SCOUTING,
ALONG the PATH
By Mark W. Palmer - Service Team Member
Adventures in Angling with Second Kenora's Beavers
With the Scouting Year 2006/07 nicely underway, I have had the distinct privilege of being called upon to assist with the 2nd Kenora Beaver Colony. From a personal perspective, I don't think I have ever experienced so much energy and unbridled enthusiasm over the course of one hour by approximately fourteen or so youth! As a point of interest, this year's "Colony" is exclusively male youth. However, young ladies in the five to eight year old age category are welcome to register; it is still not too late. In my brief Adult Scouting Career-I am entering my fourth campaign- there have always been, at least to the best of my knowledge, girls in the Colony.
At this juncture I would like to make my readers
aware of the fact that Youth, and Parent's too! , may come
out to any regular meeting of any Section Group - the Sections
being Beavers, Cubs and Scouts - fully participate for up
to two meetings, and then may make the decision whether
they would like to register and pay the accompanying fee.
So, it is "try before you buy" or so to speak!
Armed with their "official" albeit somewhat modified fishing licenses, distributed with due diligence by "Hawkeye" our main leader, Jim Doulis, at the previous weeks meeting, a smaller but equally enthusiastic contingent of Beavers descended upon the Harbourfront Docks for an hour of Angling. Accompanied by supportive but, dare I say, somewhat less enthusiastic and, definitely "shivering" parents and responsible adults, the Beavers' participated in a fun "Catch and Release" event.
Despite a wonderful autumn before Thanksgiving,
with record warm temperatures, the late afternoon and early
evening of September 28th was certainly foreboding of cooler
days to come. All Beavers were required (and all complied)
to wear a PFD while on the Docks. Safety, both personal
and group, is always strongly emphasized and observed while
on any preplanned "fieldtrip".
While not many fish were caught, the amount
of fun had was enormous. The Colony members seemed to get
an equal amount of pleasure playing with the minnows in
separate buckets! One of the Fathers' was very adept at
removing the hooked fish from the lure and showing the "spellbound"
Beavers in the immediate vicinity, the correct way to recuperate
the exhausted fish in the water subsequent to it disappearing
into the depths.
Prior
to dismissal, "Hawkeye" advised the assembled Beavers and
Parents that all Youth participating would receive a signed
Certificate in recognition of same at the next weeks' meeting.
Beavers successful in landing a fish would also receive
a small prize.
In keeping with tradition, a small "plush"
Beaver was sent home with Joshua Wilson, in recognition
of the one Beaver who best exemplified good behaviour e.g.
listening skills, following direction of Parents and Leaders,
and especially not running on the docks! Joshua gets to
keep "Blue Beaver" (named after the "Blue Heron") for one
week, may take him places. However, he must write a short
story about his week with "Blue" and guard against losing
Him. It is of course, his responsibility to return "Blue"
the following meeting.
Alluding to the "Traveling Beaver" (above)
it is my distinct pleasure to offer Mr. Geordie McEwen,
owner of the Blue Heron, our Three Cheers of appreciation
and gratitude for kindly donating the "Newbie" Beaver this
year . The previous one went M.I.A. over the summer which
necessitated procuring a new one!
Until Next Time; Yours in Scouting
Mark
