Sunday 29 July 2012

It's 1812 - Do You Know Where Your Scouts Are?

Every year, 8th Newmarket Scouts participate in a weekend camp on the grounds of historic Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake: the Scout Brigade of Fort George

Scouts come from all over Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York State to participate in a reenactment of the War of 1812.

This camp is considered to be one of the highlights of the Scouting year for 8th Newmarket.  Our youth get to dress in period-appropriate costumes, practice their musket drills, and learn about history in a most enjoyable way: by living it.

This past week, Scouter Glen sent a notice to our 8th Newmarket Scouts announcing that we are registered and ready to go: September 21 to 23, we will join approximately 2000 other Scouts at the two-hundred year anniversary of this historic event.  We always enjoy our time at Fort George, but this year promises to be extra-special.  Details are still to come, but there are hints of exciting plans to commemorate this bicentennial year.

The SBFG has posted a short video that highlights some of the things you can expect to experience at Fort George.  Have a look and let us know what you think.


Sunday 22 July 2012

Stretching Out the Summer

Here it is, coming up to the end of July, and as long as you stay outside, the summer seems endless.  Days are hot and humid, the leaves on the trees are green green green, and fall is nothing but a far-off dream.

But have you been to the mall recently?  Or how about Wal-Mart?  If so, you may have seen "End of Summer Sale" signs creeping into store windows, or noticed that school supplies have started to edge out the pool toys.

Hmmm.  Perhaps fall isn't so far off, after all?

Here's an idea: stay outside and live in the moment.  Ride your bike, go camping, swim, hike, or just daydream as you watch the clouds drift by.  There's plenty of summer left if you know where to look, so don't let those stores tell you otherwise.

Enjoy the sunshine and make memories; that's what summer is for.  And if you do, when fall does finally get here and Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers start up again, you'll have plenty of adventures to share with your friends at 8th Newmarket.

We look forward to hearing about them.  But don't worry, we can wait!


Thursday 12 July 2012

Take your 8th Newmarket Scout to Camp!

One of the most popular 8th Newmarket activities is, without a doubt, camping.  Our youth have several opportunities throughout the year to enjoy the Great Outdoors, whether they are a Beaver, Cub, Scout or Venturer - and all this experience gives them a chance to build up a pretty valuable skill set.

Perhaps your family is considering a camping trip of your own this summer.  If so, you are in luck!  There are a whole list of reasons why it's great to camp with a member of 8th Newmarket.  Here are our top five.

1. Starting and tending to the fire

If your youth is Scout-aged or older, he or she has likely earned the coveted fire permit and will be skilled in the building, starting and tending of the fire.  Plus, they will be highly motivated to haul wood in exchange for this honour.  Even younger youth will help with gathering kindling and stacking wood, knowing that in a just a few years, they will have their own chance to tend the fire.  It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

2.  Going off the grid

On our 8th Newmarket camping trips, we have a strict "no electronics" rule.  This means that our youth are not only capable of entertaining themselves without staring at a screen, they actually like it.  There are plenty of things to do that don't require batteries and they don't have any trouble coming up with ideas.

3. "Many hands make light work"

Camping trips are tons of fun, but all that fun doesn't happen by itself. When we go camping, everyone is expected to chip in.  Even the Beavers wash their own dishes!  Unlike some of their non-Scouting friends, 8th Newmarket youth don't expect to have everything done for them - they know that if everyone helps out, a job gets done quicker.  

4. Putting up the tent 

Even if you don't know the difference between a peg and a pole, we're pretty sure that your 8th Newmarket youth will.  Even the youngest Beaver gets involved when it comes to setting up camp, and by the time they are in Scouts, most youth can handle the whole job, start to finish.  By the way, if they've been to at least one Fall Camp, they can probably even put up a tent in the rain, in the dark, or both.

5. Take a hike!

An 8th Newmarket youth will not be offended if you tell him or her to "Take a hike".  In fact, they'll likely jump at the chance to do so, and drag you along with them.  You should go...you'll be glad you did!

 

Have you been camping with an 8th Newmarket youth?  What do you think is the best part?



Monday 2 July 2012

It Starts With Scouts

Are you familiar with the Scouts Canada logo and tagline?  No?  Well, there it is, down near the bottom of the page on the right...go ahead and take a look.

The logo is meant to resemble a tent, which ties in to our relationship with the outdoors.  Beneath the graphic and the words SCOUTS CANADA, is our tagline: It starts with Scouts.  Maybe this phrase makes you wonder: What starts with Scouts?!?

Well, all kinds of things, actually.

Here's a pretty cool statistic - according to the website The Scouting Pages, eleven of the twelve men who have walked on the moon were once Scouts.

Now, maybe that's a coincidence...but we don't think so.

So - what starts with Scouts?  Anything you can imagine.