Meadow Lake Junior Forest Wardens

"Last Blast of Winter" Family Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:26:00 +0000

Twenty JFW Families converged on Jeannette Lake in the Meadow Lake
Provincial Park for an unforgettable weekend March 18-20th 2011. It
really doesn't get any better; Great facilities, super food, agreeable
weather, beautiful scenery, really excellent instructors and, above
all, lots of highly enthusiastic wardens!

Camp Oshkidee is a first-rate camp with many amenities. This is the
first time that the Woodlanders have been able to afford such a nice
facility, thanks entirely to our hard-working parents and volunteers
who have put in many hours at bingos! The comfort and convenience
made it possible for all of our families to take in the entire three
days.

Challenger leader Richard Dabels was in charge of the camp's
well-equipped kitchen, and with numerous helpers made sure that
everyone ate like royalty. Wardens took their turns in the kitchen,
too.

Instructors and special guests gave freely of their time, and in some
cases traveled a long way to contribute their knowledge and skills.
In order of appearance:

Tony Vandenberg - knife sharpening instruction, up-and-coming knapping
instructor, as well as a handy guy with a snowplow!
Brenda Larocque-Hill & Robert Hill - Project Wild games & icebreakers
(Brenda is our Bingo Queen!)
Richard Dabels - tin can candle lanterns (very effective lights for

dark winter trails) and cooking instruction

- Hide quoted text -

Nancy Carberry & Shawn Perry - Storytelling, survival pack, shelter
building & survival demonstrations, endlessly helpful and very
knowledgeable
Rhys Beaulieu - Interpretive nature hike, skiing lessons, maker of
custom curling 'rocks'
Kirt Bennett - Animal ID, Talent Night facilitator, Magician, and a
real talent for keeping a large crowd organised!
Mark Dallyn - Spoke to us over lunch about his wildlife rehabilitation
operation. We want a tour!
Michelle Vandenberg - Introducing a project to turn 12 years of JFW
photos into some impressive scrapbooks!
Doug Allen & Norm Arcand - Flint knapping. Kept a large group of
people enthralled with making arrowheads, arrows & flinty necklaces.
SImply awesome!
Tim & Angela Jeske - A local family who had lived in the high arctic
for 5 years, and brought us an after-supper presentation of their
experiences there. (When JFW gets going in Nunavut it will be known
as Junior Frozen Wardens)
Garry and Larry Nelson - Sunday morning team competitions, campfire
stories & adding to the fun at every turn

Also travelling a long way to to join us were JFW families from Cold
Lake, Ardmore, and Edmonton. The best part of JFW gatherings is
getting together with people from other clubs, swapping ideas and
sharing experiences. Thanks for risking those Saskatchewan roads to
be with us!

Other weekend highlights included curling, skating, tobogganing &
snowball fights on the lake, fire lighting & log sawing challenges,
some 'trapping knowledge', zipline, moonlit night hike, coyotes
howling, late night campfires, a Bronze Badge award, and some really
great adult visiting time.

Club Coordninator Carmen Dabels (in addition to lots of
behind-the-scenes organizing) put together a web-based evaluation,
which elicited many insightful comments in the week since the camp.
The main 'complaint' was that the weekend wasn't long enough!

Many thanks to everyone who helped in any way, and especially to
everyone for being there!

- Your winter camp organising committee

Sask Members attend Yellowhead AC Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Meadow Lake's AC's are always ready to put on some miles to get to a great event, and that's what a few of us did on January 28-30 when Dillon Stock, Grayson Marsh & Neil Marsh attended the first-ever YACs (Yellowhead-Adventurer/Challengers) Regional camp at Camp Encounter. The Yellowhead ACs are a very active group and take the lead in planning their own special events, with an emphasis on leadership development. They have some excellent mentors, in the persons of Martin Schiebel and Kirt Bennett.

The weekend's activities included various challenges, outdoor games, and some planning and preparation for their next event – a 24-hour 'camouflage camp!'

Grayson and Dillon's accounts of the event are as follows.

