Learning New Skills

December 17, 2007 - Scouters Gerhard Beckmann (Akela) and Gord Welling (Rikki)

This year, half the cubs in "Falcon" Pack are 1st year cubs having joined us from Beavers. "1st Camp" gives them the opportunity to learn new camp skills and experience sleeping in a tent.

Planning

We started planning for this camp about a month in advance. We determined what we wanted to accomplish and then figured out all the logistical arrangements.

As Scouter Gerhard (Akela) explains, "we run this camp to give those young cubs a first opportunity to learn camp skills in a safe and warm environment." Our primary goals for this camp were to:

• allow first year cubs to experience their first over-night camp in the safety and warmth of a building,
• give sixers and seconds a chance to practice some leadership skills during controlled and supervised activities,
• encourage the six systemby using it as the primary means of organizing tent groups and group tasks throughout the camp,
• give all cubs a chance to earn their Trailcraft Badge, and
• have a lot of fun

Our thanks go to Scouter Jeff Wilson who provided a very thorough demonstration on how to make a survival kit and what to do if you get lost in the woods during the Monday night meeting prior to our camp.

Camp Album

After all the planning and preparation, how did we do? Well, 19 cubs abd 7 leaders showed up for this camp and we had a great time. Take a look at our camp album:

Running the Camp

We all gathered at the Lacombe Community Club House on Larose Drive starting at 6:30 pm on Friday, Nov 30th. After everyone unloaded their gear into the building and ensuring parents signed their youngsters in, we gathered everyone to give them a safety briefing, a walk-through the building to show them the out-of-bonds areas, and run a practise fire-drill.

With safety items taken care of, Scouters Gerhard and Brian organized the cubs into sixes which also served as their tent groups, and all the leaders assisted the cubs with setting up the tents and bedrolls in the upper floor of the building. After, the sixes gathered and were challenged to prepare a skit, song and cheer for the campfire.

Scouter Brian then gathered everyone in the activity room on the lower floor, where we served a snack and gave the cubs time to work on their skit, song and cheer. Then, Scouter Brian set up our electric "fire", turned down the lights and held a traditional campfire. After the campfire the cubs settled down for the night.

Wakey ... wakey was at 6:30 am. With a full morning facing us, we fed everyone a sturdy breakfast of pancakes, bacon and juice. After breakfast, cubs gathered upstairs to cleanup, tear down tents, and pack their personal gear.

While some leaders cleaned up the kitchen area, Scouters Brian gathered the cubs and organized some games including "zombie", and cub favorite. Time was drawing near to go outside, so Scouters Jeff and Gord reviewed the "what to do if you get lost" tips and using the buddy system during hikes, especially during winter.

We took the cubs outdoors, where Scouter Gerhard showed how to make a man-made shelter with a length of rope and a plastic tarp. Scouter Gord explained the international emergency signals and demonstrated how far apart to build signal fires.

With an hour left before parents were to arrive, we headed back indoors, held a knot tying class where all the cubs learned how to tie a reef knot, and then we did a final cleanup of the building and auction of "lost personal items" like socks, hats, vests, campfire blankets, etc.

Our thanks go to Scouters Gerhard, Gordon, Brian and Larry who stayed overnight, and to Scouters Paul, Jeff and Greg who were able to provide valuable contributions on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Did we learn a any lessons? Yep, we sure did and we will make the necessary adjustments so that this camp will be even better next year. More importantly, our cubs had a great time and they learned that they can handle a night under canvas and work on badges that we can't normally cover during our regular meetings.

Badge Work

Cubs who attended the "Survival Kit" demonstration on Monday night (Nov 26th) and this camp earned their Trailcraft Badge.

At this camp, each cub has completed requirement A.5 - "Know what to do if lost." for the Green Star and requirement 4 - "Describe what to do if lost." for the Hiking Badge.

For the Camping Badge each cub has completed requirement 1.b - "Completed one cub camp." and requirement 4 - "Describe what to do if lost."

Hey Sixers ... you have completed a requirement for the Entertainer Badge. By leading your six in your skit on Friday night, you completed completed requirement 10 - "Direct a group in a skit."

Parents, please ensure that the above requirements are recorded as completed in the "Cub Handbook" for your youngster. If a cub has completed all requirements for another badge, please follow the steps to how to earn a badge.

Cub badges, stars and awards are meant to recognize those youngsters that actively participate in the cub program and can demonstrate that they have met the badge or award requirement. Once earned, the cub is expected to be able to demonstrate those skills to younger cubs and help them earn the same badge or award.

About the authors

Scouter Gerhard Beckmann (Akela) is the Section Leader for our Monday Night Falcon Cub Pack. Gerhard has been actively involved with Cubs for several years and assumed the role of Akela last January. He has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys getting the Cubs outside to enjoy nature and sports.

Scouter Gord Welling (Rikki) is our Group Administrator and is a Leader with our Monday "Falcon" Cub Pack. He previously served as a Scouter with Wednesday Night Beavers for four years. Gord is also the webmaster for our website and the Buffalo Plains Area website. He has a passion for the outdoors and photography and enjoys taking youngsters out on hikes and camping trips to explore nature.

Related Stories

• Cubs Start the Year - With a Campfire - October 12, 2007
• Hiking River Lot 56 Trails - A fun evening in the woods - July 19, 2007
• Cubs Gone Fishing - A not so tall fishing tale - June 5, 2007
• Camp Maskepetoon a Big Hit - Meeting the challenge to have fun - May 18, 2007

Additional Information About Cubs

• Welcome to 2nd St. Albert Scout Group
• Cub Program
• Monday Night Cubs (Falcon Pack)