Scout Blog

New adventure gear for 2022

2022-10-01 09:52:24

Our Scout Troop has grown both in size and in capability, and our youth are looking for more real adventure – moving away from ‘car camping’ and getting into multi-day, self-contained trips.  Our current gear, like our 4-season Eureka tents are both in good repair and very usable, however they have one feature that is not desirable – weight.  The aluminum poles make for a heavy and bulky load when hiking into a wilderness.  

As a result, we have invested in a significant number of kits for our Scouting Patrols.  Our Scouters in the Troop section are experienced in outdoor adventure and in some cases have military training and background, and were confident in their choices of equipment.  

Platypus Gravity water filtration systemThe first consideration when moving into wilderness camping is a reliable water source.  The Platypus GravityWorks filtration system enables filtering up to 1.75 litres of water a minute without pumping – the youth just hang the bags at different heights and let gravity do the work, filtering out bacteria and protozoa and enabling water on the go.  

Following water, food is a necessity and carrying Coleman stoves and large pot sets is again both bulky and heavy.  Our new pot sets and single-burner stoves from MSR will give each patrol what they need for a safe, hot meal after a long hike. 

 

Finally, we have invested in some lightweight Big Agnes Copper Spur 3-man tents with footprints (ground sheet custom fit to the tent).  Coming in at just 1.5 Kg (about 3lbs 8oz), compared to the 4.9 Kg (10lbs 11oz) for our Eureka El Capitan tents.  Made of rugged, lightweight materials with storage pockets and head room to sit up inside, as well as being freestanding and easy to setup and take down, the Copper Spur makes for a great high adventure addition to the 3rd Ottawa camping arsenal. 

Whether camping at Camp Opemikon or in the middle of Algonquin Park, the 3rd Ottawa is ready for adventure! 

Yours in Scouting 
Tim Welch
Group Commissioner

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Heritage Area Klondike Derby 2015

2015-02-16 17:07:34

On Sat., Feb.07 2015 the 3rd Ottawa Scouts entered  in the annual Heritage Area Klondike Derby which took place at Lac Beauchamp, QC this year.

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This event is in its 51st year, with over 20 challenges ranging from hill traverse and fire skills to physical challenges like the infamous gully crossing. Success demands a high level of teamwork and cooperation.

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We are proud to say that our team of Scouts, a mix of first, second & third year scouts competing as “mongoose patrol”  won FIRST PLACE in their category for the event! (Intermediate Category) Congratulations Scouts on a great effort and fantastic result.

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3rd Ottawa Venturers supported the event this year, serving 70 litres of hot chocolate at morning & afternoon stations, paying back for their past years of lounging at the HC station.

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Go 3rd Ottawa!

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Scout Winter Camp 2015

2015-01-20 19:50:34

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3rd Ottawa Scouts enjoyed a brisk winter camp Jan 16-19, 2015.  With the temperature plunging to -30 Saturday AM, it was one of our coldest winter camps to date.   We had to scrounge a bit to find enough snow for our quinzees, but they set up solidly!

With the colder weather, a bit more energy was spent staying warm, but we managed to get in  a spectacular star hike with the milky way clearly visible (no moon), some stories around the campfire, and a bit of tobogganing too.

Click through the slides…

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Fall 2014 Scouts Investiture Ceremony

2014-10-10 21:54:47

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On October 06 (a breezy fall night) 3rd Ottawa Scouts hiked down to an investiture ceremony on Westboro beach.  Members of the 003 Venturer company provided some ambiance with a beachside fire (well contained of course…we are the good guys).   New members of the troop sweated over recitation of the Motto, Law and Promise

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Klondike Derby 2014

2014-02-09 14:40:03

On Sat., Feb.08 2014 the 3rd Ottawa Scouts entered  in the annual Heritage Area Klondike Derby which took place at Wakefield, QC this year.
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This event is in it’s 50th year, with over 20 challenges ranging from hill traverse and fire skills to physical challenges like the infamous gully crossing. Success demands a high level of teamwork and cooperation.

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We are proud to say that our team of Scouts, a mix of first, second & third year scouts competing as “cougar patrol”  won FIRST PLACE in their category for the event! Congratulations Scouts on a great effort and fantastic result.

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3rd Ottawa “Cougar” Patrol takes Junior Category

 

Go 3rd Ottawa!

