Dear Scouter Bob:
Q) What kind of camping do the 236th do?
A) We do light weight camping, requiring little more than a truck and several trailers to transport everything for the week at summer camp.
Q) Gosh, what if you were doing heavy weight camping?
A) Hmm...Theres always CN or CP Rail you know.
Q) How can you enjoy a camp outing with all those kids.
A) Oh, are they with us, we thought they were porters: (Parents: Just kidding)
Q) I was shocked to hear the Skip mobile is no more. What will the 236th do now?
A) The 1986 Chev Caprice Estate Wagon hauled scouts and equip. to many camps since being purchased in Mar 1987. This included PEI 1989, Virginia, Wash, Ohio 1993, and Thunder Bay 1997. I thought it should be retired and regret that decision. For a couple of years, I have been using my 2000 Sonata but I realize, it does not have the guts needed for the monumental job of getting a scout troop to camp. Recently, I purchased a 1994 F250 full box pick up truck.
It is very strong and immediately on purchasing from a dealer, I had my own garage go through it and make repairs to bring it upto standard. It will be a wonderful addition to the trailer for equipment haulage to and from camp. It also carries 5 passengers.
Q) I hear that nothing ever moves on your trailer when you finish securing the load. What is your secret?
A) Common sense dictates that your load should be double secured for safety reasons. For a hint on how to secure the load, we turn to the truckers for guidance. AFter all, they are on the road much more than anyone.
The Dolly
This is probably the most famous truckers knot.
You need to hook in the cross marked place. The force F you apply at the loose end is multiplied by (almost) 3 on the standing part. You may say it is only a rope tackle.
I do have experience with this knot. It will hold as long as the force is applied, and that is also the case with its closest relative, the sheep shank.
In my case, I tie a loop in the rope, run the free end through a ring on the trailer, back through the loop and cinch the rope tight, tie it off. Needless, it was a trucker that taught me the knot.
Q) How long have you been a leader with the 236th.
A) I have been with the 236th since I was 13 and took over the troop as Troop Scouter at the age of 17 years. That was in 1966 and a few months later, I gave over the reigns of being in charge to Scouter Ray Liscumbe and continued as an assistant. Over the years, I have had many roles, such as Akela, Skip, Venturer Advisor and today continue in the role of Sponsors Rep. and Skip (Troop Scouter).
Q) The 236th has had large numbers of youth for many years. What is your secret.
A) We are fortunate to have a unique situation at Holy Name Church. Every section meets the same night, so that 1. parents can drop off the whole load of kids and get an hour break. (that is worth a lot). 2. we're the only scouting group on the Danforth (no competition). but I like to think it is 3. We have a valuable commodity in leadership who look for more and varied program ideas to challenge, excite and motivate the youth to achieve and succeed while having a lot of fun.
Q) What happens to the youth when they are no longer able to be youth members.
A) We love to see our young kids grow up and continue on as junior leaders earning their service hours for highschool for working with youth and then again continue on as adults to give the new children, some of the fun and sparkle of Scouting that made them glad to be a member.
Q) I hear the youth learn to play musical instruments at Cubs and Scouts. Is that true?
A) We have always wanted to do more with our youth and when Scouts Canada advised that part of our aim is to teach youth, something we had already been doing for other aspects of our program, we decided to add further knowledge of music to our routine. Outside of our normal meeting time, we do a half hour of drum lessons for those that are interested to join our cub and scout drum corp. We parade in the Easter and Canada Day Parade. In addition on another night, we teach guitar to interested scouts on condition that they agree to participate in our concerts on stage at a number of venues. We have formed the "First Light Scout Band". Recently we did a professional recording
If you have any questions concerning Scouting, please email Scouter Bob at bob@236toronto.com
