Maple Hill Academy: Duke of Edinburgh Award, Hug a Tree, Lots of Scouting, and more

Life has been SO busy recently - I'm sure you have all given up reading my blog because of the lack of new posts.

I've been really busy with Scouting Recently. Besides the meetings and activities, I've been taking some training. That has included working on the WoodBadge II training for Leaders. I've already earned it years ago as a Scout Leader and a Rover Advisor - now I'm taking it as a Cub Leader.

Temperature for the Klondike Derby!
Delta and Echo were outside for about 5 hours that day...

Echo and Delta starting out on the Klondike Derby

One of those activities was the Klondike Derby - where Scout troops and Cub packs compete at 10 various 'towns' doing things like building bridges, starting fires, and riding a zip line. Our pack usually has a 'dog sled' (pulled by the cubs) - but it was frozen in snow this year, so they used backpacks to carry their provisions.

Big Brown Beaver's Birthday Cake

Part of my Woodbadge II training was held at the same camp as the Area Winter Beaver Camp. As this year is the 40th anniversary of Beavers in Canada, it was a Birthday Party theme. This cake was too good not to share.... well at least the picture of it.

See the Beaver in the 3rd slot? That is Foxtrot's Beaver Buggy

Foxtrot got to start a race! (Cars are already down the track)

Golf got to start a Scout Trucks race!

Foxtrot, Echo, Delta, Golf with their Cub Cars. (Golf has Delta's from last year)

We also had the Cub Car rally this month with the church, Although the church doesn't sponsor Cubs, Foxtrot came in uniform with her beaver buggy, and she got to run her buggy with the Cub Cars. There were also Scout Trucks running.

I have also felt it was a good idea to be trained as a mentor for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This Award is available for youth ages 14-25 in various (if not all) Commonwealth Countries. It is quite challenging, but works well with Scouting - and is often included with scouting in Venturer Companies and Rover Crews. One thing that is cool is that my province has a semi-unofficial challenge for youth ages 11-13 which Delta will be able to start this fall.

As well as that, I also took training to be able to present the "Hug-a-tree" program. I was actually trained years ago when it was run by the RCMP, but it is now run by a not-for-profit organization, and there have been a couple of updates to the program. This program teaches youth ages 5-10ish how not to get lost in the woods, and what to do if they are. (This program almost perfectly completes the Cub level 'Trailcraft' badge....)

Also, Canadian Scouting is going through a review and redevelopment. They are just starting to pilot some of the changes now, and the pilot programs will continue through next year. The new program will be implemented Fall 2015 if things go as planned. I have been attending various meetings about the new program, and hope to become a Mentor for Cub Packs that are doing the pilot, and for the implementation of the new program in 2015. There may be many interested people though, so not sure the likelihood of being selected. It looks like it has a lot of potential (besides, it is better to be on board with change that is definitely coming rather than drag your heels...) I hope that the program turns out to be great!

Here are some pictures from the last couple of months.