“I had the time of my life playing Capture the Flag at Junior Forest Wardens in Lac La Nonne, Alberta. There was so many things to do but my favourite was watching Kirt work his magic. I got to see old friends and make new ones. The weather was great for all the outdoor activities, such as Capture the Flag, climbing low ropes, Dodge ball, Treasure Hunt and the obstacle courses.

“The drive from Meadow Lake with my fellow Junior Forest Warden members was long but worth the trip. We were provided with great food, an excellent camp area and the activities were well planned. I enjoyed playing Dodge ball (in the snow), but especially enjoyed the cup of hot chocolate and relaxing afterward. I had a great time at the camp and I look forward to attending upcoming camps.”

- Dillon

“The YACs camp, January 28-30, 2011, was a good time for all. There was some good stuff happening there, like the games, the magic show, and the bacon¹. Also there were some good people: familiar faces and new friends. The youth organised it all, with the guidance of mature adults.

“The games were very fun. We revelled in events such as low ropes, capture the flag, and other lollapalooza. The low ropes were really tough, but we managed. Multiple times. You had to move across a steel wire without losing your balance. Capture the flag was a blast that the YACs poured hours into. We changed the rules a couple times. It was an experiment for an upcoming event: 24 hour Capture the Flag (later this spring). It will be awesome!

“Kirt Bennett is a talented magician. He has an extensive repertoire of Hocus-pocus at his disposal. He even shows the audience the inner workings of some of them! But there is always a veil of mystery that he keeps around them. His show certainly brightened the night.

The YACs camp was a good time for all. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. There were lots of activities to participate in. All in all, it was a great weekend at the beautiful Camp Encounter².”

- Grayson

1The bacon was very good, not too tough, full of flavour. It became synonymous to awesome! Thanks, staff!

2 Camp encounter is a beautiful camp west of Legal, AB

Coming events

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:17:00 +0000

October is a busy month for Meadow Lake JFWs!

Our 'JFW Basics' day this last Saturday was a success, and many skills were learned and/or enhanced.

Our next club meeting is this week - Tuesday evening - and we will meet at the outdoor site by the Community Garden. Yes, it will be dark! However, the weather is (so far) predicted to be quite nice, and we do have lighting for the activities that are planned. (Additional lanterns would be appreciated!) With any luck the sky will be clear and we can add stargazing to our evening plan. We also have a number of things to discuss & decide on, so everyone's attendance will be appreciated.

Oct 15-17 is the annual AJFWA Fall Workshop, and all parents, Challengers and volunteers are encouraged to attend. The cost is $90.00 per person, and includes food, lodging and some great programming. You will feel very welcome, as JFW's are the friendliest group of people you'll ever meet!

Our next evening meeting is October 19th, location TBA

Hallowe'en will soon be upon us! Christine and Mike have invited us to hold a spooky get-together at their farm on October 30th. ACs and adults are encouraged to put their heads together for some great ideas, and possibly set up the event on the weekend before.

And then November... Remembrance Day... 'Mini-survival' weekend... Chainsaw safety course... Festival of Trees coat check... Evening meetings... loads of fun!

Welcome Back!!

noreply@blogger.com (Meadow Lake Woodlanders Junior Forest Wardens) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:27:00 +0000

Another year of JFW is about to begin and it is going to be an exciting year. We have changes happening everywhere; some new leaders, a new coordinator, a new meeting place and soon, some new members. We are going to start the year off with a planning meeting to be held on September 7th at 7 at our new outdoor home, the community garden (weather permitting). It will give people a chance to see where we will be meeting and the progress that has been made this summer on building our shelter. And it will also allow everyone to catch up with each other after a wonderful summer. September 14 is registration night so I expect to see lots of familiar faces and see some new ones as well. Anyone willing to help out and recruit are encouraged to come to Gateway Elementary School in your red shirt anytime after 4:30. It would be a good way to get your friends involved and meet new people. Fall Camp is just after that, starting on September 17th. What a great way to introduce new families to the wonderful experiences that the Junior Forest Wardens program provides. It is going to be an exciting year and I can hardly wait to get started. I hope to see everyone out September 7!

