al Mcphee	1^st Metcalf	Joe Boudreau	1^st Greely
Alan Clapp	8^th Orleans	John Dougherty	Odawa Area
Alan Griffin	112^th Nepean	John Stalker	1^st Valley Highlands
Bill Bowman	1^st Nepean	Ken Shore	1^st Osgood
Bob Viney	25^th Nepean	Kevin Chappell	1^st Stittsville
Catherine Snedden	7^th Kanata	Laurel Rosene	1^st Glen Cairn
Christiaan Burchell	1^st Nepean	Lawrence Tyler	1^st Richmond
Dan Karwowski	1^st Glen Cairn	Leah Elwell	137^th Ottawa / Rideau Rovers
David Gall	1^st Richmond	Malcolm Volmer	29^th Nepean
Doug Proud	1^st Greenwood	Phil Edens	VRSC / LCS
Eric Hansen	VRRRT	Roger Aston	3^rd Ottawa
Erin Pate	VRRRT Admin	Steven Smye	1^st Wakefield
Ian Marsh	3^rd Ottawa	Stewart Ross	Nepean Rover Crew
Jim McQuaid	112^th Nepean	Tim Redpath	1^st Stittsville
Jim Montgomery	1^st Glen Cairn	Tim Taylor	123^rd Ottawa
Jim Peverley	8^th Orleans	Wally Gale	14^th Events Past: White Water Events: White Water I (WWI) had 76 people and was an action packed event. Everything went well and this will be held again next year. White Water 2 (WW2) had 54 people which was still very manageable. Comments around the table and emails have indicated this was very well organized and was a fantastic event. Not much boat damage at all this year. One of the solo instructors was a national champion so the experience was very useful. Bill also noted the instructors were very impressed with the skill and organization of the youth on the course. We may have to change outfitters next year if the current one folds but Bear Creek and Paddlers Coop have indicated interest in taking on both courses next year if required. For those who rented OPE canoes, they were very good on these courses but they did note they were wider boats by about an inch and a half (keep in mind for the future). Again a formal thanks to Bill Bowman for such excellent courses. White Water 3 (WW3) had 22 participants and Steven noted everybody got their Orca One, i.e. everybody got tandem and solo. They had 2 Rovers helping out who ended up getting their Orca 2 due to the skill they showed on the river while assisting the youth so experienced youth should keep this in mind next year. WW3 was very well received and people were paddling until the end of the day. At this level, the instructor is much more of a coach, e.g. laid back and watching versus teaching. He is interested in the results versus technique. The location was great as well. A formal thanks to Steven Smye for running this course. Note: Bill brought the Lost and Found items to the meeting and one helmet was left over. The VAF noted that maybe it is now time to run a swift water rescue training or river rescue as many youth looked as though were ready to take this on. Also it has been a while since this was run and those that have it, have moved on. Demand is likely such that the VAF agreed to support one if it was run in August (watch your emails!). Tim noted that Bill is now published in Kanawa, the official magazine of paddling in Canada. Bill thanked Tim for his help in getting it published. This is good publicity for Scouts Canada. Various leaders brought many pictures from the White Water events and some were displayed during the meeting. To provide more pictures, contact Bill or Steven. Reports: VRRRT: The next event is an August retreat on the 18^th, 19^th, 20^th weekend at Whispering Pines. It will include activities such as a chocolate fondue on Saturday night, Bocci games, etc. It is a chance to just enjoy the company of fellow Venturers and Rovers and to have fun. Erin and Eric noted that news of our events in the Ottawa area have reached some Toronto groups and they are now interested in coming up here to join us, e.g. for White Water events and Rovent. Some were at RSVP this year as well. Service Corps: The next events are Canada Day and the CNE. These are listed on the Voyageur Council site under events with the contacts. Anyone can register for it on the web site and the Service Corps definitely needs the assistance. Phil noted that youth can register individually without advisors through this web site although advisors are welcome to join in if they want to enjoy the fun. Phil also noted that Lost Childrens is doing cell phone recycling if anyone has one they wish to donate. If so, contact Phil at 731-7149 or email at edens.family@sypatico.ca. In the fall there will be the 17^th annual food drive and of last week Phil has the badges for 16^th annual food drive. Phil handed them out at the meeting. Contact Phil is you still need one. Joint Council: The May camp was a big success with about 80-100 people. They had a good time and even got some swimming in. If anyone has some recommendations for next year, let the JC exec know or email the JC via the web site or their email address. The June event is a semi formal dance at Cyrville Community center on June 16^th from 7:30 – 10:30. The cost is $5. Ken Reid will DJ the dance. Youth are to show up with permission forms as always. Note that if youth bring a friend, they need to bring a filled out Hold Harmless agreement form. Note that new PRs have been elected and will be introduced next year as they were not able to join the report to VAF this evening. The JC extended thanks to the VAF for their collective help in supporting events and assistance in chaperoning. Thanks to Gord Kelly who is now retired from the Scouting lead for JC. Gord’s enthusiasm and effort was greatly appreciated. Note that Bob “the grouch” Dore has taken over as the Scouting lead. Training: Note that the Basic Canoe course is June 10^th and 11^th, and the Boat Rescue Award is June 17^th and 18^th. Next Year Calendar: The tentative calendar of events was itemized for the following scouting year to assist Venturer Companies in their planning activities. The calendar is included at the end of the minutes for easy printing. New Business: River Rescue This was a fixed cost course, i.e. one cost divided by the number of participants so the price might vary depending on how many sign up. Traditionally the August timeframe seemed to work as the flow of the river is less and participants can afford to do things that they may not be able to do at other times of year. Bear Creek might be interested in running it, or Mike Miller. Also now Orca has developed a river rescue course for scouts, i.e. there is a certificate program available. This is something else youth can put on a resume. This is recognized by OPE and there could be extra money at other jobs if the youth has it. Note that the minutes should show there was interest shown to pursue a river rescue course in August. Bill will contact Mike Miller to start. Watch for information on a River rescue course in August as it will be confirmed by email. Senior Section Advanced Questionnaire - Stewart noted that the questionnaire will be around soon for the advanced senior section basic to look for skills to augment in the learning objectives and put to the training team. He asks that everybody please put some time into answering this as it will be the first senior section advanced in Canada in quite some time. Next Meeting - The next meeting is on September 5^th, the first Tuesday after Labour Day. That meeting will be the last burst on organizing fall activities as well as the pre-climb course. Bill will be looking for registration for Crazy Canuck at that meeting and Christiaan will want the numbers of participants for Venclimb. Note for new Venturer groups to the VAF, There is usually a subsidy of $10 per person participating including advisors for events so it is taken off of the price for registration costs. Also if groups wish to buy ropes and are willing to make them available at events such as Venclimb, then they will be paid for from the VAF budget. For omissions or corrections to the VAF minutes, please email Catherine Snedden at csnedden@forethoughtsystems.com Upcoming events over the next year: The following events are currently planned for next year. Some earlier events have more information and later ones are listed as placeholders for groups to plan against. September: - Couch Rally – Tentatively September 16^th. In this event, the youth go between many pre-planned locations around downtown Ottawa and get points for the number of sites they visit, the number of local trivia questions they can answer (often related to the sites), and for the number of bystanders they can get to pose with them in pictures at each site (to prove they were at the site). Lessons learned have indicated the youth taking the pictures needs to know how to work a digital camera correctly (pictures of lens caps and thumbs do not count). - Venclimb – This event will be on the last weekend in September, the 22^nd, 23^rd, and 24^th. Pre-training will be on the weekend day of Sept 16^th. Ground school will be held as part of the Sept 5^th VAF meeting to learn basic knots and the setting up of basic equipment. This event is usually held at the Laframboise farm near Luskville. The Saturday before Venclimb, some leaders and experienced youth come out to help set up the courses and set up the ropes. The fee is usually around $10 with part of the money towards the Park Access Fund to support ongoing park maintenance for climbers. For rappelling next year, the youth may have to climb up and rappel down as we now have limited access to top of the cliff due to environmental concerns. - Crazy Canuk – This event will be held on September 30^th at Camp Opemikon. This is a one day adventure race that is more about participation and trying out the courses versus winning a race. This involves a combination of courses for mountain biking (bring your own bikes please), hiking, canoeing, rappelling and a bit of orienteering. Youth can skip any activity in which they are not comfortable and move on to the next but be prepared to bring support vehicles to move the youth between courses if necessary. Groups are invited to come up Friday night and camp over or come up from Ottawa on the morning of the event. A dinner on the Saturday night after the event is included. The dinner takes place usually around 5-5:30 and groups are invited to stay and camp overnight on Saturday again if they wish. The cost of the event is $15, to camp overnight is $3 and to rent canoes is $5. Next year the course legs will not necessarily be continuous so please bring support vehicles to move the youth around. October: - Rovent – Tentatively on the weekend of October 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd at Camp Opemikon. Next year there is a multi-section planning committee and concerns about last year’s problems with the camp organization are being addressed. Note: badges for last year that were not delivered were stolen and will be re-ordered so please be patient. - Senior Section Basic (Woodbadge I) – Part one of this course will be held at the Rovent event for