Our annual Troop Summer Camp will be June 28 to July 6 at Haliburton Scout Reserve. Every summer, thousands of Scouts enjoy summer camp at HSR, Canada's largest Scout camp. Summer camp activities include:
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Summer Camp is one of our most important programs. Camp is the place where Scouts develop leadership and teamwork skills, earn badges, and spend a very enjoyable week. Living in camp with friends build the team that is the Scout patrol and troop. For new Scouts, summer camp is the best way to get to know the other Scouts and become part of the troop.
In operation since 1947, Haliburton Scout Reserve has 23 campsites arranged around a beautiful lake. Each campsite has an intercom phone which links it to the rest of the camp. The main camp area has a grocery store and a trading post where Scouts can buy snacks and souvenirs. The camp medical centre is staffed by a doctor and a nurse. HSR-run program activities are conducted by trained Scouting staff.
On Saturday, we will depart from the Cedars for the drive to camp. It takes about 3.5 hours. At camp, we will load our gear onto a pontoon barge, fit a Personal Floatation Device (PDF) from the storage shack, and hop on the barge for the trip to our campsite. Once in camp, it's time to set up, make dinner, and prepare for the opening campfire.
On Sunday morning, we will travel by barge to the Hub (the main area of camp), get a short water safety and canoe lesson, select paddles and canoes, and head back to out campsite. After lunch, we'll learn and practise more water safety and canoe skills.
During the week, each day will be different. We'll get up, have flag break and breakfast, then canoe to the day's activities. There will be free time every day as well as time to earn badges, such as the canoeing badge. In the evenings, we'll play wide games and sing songs around the campfire. One evening, we'll go on a barge into the middle of the lake to look at the stars and hear stories about the constellations.
On Thursday afternoon, it's the waterfront regatta. Every troop will gather at the Hub for friendly competition in a wide range of water events.
On Friday, Scouts will have the chance to complete the Mile Swim. That evening is our closing banquet. Scouts will be awarded the badges earned that week. As well, everyone gets a customized badge representing their special contribution to the week's camp. After the banquet is the all-camp closing campfire.
On Saturday, we'll pack up and return on the badge to the loading docks. From there, we'll leave on a hike to a backwoods campsite for the last night of camp.
On Sunday, we'll hike back to the parking lot and head home. On the way back, we'll drop in at Subway for lunch.
This is our troop summer camp. Each year, almost everyone from the Scout Troop attends camp. Please get in touch with me if you need more information about camp. The camp fee for the week is $240. To register, please bring a cheque made out to "21st Waterloo Scouts". If you would like to pay in instalments or if you need financial assistance, please contact me.
— Scouter Liam Morland, 519-729-2227