The Season is Done

noreply@blogger.com (Meadow Lake Woodlanders Junior Forest Wardens) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Another year of JFW is done. It has been a fun year full of new friends and lots of learning. Although we are official done, there is still opportunities for fun and learning this summer. There are 2 exciting outreach programs July 17-24 or July 14-21as well as a Wilderness First Aid course August 14-15 for anyone over 12 years of age. Also some important dates to put on your calender are September 14 is registration night, September 17-19 is Fall Camp, October 15-17 is Fall Leadership Workshop, and July 10-16,2011 is National Camp. It is going to be another great year with new friends, new challenges, and some new leaders. Have a great summer and we hope to see everyone in September.

June Camp!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:26:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

One day to go and then it's camp time!

The weather is looking good so far - not hot, but not rainy either. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather, and bring raincoats, just in case.

Something else to remember, is something for the silent auction. This is something new we're trying this year, and should be a lot of fun!

Bringing a friend? Guests are welcome, and this is a great way to introduce new people to our great club. Please get them to bring along the photo & insurance waivers, all filled out.

The camp information is online here. Please call or email if you have any questions.

See you REAL soon!

Well, what a camp we had!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:04:00 +0000

Our 2010 Meadow Lake Woodlanders "Olympic" Family Camp has now come and gone, and it was fun!

Our Camp Director, Brenda Hill, deserves a gold medal herself, as do the Wardens, leaders and parents who put so much effort into planning and preparations, setup and tear-down, and of course keeping it all on track all weekend.

Our sincere thanks to all those who supplied gear, supplies, prizes, munchies and snacks, and who cooked, cleaned, entertained, supervised, helped with events, came early and stayed late and generally did whatever was asked. A great camp just can't happen without such great support from everyone.

Our Adventurers and Challengers displayed EXEMPLARY leadership as they coached and inspired their teams through all the events and challenges. We're really proud of them!

Others contributed as well: The Meadow Lake Provincial Park and the Dorintosh Fire Cache contributed greatly to our comfortable lodgings, George Schwartz sharpened the big Swede saw, and Kanndece Quijata-Sawitsky and Eldon Hill (II and III) made us dance!

Most of all, thanks to all of you who came (some from many miles away) and participated. This was truly a weekend to remember!

But wait, there's more!

On March 19, Wardens aged 12 and over were treated to an excellent tour by the forestry staff of Meadow Lake OSB. They visited an active timer harvesting operation, learned about the methods and equipment in use, and saw some interesting wildlife. Following that, they set out to the woods to build shelters for an overnight camp, at which they practiced some bushcraft skills, camp cooking, orienteering and other activities. Many thanks to Travis, Colin and Jamie of ML OSB, and to Eldon and Richard for great leadership!

(Now I can't wait until June Regional Camp - how about you?)

March Family Camp!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:23:00 +0000

Here's the information - all JFW's are invited!
Don't miss this year's big winter event!

A JFW Legend

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:54:00 +0000

Did you happen to read the story 'Opapa and Me' in the November Readers Digest? If you did, you may have recognized the bearded gentleman in the red uniform on the title page: Our very own Chief Warden Emeritus, Ernst Klaszus, much-beloved and affectionately known as 'Mr. Tree'.

You can read the entire story - just follow the link below. It's well worth the time, even if you've never met Ernst!

Mr. Tree By Jeremy Klaszus

JFW Curling Funspiel

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:50:00 +0000

Hey JFW families!! This Sunday, January 10^th. Our club is putting on a curling funspiel and your invited!

We’re going to have a little “teaching session” for those of us who need all the help we can get! If your interested in joining the teaching session you can meet us at the curling rink at 11:30a.m. - 12:30pm. For those of you who are already pro’s you can join us at 12:30pm., for a 1:00pm. start. We should wrap up the day between 4 and 5pm.

This is set up to be fun for all ages and we’ll have some games for our younger wardens too, if they get a little tired of curling.

Because of insurance purposes any children/adults joining us for this day who are NOT registered members of Junior Forest Wardens will have to fill out a photo and insurance waiver BEFORE coming to the curling rink. Sorry, NO EXCEPTIONS!. Contact Neil at least 2 days before the event for waivers.

Be Sure to have a CLEAN pair of runners with you if you plan on participating in the funspeil, it’s required by the rink.

This event is covered completely by JFW so lets make sure to show up and enjoy the day! Lunch, snacks and drinks are available in the lounge upstairs for an additional cost.