leaders, i.e. on the weekend of 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd. Leaders have found it useful in the past to be attending a course while their youth participate in activities. It minimizes the need for an extra weekend away from families. - Bay Island Cleanup – This is an annual event on October 21^st and Venturers are invited to be involved. The NCC provides everything the youth will need for the clean-up such as garage bags and gloves. In the afternoon, some kids brought boats and cleaned up on the river. November: - Food Drive – The 17^th annual food drive will be held on November 4^th. Venturer youth are invited to help out at the sorting station and at some stores that allow for the collection of food. - Candle Light Service – This tribute to veterans is targeted for November 8^th, and may require the assistance of some scouting youth to assist the veterans in and out of the ceremony. - Remembrance Day – This will be on November 11^th as usual and will be held at the Cenotaph. Scouting youth are invited to participate and assist in the ceremony. The event falls on a Friday this year. December: - Tree-lighting Ceremony – There are rumors this will happen in early December so it may be resurrected again. If it does, then it will be brought back to the table in the fall. January: - Senior Section Basic (Woodbadge I) – Part 2 of this course is planned for the weekend of January 19^thand 21^st. Note that it might change to earlier weekend so watch the training calendar! February: - JC Winter Camp – This camp is usually held in the first weekend in February, i.e. the first weekend after high school exams are over. It is organized and attended by members of the JC and any other Venture or Pathfinder groups interested. Activities will be planned in the fall. - Winterlude – The Service Corps Lost Childrens provides assistance on the weekends at this event to help families who become separated. All youth are invited to register on the web site and participate. Phil noted that it may be for all three weekends of Winterlude next year. - Ski Marathon – Tentatively held in early to mid February and are always looking for people to support this (held the weekend before Keskinada). - Keskinada – Tentatively planned for mid February (i.e. the weekend of February 18^th to 19^th 2006). - BP Week – February 18^th to the 24^th for next year. - Adirondack Winter Adventure – This event will be held likely over two weekends in February and late March. Christiaan is not sure of the exact weekend yet. This event is about hiking and snowshoeing in Adirondacks in the US. March: - Camp Slush – This is tentatively scheduled for a weekend in mid March and is a weekend of outdoor activities. It is held at Fort Pine near Petawawa. April: - OPE Work Weekend – This is always held on the last weekend in April, (April 28^th to 30^th 2006). This event is a weekend where many groups help clean up Camp Opemikon from the winter and perform any required repairs to prepare it for a season of summer camping. - Pre White Water Training – This is usually held on the same weekend as the OPE Work Weekend on the Sunday from mid morning to mid afternoon. This is a mandatory pre-requisite for groups going on the White Water courses later in the spring. - All Section Basic – This course is planned for the spring but dates will be confirmed. - Rock Climbing Course - This will be tentatively held in April or May to build on the success of a course given by Christiaan that was held in the Spring of 2006. The course will be provided to youth and adults to augment their skills to do climbing on their own. May: - RSVP Camp – May 5^th to 6^th for next year. This is a weekend camp full of fun activities for Rovers, Scouts, Venturers and Pathfinders (guides). - Scout trees – Likely planned for May 6^th next year. - Jamboree on the Trail – Usually held on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend (second Saturday in May). All sections of scouts from all over the world hike that day as a show of membership and Venturers often assist with their own groups. - JC May Camp – Usually held on the long weekend, May 19^th to 21^st. This is a camp of fun activities for members of the Joint Council and other Venturers and Pathfinders who wish to come. - White Water Levels I and III – These courses will be run on the weekend of May 25^th, 26^th and 27^th next year. Usually the weekend following the JC Camp. Note the WWI course makes a good linking activity with senior scouts. - National Capital Marathon – This is tentative for late May depending on how it works out. June: - Chief Scout / Queen Venture ceremonies – Tentatively June 2^nd next year. - White Water Level II – Will likely be held on the 1^st weekend in June next year. - Pre CJ Camp – Held on a weekend sometime in June under CJ type conditions to allow groups to shake down their equipment for the full camp. - Basic Canoe and Boat Rescue Award – Will be held sometime this month. July and August: - Canada Day for Service Corps - July 1, 2007. Service Corps Lost Children will need assistance helping out at the event. - Teddy Bear Picnic – Held in July of next year. Lost children may need some assistance with that event. - CJ 2007 – July 25^th to August 1^st next year. - Exhibition – Likely held on August 16^th to 26^th of next year. Service Corps Lost Children will need assistance helping out at the event. One year plan done!