The Lighthouse -- Mar/Apr 1996

Scouts Canada -- Whitby District Newsletter

CONTENTS

COMMISSIONER'S COMMENT

Well, it certainly has been a busy time lately! Kub Kars, Pinewood Derby, call it what you will, it has been a major force of the Cub program in Whitby this past month.

Congratulations to all the participants because, win or lose, building, racing, and showing your car is great fun for both young and old.

Special thanks to all of the Cub Service Team, helpers, and their families for a great effort running the races for the entire month of February!

While I'm doing thank-yous -- a big one to Cathy Harker from the Beaver Team. She has had to resign as assistant district commissioner (ADC) to take on a promotion at work. Good luck, Cathy!

Thanks also to Jennifer Ackland who has taken on ARC Training for Lakeridge Region. Noreen Wild has assumed the ADC Beaver position and Teresa MacDonald has taken over as ADC Training.

Leaders and Group Chairs -- please note that the key leader on a camp needs a camping certificate.

More thanks -- to all council members who helped on our recent membership campaign during B.-P. Week. Our combined effort resulted in almost 50 contacts for both youth and leaders!

Finally, in my current position, I do lots of meetings, planning sessions, and other administrative duties, so it was a real pleasure that I accepted an invite out on a recent camp with my son's Venturer company. Talk about perspective! Minus 30 degrees C -- in un-heated shelters -- gives you a real taste of Winter Scouting and a real insight on program! Like they say, keep the outing in Scouting and the kids (& old guys) will keep on coming!

Till Later, Good Scouting
Scouter Jack.

BEAVER HAPPENINGS

The White Tail Slap is coming up soon on Sat., April 13, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If you'd like to know what this is all about, why not drop in and see? Everyone is welcome to come and observe. It's at the Brooklin Community Centre. Go one block north of the stoplight at the corner of Highways 12 and 7 and turn right onto Cassells Road East. Drive past the bridge and the community centre is on your right.

The next planning meeting for the district Log Jamb is at 7:30 on Wed., May 8, at St. Mark's Church in Whitby. Beaver leaders are reminded to bring their Log Jamb fees to that meeting.

MORE KUB KAR RACES, CUBOREE, AND MORE

Winners of the district Kub Kar finals are reminded about the Owasco Invitational Finals at the Pickering Recreation Complex, Apr. 28. Speed racers must be there by 9:30 a.m. sharp. It is hoped that the presentations can be done between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m.

If you haven't already done so, you should arrange for joint meetings between your third-year Cubs and the troop and between the White-Tail Beavers and your pack. These events are very important for the kids to see what they'd be missing if they didn't move on to the next section.

A special thanks is extended to Kees Stolk and John Peacock for their excellent help with the Kub Kar event.

At the District Cuboree, Dave Archer will be co-ordinating a non-perishable food drive. Look for more information about this later.

Leaders are reminded that April 1 was the first day to book a cabin at Camp Samac for the coming year. If you want a cabin for a pack camp, be sure to call Dorothy at Camp Samac immediately because the cabins book up fast.

FIRE VENTURERS OPEN HOUSE WAS FUN

On the evening of Feb. 12th, the 2nd Whitby Fire Venturers hosted an open house at the Thickson Road Fire Hall. All Whitby Venturers and senior Scouts were invited out to see first hand what this vocational company is all about. Firefighter Henry Kroes opened the meeting with a brief history of the Whitby Fire Department, then talked about firefighting in general as well as discussing firefighting as a career.

Then the Venturers took over. A series of stations were set up where the visitors toured the hall and trucks, learned about the use of the S.C.B.A. (self contained breathing apparatus) and tried them out. Another station had the Venturers try on full bunker gear, and the highlight of the evening was participation in a simulated fire rescue. Venturers working in pairs wore blackout masks that simulated a smoke-filled room. Each team had to enter a room and complete a thorough search for a victim placed in the room. This activity was the hit of evening and we had many requests for a second try at it.

Many thanks to those who attended. As a result of the evenings activities, seven members of the Company received their Vocational Activity Award.

Scouter Phil

CAMP SLUSH WAS CLEAR AND COLD

On the weekend of March 8th, 9th and 10th, 12 members of the 2nd Whitby Fire Venturers and District Commissioner, Jack Welsh, travelled to Petawawa, Ontario, to attend Camp Slush '96. Slush is an annual Venturer camp held each March at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, but don't let the name Slush fool you, there wasn't any and hasn't been any slush for the last 8 years. The weather for the weekend was clear and cold, -25 C overnight. The camp is sponsored by the 3rd Petawawa Venturers and Rovers and this year's attendance was about 110.

Saturday's program revolved around a camp-wide scavenger hunt, an orienteering course, a communal supper, and the highlight of the evening, the DANCE, with Woodstock as the theme. Prizes were given for best costumes and door prizes were drawn for on a regular basis. While there was a planned program, there was still plenty of time for socializing, card playing and badge trading. 2nd Whitby received the Weary Travellers Award for the group who travelled the furthest to attend the camp. Information on Slush '97 will be available in October and you can contact Scouter Phil (pmckeow@ajax.durham.net) from 2nd if you are interested in attending next year's event.