Come for the curling, come for the prizes, come for the fun!!

See you there!!

Latest club news

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:40:00 +0000

Read all the latest JFW news and details on coming events:
November 2009 News

New JFW Website!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:59:00 +0000

The Alberta JFW Association has just launched a new and greatly improved website, with lots of new features, member services, program resources and also information of interest to the general public and potential new members.

JFW members are encouraged to register in order to get the full benefit of the site.

Lots of new material will be added as time goes on, so check it out often at www.jfwa.ca

Our own website (the one you're reading now) will continue as a source of news & information for Meadow Lake.

A brand new year!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:55:00 +0000

The Meadow Lake Woodlanders are set to begin another year of family fun in the natural world. We begin, as always, with a camp-out at Pagan Lake, a local recreation area that our club 'adopted' more than ten years ago.

This coming Tuesday is Community Registration night, and we will be there, ready to welcome all the new families who want to join our very friendly group. We will also have membership information on hand for our partner organization, Nature Saskatchewan.

Our regular, bi-weekly, club meetings will begin Tuesday September 22nd, 7:00 PM at the Lutheran Church Hall. Dates for meetings, weekend outings and other events will always be posted on our calendar.

Feel free to contact us at any time, by email: info at woodlandersjfw.org
or by contacting a club member directly.

Leadership & fun outdoors - Meadow Lake Woodlanders Regional Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:16:00 +0000

JFW families from Meadow Lake, Cold Lake and Bonnyville gathered for a weekend of challenges, fun & learning at this year's Annual Regional Camp held June 12-14 at Matheson Lake.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about knife safety, bear awareness, survival skills, ecology and fire lighting, take a guided hike through a recent forest fire area, carve a walking stick, practice campfire cooking, and try out some 'primitive weapons' - blowdarts, throwing axes, atlatls, bow & arrow and throwing sticks. A well organized 'Twiggy Tent' inspired the imaginations of younger Wardens and Wanderers.

A highlight of this year's camp was the enthusiasm and leadership demonstrated by our older Wardens. Teenage members successfully planned, prepared and led most of the activities and educational sessions.

Thanks to Meadow Lake Provincial Park, park naturalist Kelsie Muldoon, musician Bill Land, 'head cook' Audrey Marsh, and all our members and guests for a great weekend.

See more pictures of the event!

Time to Camp!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:48:00 +0000

Our 2009 Regional Camp is just around the corner! Wardens and guests will gather June 12-14 in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park for a weekend of learning, challenges and fun.

This years camp features a wide range of activities, such as a hike through a recent forest-fire area, archery, blowdarts and atlatls, cooking, canoeing and lots more.

Here is the camp program - as you can see, there's a lot going on!

Send an email to
info @ woodlandersjfw.org
if you would like more info!

Habitat for Birds and Bees

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Songbirds and pollinators are the winners when people build nesting boxes!

Many species of native songbirds are in decline in Canada, and providing nesting sites is one way that people can help maintain populations of these important creatures.

Wild bees are vital pollinators - without them, a great many plants can not produce seed - but are in decline in many areas.

This year, Wardens build birdhouses suitable for chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, swallows and bluebirds, and bee blocks that wild leafcutter bees can use as nest chambers.

The nest boxes were installed in Lions Park and at the Alcott Creek Demonstration Forest. Wardens will be able to observe their handiwork in use as the nesting season progresses.

Many thanks to Home Hardware for supplying materials, and to John Mielke and Louis Hebert (Hebert's Woodworking) for their invaluable assistance.

A valuable reference book is the NatureScape Alberta manual, edited by Myrna Pearman & Ted Pike of the Ellis Bird Farm

More information on pollinators can be found at:
U of Calgary
Environment Canada
Pollination Canada

2009 Winter Camp!

noreply@blogger.com (Meadow Lake Woodlanders Junior Forest Wardens) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:46:00 +0000

This weekend's winter camp was a blast, in spite of cool cloudy weather. Thanks to all who attended, including JFW's from Cold Lake, guests from Meadow Lake, alumni and our own members.
We were glad for the assistance of Nancy Carberry with the afternoon program, Colleen for the good cookin', Bruce & Judy for the use of their land, and all who helped organize the event.

