Scout Camps and Properties

Hi - just a quick note - the Taber camp (Scout Island) is probably not listed because, from what I understand, it is no more - was destroyed in the flood of '05. I have only heard that third hand, but it really wouldn't surprise me too much. I do know that in '04 there were some troubles getting to the site because the road to it went through a farmer's field and the land had been sold.

As far as the other council camps - we're updating the website Cecil - you'll see that Gardner has a weekend activity just about every weekend now, a March break camp and a Cub summer camp. Apistotoke summer will come next year, likely - but we're going to have a March Break camp there this year too - along with a ski weekend and a bunch of weekend activities.

Our council has made the decision to promote program rather than properties - and to find the best places to do those programs and go from there. We're also going to be running white water rafting trips, a horsepacking trip, ice climbing and possibly a canoe trip on the Red Deer river next summer - all outside of our properties. It's sort of the model that South Lake Simcoe Area uses for their annual canoe trip in Algonquin Park - find the best place nearby and do it!

Good to see you're still active Cecil! I was hoping to see you at the jamboree this past summer!

I am all for establishing these "Activity Centres" throughout our Scouting properties. However, I feel that this is a bit like putting the cart before the horse. We have many incredible camping resources throughout Canada that are rapidly falling into a deteriorated state. Buildings are not being repaired, kybos are becoming unusable, potable water is becoming an issue, land is not being properly tended. In many cases these camps are valiently maintained week after week by a small band of heroic property/camp committees. In spite of their best efforts the number of repairs needed grows and grows at many camps....sometimes because of financial constraints, but in most cases simply by the small number of volunteers willing to do the work. They are provided with little or no support by any other level of Scouting.

In my opinion, spending money on establishing "Activity Centres" and programming at these camps would be like a flea-bag hotel spending money on a fancy swimming pool and mini-putt. It may get the customers in the door, but at the end of their stay the customer will be talking about the overflowing toilets and leaky roof, not the pool. They will not return. We need to provide significant and meaningful support to our camps FIRST to get them up to a reasonable level of repair.....then we should provide the activities and programming at these camps.

Our camps are a legacy of those who have gone before us. It is our duty to restore and maintain these camps to be used proudly by future generations of Scouting folk. Shame on us if we let these camps continue to slide downwards into a state of uselessness.

I totally agree, Scouter Mike, and I believe the intent is that effective camp maintainence and property upgrades be done before investing in "activity centre" development. The goal with the SAC concept is to provide options for the section scouter so they they do not have to plan a weekend of activities for their youth - they can draw on camp resources. A fair number of our volunteers just don't have the time to plan camp programs in addition to the regular weeknight schedule, consequently the youth might be missing out on the camping experience. By having a selection of program options (almost like an a la carte menue) leaders can design a weekend of activities - without having to take three trailer loads of "stuff" to camp.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Scouter Stewart

Hi - just a quick note - the Taber camp (Scout Island) is probably not listed because, from what I understand, it is no more - was destroyed in the flood of '05.

I would like to include in the Scout Camp Directory any camp that has existed since 1990. Ones that are closed are marked that way. This saves people time if they are looking for that camp they recall going to, but is now closed. It is much better to find that it is closed then to do a fruitless search.

If you know of any camps that are not listed, please Add the camp.

Mike
I have been told by Ken that it is my job to keep you on your toes. This is pay back for those years I was in Flatlands and you were the rep.