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Scouts Winter Camp 2014

2014-01-21 18:28:01

gopr4309We held our annual Scout Winter Camp for Winter 2014 Jan 17-19

Like the previous couple of years we held this camp at the beautiful facilities at Gracefield.  We headed out in the morning of January 17 and were setting up tents and piling snow for Quinzees by noon.
Saturday morning was beautiful and after a satisfying boiling-bag meal we excavated our Quinzees.
Check out some video
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Some of the scouts had a chat with coyotes
In the afternoon we hiked up to the look-out (through some pretty deep snow) and did some compass work
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In the evening we had some stories and songs around the campfire under the starry sky
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..before sleeping snug in our Quinzees
It was the first winter camp experience for 8 youth & 2 Scouters and all of us slept in Quinzees
Sunday morning saw us packing up, after working hard to bring down our Quinzees and working on a fire-lighting challenge.
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Here are some more pictures (click to advance)
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3rd Ottawa Scouts Summer Camp 2013: June 29-July 6

2013-02-17 18:47:50

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Having a troop summer camp used to be a standard practice for Scouting.  Over the last few years our troop has been having 5 camps spread through the scouting year with a three day camp in June.  This year we have decided to trim back one of our regular camps to allow for a week long camp at the start of summer….

When: Saturday June 29 to Saturday July 06

Where: Haliburton Scout Reserve:

Haliburton Scout Reserve (HSR) is one of the largest semi-wilderness Scouts Canada camps in Ontario with almost 5000 acres of forest and lakes. With most camp sites only accessible by boat, HSR offers a unique camping environment.

The camp has an on-site doctor, nurse and medical facilities that are open 24-hours, a grocery store and a souvenir shop.

Belonging to Scouts Canada, Greater Toronto Council,  HSR is located just south of Algonquin park.

What:  HSR offers a variety of fun and adventurous activities to enjoy including: canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, snorkeling, mountain biking and archery & more with program delivery staff on-site.

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Cost:  Approximately $400-500 for the week depending on cost of transport to & from the site

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Scouts Winter Camp 2013

2013-02-16 20:28:34

We have had our annual Winter Camp for Winter 2013 Jan 25-27

Like the previous couple of years we held this camp at the beautiful facilities at Gracefield.  We headed out in the morning of January 25 and were setting up tents and piling snow for Quinzees by noon.
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Saturday morning was beautiful and after a satisfying boiling-bag meal we excavated our Quinzees.  In the afternoon we rolled across the lake..Well some of us anyways!
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In the evening we had some stories around the campfire and a night hike under the starry sky, before sleeping snug in our Quinzees

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Here are some more pictures (click to advance)

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Klondike Derby 2013

2013-02-10 08:21:31

"Cougars" travel between stations

On Sat., Feb.09 2013 the 3rd Ottawa Scouts entered  in the annual Heritage Area Klondike Derby which took place at Wakefield, QC this year.

This event in it’s 49th year, with over 20 challenges ranging from compass and fire skills to physical challenges like the infamous gully crossing demands a high level of teamwork and cooperation.

We are proud to say that our team of Scouts, a mix of first, second & third year scouts competing as “cougar patrol”  won FIRST PLACE in their category for the event!  Indeed they finished with 186 points, just half a point back of the overall trophy winners.  Congratulations Scouts on a great effort and fantastic result.

Klondike 2013 Trophy

 

Go 3rd Ottawa!

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Scouts Fall Hike 2012: Arboretum to Vincent Massey Park

2012-10-27 15:21:49

The 3rd Ottawa Scouts took advantage of the season to make a trip to the Dominion Arboretum, with a hike to Hog’s Back falls and Vincent Massey Park.

Established in the late 1800’s the arboretum is home to many different varieties of both native and non-native species.  An ideal spot for Scouts to work on their tree Identification Skills.  If you ever want to know what trees are where in the arboretum,  some meticulous soul has mapped the locations of all the different trees!  After some tree-ID we worked on our compass skills, as well as estimating distances.

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After a quick lunch we headed over Hartwell’s lock and up the Rideau canal to Hog’s Back Falls

Hog's back Falls

We ended the day with a hike down through Vincent Massey park to catch the O-train at Confederation station, a quick train and bus connection to Dominion station, and a hike back to the church, still mostly dry!

Here are some more pictures (Click to Advance)

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