Have a look at some photos:

2009 Winter Camp

http://picasaweb.google.ca/meadowlakejfw/2009WinterCamp#slideshow

OTAC CAMP!

noreply@blogger.com (Meadow Lake Woodlanders Junior Forest Wardens) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Click below to see some photos from a great weekend camp at the JFW Long Lake Outdoor Ed Centre, hosted by students from Lakeland College's Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program.
It was time well spent!

2009_OTAC_Camp

Nature Saskatchewan partners up with Meadow Lake JFW

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Exciting news! Nature Saskatchewan has invited our club to be their partner organization in Meadow Lake. As a ‘local society’, our program will be enhanced in several ways:

Access to resource materials, guest speakers and other programming help
Support for local conservation projects
Our members will be eligible to attend provincial Nature Sask events and activities
Many more people in Saskatchewan will hear about Junior Forest Wardens!

Fraser Hunter and Deanna Trowsdale-Mutafov of Nature Saskatchewan will be travelling to Meadow Lake for our Jan 13^th meeting to meet us, learn more about JFW, and tell us all about their organization and all the possibilities. Please plan to attend, and bring a friend!

Off to a great start!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:06:00 +0000

A very big welcome to all our new members and volunteers, and a warm 'welcome back' to our returning members. 2008-09 is shaping up to be an exciting year, and we're getting it started in a big way with our Fall Camp, September 26-28th at Pagan Lake, near Meadow Lake.
We're hoping that everyone will be able to come to this event, or at least part of it. Join us for some fun, learn about JFW, and most importantly get acquainted with your fellow members.
JFW is all about families getting together to enjoy the outdoors - let's go have a great time together at the Fall Camp!

Get Involved with Junior Forest Wardens!

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:08:00 +0000

There are so many good reasons!

Are you a family with school-aged kids?

Junior Forest Wardens is all about helping children, youth and parents discover nature - together! As a family, you can learn how to be comfortable and competent in the outdoors, gain amazing skills and knowledge, do excellent activities and have a lot of fun while you're at it!

Junior Forest Wardens isn't just for the kids - preschool siblings, parents, grandparents and other family members can all be part of the adventure.

Are you a teenager looking for adventure, or wanting to explore career options?

Adventurers (grades 7-9) and Challengers (grades 10-12) gain more advanced knowledge of forestry, natural sciences and outdoor skills, and take part in some great adventures - wilderness trips, mountaineering experiences and canoe trips to name a few. Leadership is an integral part of the program, and you will gain a lot of confidence and skill in this area. The annual A/C Conference is a leadership weekend that is planned, and run by, young people like you!

Junior Forest Wardens opens the door to many outdoor-related careers that many people never even hear about. Come and explore the many possibilities open to you as you get ready for adult life. Gain valuable experience with the Junior Forest Ranger summer work program, work as a counselor at the Long Lake Outdoor Education Centre, and take part in volunteer opportunities locally. Learn, teach and grow!

Are you a person who loves the outdoors?

If you have a passion for the natural world, you probably want to pass it on! Junior Forest Wardens gives you the chance to help others discover the wonders of nature and develop caring and responsible attitudes.

You will have many opportunities to expand your own knowledge, meet many fascinating people and travel to JFW events throughout Canada.

Are you employed by, or involved with, an outdoor-focused organization?

Employees of forestry companies, governments and schools are often found helping out with Junior Forest Wardens, lending their particular expertise and resources to the program.

Members of conservation-minded organizations, community service groups and outdoor recreation clubs are also frequently involved, each bringing their own perspective and particular area of interest to the program.

It is important the the Junior Forest Warden program be well grounded in the 'real world', and people like you keep us on the right track!

Do you have knowledge, skills, experiences or talents that you would like to share?

Our program is centred on four main elements:

Forestry
Ecology & Natural Sciences
Wilderness Skills
Leadership

Within each of these areas is an amazing variety of teaching (and learning) opportunities. Read through our curriculum, and see if there is something that appeals to you! We'd love to have you work with us - even in a small way.

Does any of the above sound like you?

If so, contact us today!

