Venturers on the road
Local Scouting group travels to New York State for fun, friendship and adventure
It’s been nearly three years since the creation of the Kawartha Waterways Area Venturer Company and we are still blazing trails both locally and internationally!
Most recently we packed up and headed to Ovid, N.Y. to volunteer as staff at the 19th Challenge Trophy Camporee. This was our second year assisting local Scouter Craig White in teaching Scouting youth from across the U.S. and Canada to make paracord survival bracelets. This year we also took turns helping out with the Leather Craft activity run by an American Scouter.
The weather forecast was spectacular for the entire weekend and we excitedly packed our vehicles with the promise of sunshine, beautiful scenery, new friends and amazing adventures whirling in our minds.
Supplies? Check! Luggage? Check! International travel documents? Check! Road trip tunes and snacks? Check!
Once everything was in order we hopped into our vehicles and headed for that all important first stop of the day - Tim Hortons! Then we were on the road again, a line up four cars long, as we drove toward the sunrise watching darkness slowly give way to light while we sipped our hot beverages, sang along to our favourite tunes and daydreamed about all the fun we would have at camp.
At the Canada/U.S. border we passed through fairly smoothly and drove on to our next stop: Denny’s in Watertown! One thing the morning ’s adventure taught us was that road trips can make BIG appetites and luckily the food came quick and hot and was gone again almost as fast! With our tummies full and the morning ’s adventures happily recounted, we headed back to our cars with smiles on our faces and a spring in our step to carry on to the next stop - the Boy Scouts of America office in Syracuse.
At the BSA office we shopped until we dropped, picking up a bunch of T-shirts, badges and other souvenirs then went next door to pick up a few party supplies from the dollar store. Glow necklaces, plastic karaoke mics, candy and cold beverages were added to the already packed to the brim vehicles and we continued on to the village of Ovid.
After a quick stop at McDonald’s to grab dinner to go we arrived at camp Babcock Hovey where the Scouters checked us in and we were assigned our lodgings for the weekend. We made our way to our cabins, unloaded and ate before preparing for a very special and unique Investiture for two of our newest members, Mac and Will.
Mac and Will chose to be invested during our trip to the U.S. and to add to the unique Investiture, we asked our new British friend, Scouter Rusty Robinson from Peterborough, U.K. to conduct the ceremony.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all of us donned our beautiful blue, white and red neckers and set out to find the main lodge to get set up for the next day’s bracelet making and leather craft activities and attend a staff meeting before turning in for some much needed rest.
The following morning we were up before the sun, dressed and well fed before we made our way to the building where our activities were taking place. We spent a wonderful sunny day meeting Scouters and Scouting youth from across the U.S. and Canada and sharing stories, jokes and laughter with them as we tied paracord bracelets and created leather crafts together. While we worked it occurred to us that it wasn’t just rope and leather we were binding together, but memories that will no doubt last a lifetime.
As the day wound to a close we were able to explore the park. Some of us caught the tail end of the spectacular sunset over the lake next to the camp while others rushed to the badge trading tent. Later we were reunited at the main field and watched the relay races which were conducted with glow in the dark batons. Music and laughter filled the air along with chants of encouragement for the relay participants. It was nothing short of awesome to witness the mass of excited and joy filled Scouts and Scouters filling the field, campfire smoke drifting over top, sub camp flags flying high above the crowd and waving through the air as bright silvery stars twinkled overhead.
Formal campfires were lit and we were all treated to songs, skits and cheers before we made our way back to watch a movie on an outdoor screen in the picnic shelter beside our cabins. Afterward we made use of the outdoor fire pit and enjoyed our own private campfire where we laughed and happily recounted the days’ events together. As the fire burned low and the coals glowed warmly, we relaxed and unwound surrounded by the friends who, as so often happens in Scouting, have quickly come to feel like extended family. Hearts full of happiness, we each felt thankful to have had the opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder of yet another amazing Scout camp and are excitedly planning for our next one!
If you’re a youth between the ages of 14-17 with a passion for the outdoors and a craving for adventure, it’s never too late to join us! We’re active all year long and no previous scouting experience is necessary! Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kwaventurers or send us a message at kwaventurercompany@gmail.com to find out how you can stop reading about our adventures and join us on them instead!