Canoe Training 2010

After arriving at the Burbidge's lake house on Lost Lake, everyone pitched in for some lawn care, weed pulling, and weed eating to get the place polished up. The boys all worked very hard as the lake was waiting for them and looked very inviting!

Brian, once again, impresses us all with his ability to hold back the gag reflex and swallow things must wouldn't consider putting in their mouths as he plays with his food...a huge worm originally meant for fishing, now an appetizer before dinner.




The purpose of this outing was to practice canoe handling skills, paddle techniques, rescue techniques, and self rescue. This includes swamping the canoe intentionally and learning how to either manage the situation on your own or to use the aid of a fellow boat crew. Learning the skills of being rescued are just as important as being the rescuer.

Fire Making

In backpacking there are a set of items known as the "Ten Essentials" that should always be in your backpack when you enter the wilderness, no matter how long or short your trip is intended to be. Of those 10 items, 2 deal with fire..Matches and Fire Starter.

Tonight we make Fire!

We will be melting wax to water proof our matches and "Fire Sticks" so instruction is needed in the proper way to melt wax. It may explode if you do not use a double boiler and some of the boys have never heard of such a thing.

After getting the wax on its way to liquid form, we cut strips of cardboard 2" x 7" and peel one side of the backing off to expose the corrugation.
We then roll them into small logs and tie them with twine.

We soak them in the wax and let them dry.

Some of us like fire more than others!

Dan is our newest victim...I mean member!

The completed Fire Stick is water proof, will burn in damp conditions, will burn for about 10 minutes, and will burn very hot.

They also burn very clean with no toxic fumes and burn completely with no left over product.

We also spent time playing with our new backpacking tents.

The boys were pretty proud of themselves...So was I.