Meadow Lake Woodlanders Regional Camp and 10th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:16:00 +0000

By Jennifer Nichols, Meadow Lake Progress
Reprinted with permission

It was a weekend to celebrate, learn and have a lot of fun at the Meadow Lake Woodlanders Regional Camp on June 20-22. The camp was held at Matheson Lake in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Approximately 55 people came from Meadow Lake, Cold Lake, Bonnyville and as far away as Edmonton, Ardmore, Wetaskiwin and Stoney Plain to join in the fun.

The weekend kicked off on Friday with opening ceremonies and the 'Ask the experts' wildlife identification game. Teams got competitive and had a lot of laughs, but also learn a lot about nature and wildlife in the park.

On Saturday morning everyone got cooking with the Camp Kitchen Challenge. The Pathfinders cooked up bannock and veggies over tin can stoves, the Trailblazers made burgers, grilled cheese and breakfast in their leave no trace challenge and the A/Cs made a three course feast.

It was a busy day with a horsemanship demonstration by the local 4-H club at Vivian Lake, the Fresh Air Dexterity - a series of skill-testing challenges by Kirt Bennett and numerous assistants, an introduction to Wildland Firefighting for the A/Cs with Nancy Carberry, and lots of free time for swimming and enjoying the hot sun

The pot luck supper in the evening was delicious - there was more food than the whole group plus special guests could eat! Special guests included Chief Warden Terry Garrett, Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison, Garry Nelson, Kirt Bennett, Nancy Carberry, Bill Land and Woodlanders founding members: Dave and Ruth Wolfe, Howard MacCuish, Matthew Wolfe, Shane McWatters, Amanda McWatters.

The local Forest Wardens received their badges and Neil Marsh gave out some special gifts to people who have helped the club throughout the year. There was even a 10th Anniversary cake that MLA Jeremy Harrison and Chief Warden Terry Garrett cut. After supper everyone took part in a JFW trivia game and were treated to original music by Bill Land, a magic show by Kirt Bennett and a big campfire.

It was a busy weekend, but everyone had a great time. There was even time to do some canoeing, kayaking and other fun outdoor activities. Thanks to everyone who travelled so far to come to camp, and for everyone who worked hard to make it a success!

Have a look at some pictures!

Adventurer-Challenger Canoe Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:56:00 +0000

On June 7th 2008 six Wardens and two leaders set off for an overnight canoe trip down the Meadow River from Meadow Lake to the mill road bridge.

The Wardens had several practice and planning sessions leading up to the trip, and were well prepared under the guidance of canoe instructor Tracey Wolfe. So, well provisioned and well equipped, we set off on a cloudy morning down the river.

Although the water was still high, we had a lot of rocks to contend with for the first half of the journey. Several times it was necessary to step out of the canoes.

There was a lot of wildlife to see: Grebes, geese & goslings, ducks, willets, herons, beaver, muskrat, moose to name a few.

We learned about portaging when we came to an old bridge with a huge log jam in front of it. The only course of action was to pull up on the very muddy bank, unload everything, lug it to the other side of the bridge and get back in the water. Oh yeah, we discovered stinging nettle, too!

We found a suitable campsite in a grassy pasture area. Everyone worked together and camp was quickly in order, as was a welcome hot meal and then sleep for eight weary people.

The next day was shorter - we had breakfast, broke camp, and then paddled two hours to our destination.

Somebody saw fit to bring a huge water pistol along, and a good thing too, as it helped pass the time and keep us cool.

All in all, a good trip, and our group is ready for a more challenging river the next time out!

Have a look at some pictures of our canoe trip.

Bears for Charity

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:54:00 +0000

Our Pathfinders have been making special stuffed bears that will be sent to a hospital in South Africa for the children there. This could become a rewarding, ongoing project for our club. Good job, Pathfinders! Special thanks to Sandra Dufour.

Sleighride at MacCuish's

noreply@blogger.com (Neil Marsh) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Longtime JFW leader and club supporter Howard MacCuish took time out for a sleigh ride a few weeks ago. He's training a new team and was happy for the extra 'ballast'.
It was a beautiful day, and lots to see. Have a look at some photos.
Thanks, Howard!