Scouter Phil

THE FIRE VENTURERS WERE ``CLIMBING THE WALLS''

On Sunday March 17th, 10 members of the 2nd Whitby Fire Venturers spent the evening at Joe Rockhead's Rock Climbing Gym in Toronto. The activity consisted of a half hour's instruction on safety and technique, and yes, those knots you had to learn as a Scout are all of a sudden very important, and then the company was literally climbing the walls. The gym is set up with a number of climbing walls of various difficulties, and working in pairs, one on the wall and one working the safety rope teams the Venturers climbed anything that they could handle. The tallest walls were 32 feet high, about the height of a three-and-a-half-storey building, and most everyone made it to the top at one point. All safety equipment and climbing shoes were provided by the gym. This was a great activity and is something we are considering doing again in the future.

Scouter Phil

A BADGE COLLECTOR'S PARADISE

This year, the 2nd Whitby Fire Venturers will once again be travelling to Montreal for the Canadian Badgers Club annual swap meet and auction. If anyone is interested in attending this event, 2nd Whitby has obtained cheap accommodations, $5 for the weekend, but you must be able to provide your own transportation.

2nd Whitby will be leaving on the Friday and returning on Sunday afternoon so this is a full weekend trip. If you or your Company are interested in attending this event contact Scouter Phil (pmckeow@ajax.durham.net) at 430-6856 and you will be given all the information.

This is a brief summary of the event:

On Saturday April 27, 1996 the Canadian Badgers club will be holding their 19th annual swap meet and auction. The doors open and trading starts at 10:00 a.m. and the auction will start around 2:00 p.m. The swap meet is being held at the Scouts Canada Building at 2001 Trans Canada Hwy., Dorval, Quebec. There are free tables for use and a canteen which will be operated by one of their local scout groups.

There are 3 different auctions, prizes, trophies and a Lotto Badge. All funds raised at the auction are donated to the World Brotherhood Fund. Last year $2123.20 was raised and donated. Over the last 18 years over $14,000 has been raised and donated to the World Brotherhood Fund.

NOTICE OF UPCOMING CAMPS

What: Regional Venturee
When: May 18th 19th and 20th
Where: Otter Lake Scout Camp, 30 minutes north of Kingston
Who: Venturers; Theme: Pioneer Challenge
Registration is $24 per person.
contact Scouter Phil (pmckeow@ajax.durham.net) 430-6856 for more information.

What: Tri-District Camporee
When: May 10th, 11th and 12th
Where: Huntingdon, Quebec
Who: Scouts, Venturers from Quebec, Ontario, NY
Theme: Medieval Times; Separate program for Venturers
For further information contact Scouter Phil (pmckeow@ajax.durham.net) 430-6856.

TRAINING REPORTS TO DISTRICT

Groups committees must submit a list of leaders who have taken training or will take training this year to district registrar Viola Tebble (ad574@freenet.durham.org) at 915 Centre St., Whitby, Ont. L1N 4V2. This is the only way to make sure your leaders' records are updated so that they will receive any awards that are due to them. If you've missed receiving an award, it's probably because the district records were not up-to-date.

INTERNET STUFF

If you saw our ad during Scout-Guide Week, you probably saw the ``/.'' and the new e-mail address, webmaster@whitbyscouts.org. These are forwarding addresses designed to be easily remembered--the web pages haven't moved and mail still goes to 71056.613@compuserve.com. Either ``scouts'' or ``whitbyscouts'' can be used in these two addresses.

Check the Whitby District Home Page on the Web for a new page called ``Late Breaking News.'' Here, you'll find stuff that wouldn't fit into this newsletter, as well as advance information that may appear in a future issue. You can register to receive e-mail when this page is updated.

INSURANCE REPORTS

For Scouts Canada indemnity insurance (for example, a youth is injured) the forms must be received by the insurance company within 30 days of the incident, so you must not delay in filing a claim. In the case of liability insurance (for example damage is caused to someone's property during a Scout activity), the claim must be received by the insurance company the next business day. If you need help with either of these, please contact the District Commissioner immediately after any occurrence which could lead to a claim.

OUTING PERMISSION

It's been stated elsewhere in this newsletter, but it bears repeating. When you are going on a camp or any outing outside the district, you must fill in a form and get permission from the district service team. District policy requires a form to be filed with the district for these outings. It's embarrassing at best when a parent calls and asks where their kids are and the district people don't know.

One leader on each outing must have a District Camping Certificate. If no-one in your group has one, ask your service team person for help.

CANADIAN JAMBOREE (CJ)

The next Scouts Canada Jamboree (held every four years) will be in July 1997 in Thunder Bay, Ont. Your Scout and Venturer service team members should now be able to get you an application form. Registration fees are $405 if paid before Dec. 31/96 and $450 if paid after.

COMING EVENTS

Rather than just reading an old list of coming events which may be out-dated by the time you read this, you can go to a Current List of Coming Events for Whitby District.

WHITBY DISTRICT SERVICE TEAM

See the contacts page.

Up to the Whitby District Home Page