Re: [Paddlewise] Any tips for Scout Kayak Trips?

From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
Date: Tue, 08 Jun 1999 12:12:46 -0400
Phil Huck wrote:
> 
>           My main concern is...
> What is it like camping with scouts?
> I imagine - very organized teens hustling about like
> worker ants assembling and disassemblig camps, crafts,
> plenty of skills testing etc.

Can be. Whether it is or not is highly up to you. Mostly, the Scouts
will not organize themselves unless they've been trained to do so. I'd
suggest you prepare yourself to exercise a lot more leadership than you
would when paddling with adults. In a word (or 3) "Keep 'em busy."
DEcide ahead of time on what they can decide democratically (We can swim
first, or practice rescues first) and what you're going to tell them to
do. If Scouts respect you as a leader and understand the thinking behind
things, they follow really well.

> My brothers used to be in Scouts and they always had
> to pack some cat food "just in case".

Huh? In case you are attacked by a mountain lion, so you can open the
can, toss it down, and run away while he chows down on the fancy feast?

> Regarding that last statement - how prepared should I
> be for this overnight trip? I have never had to bring
> all that before, so this will definitely be a fun
> learning experience.

Be prepared...be very prepared. You are responsible for them, so when
they screw up --and you must let them screw up, at least a little-- you
can save their butts. This means extra polypro, extra food, extra water,
extra paddle... Don't carry it all yourself, though, make them do some
of the work.
> 
> We will paddle about 9 - 11 miles a day, with a couple
> small portages about 100 yds each.
> Boats= a fleet of Perception Acadia's (mostly), 2
> SeaLion's (counselors), Carolina's and Keeowee 2's. I
> will be in my friends Shadow - which I have paddled on
> many longer trips 25 miles +.
> 
I think 11 miles a day is a lot in a Keeowee 2. Probably around the
upper limit for an Acadia, too. Have these Scouts paddled much? You
don't want them so tired at the end of the day that they can't cook
(your) supper.

Steve
-- 
Test Scoring & Reporting Services       Sometimes, you never can
University of Georgia                     always tell what you
Athens, GA 30602-5593                       least expect the most.
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************
Received on Tue Jun 08 1999 - 09:09:01 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:09 PDT