This weekend is Cuboree, which is our first in person overnight camp since February 2020. This means most of our kids have never camped in-person as a Cub. Of 21 youth, we have 2 who have.
Normally each group would be running independently with their own food and kitchen and supplies and such. Fortunately the Cuboree Committee decided to offer a meal plan The Scouters who are in the participating groups have planned the menu, supplies, equipment & food. The kitchen is being organized & run by council level Scouters who have no group . From us, they only require one Scouter from our group to help with food prep. Not me! Yay!
Normally for camp we would plan the menu, organize our equipment, shop for food and supplies as well as having food preparation done with the youth. We have, fortunately, none of that this year. We’ve been flying by the seat of our pants this year’s so I just gotta say Thank God The most prevalent leaders both have Fibromyalgia & the related cognitive issues so it’s been an interesting year.
& its supposed to rain on Saturday. *Sigh*
my apologies if this doesn’t make sence cuz it’s a busy week & my brain is now fried & I still gotta run the camp!
At age 5 my Mom enrolled me in Brownies, then I went up to Guides. I did one year of Guides then quit cuz I didn’t like the program, wasn’t having fun & it conflicted with my dance class. 4 months later Mom puts me in another Company where I did enjoy the program.
But, during this time, my older brother went through the Boy Scout program. For meeting nights when Mom was working & I was not old enough to be left on my own, I got to be present at Cub & Scout meetings. . I remember the real wolf head that they had for the cub totem. I remember playing Barbie’s in the gym change room while Cub or Scout meetings were going on. Being a girl I wasn’t allowed to participate, but I do remember sitting &: watching different parts of the meetings. I remember tagging along to the rifle range (again not allowed to be alone at home), but I was not allowed to shoot because of my age, but probably my gender too cuz it was still “Boy Scouts”.
So I kept on in Girl Guides, earning my All-Around Cord. Up to Pathfinders I went. I was on track, or even ahead of schedule to earning my Canada Cord until my leader refused to accept the paperwork, from another Guider, confirm that I had organized & implemented by own full weekend camp. So I quit & went to the Guide shop and bought it for myself. My next year, I was a Junior Leader for the Brownie pack I grew up on.
The next year, I was hedging about what to do.. & was chatting with my friends Chris & Joann. I asked what they were up to that night. Jo said homework, but Chris said he had a Venturer meeting at Samac, shooting rifles. First words out of my mouth “Can I come?” Followed by “How much is registration?” I haven’t looked back.
I continued in Scouting as a youth to age 26. I started leadership at age 18 the took a break for post-secondary, returning back to the organization to my original group. I it was my Troop scouts who gave me the name Koolaid.. & that is a story in its own..
Over the years, I’ve worked with 2 colonies, 3 packs, 4 troops, 1 company & in a Service Scouter role.
In my younger days, I preferred, as you can tell, working at troop level.. Unfortunately, due to health I I ended up completely withdrawing from Scouting for a number of years as I worked through my health & my relationship. After 10 years, I left that relationship which helped my health. I wanted to return to scouting, but I knew I could not physically function at the level needed for Scouts. My nephew, a scout, wanted to be an SiT (Kim/Keeo) so he & I joined the colony.. 2 years later he wanted to go up to cubs, and I went with him. After 2 more years, he chose to continue his SiT at the troop level.. I stayed in Cubs for 2 reasons, he was old enough now that I didn’t need to be with him. And 2, I had found my niche
So, what do I get out of it? Besides free range time with the troop? Hehe.. Ok – Serious now. I like knowing I’m helping teach the new generation. I like working with this level – they don’t have that pre-teen attitude that fully blooms at 12-14.. I like being looked up to, knowing I mentoring some be in some small way. I like that I can walk through the mall & hear a voice say “Hey! Koolaid!” Knowing that he (or she) remembers me , shows I *am* having an impact on these kids.. I like the activities we do. Many are the same as scouts, just not as advanced. I like having something consistent in my schedule. I know I always have something scheduled on Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 6:45-8 .. I like hearing the kids laughing, getting along, learning together, competing against each other and just having fun! I like how it makes me feel as a person – this is the shallow one.
My years in Guiding topped out at 9 years, but that does not include the years I helped at guide & brownie camps for my Goddaughters. I was not officially registered for theses events.
My youth Scouting years topped out at 10 years. My leadership years are a little more clouded.. Scouts Canada’s records say I’m on year 20 & with my Rover years, that seems about right..
There are overlapping years of youth & leadership years which is why the number doesn’t seem to match up. So, all told I have 32 years (including this one) within these two organizations.. With many more to come!!
Yes, I realize I missed the how.. How can I do this stuff with Fibro.. *that* is another post.
Edit: Due lack of leadership availability, my Wednesday pack has closed and has merged in with my Tuesday pack.
Previously, i had posted about my pain physician limiting my physical activities – not allowed to go to Cub/Scout camp. . I wrote about why & here’s a quick summary from the post
My pain was creeping up and Iwasn’t doing anything to rest. After spiking again last weekend, I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my pain doc. She reviewed my comments & my paperwork and we had a discussion She said that I was overdoing it & if I kept pushing I was going to significantly hurt myself, possibly slamming right out of my semi-remission. So, she said “No, you are not to go.”
My Pain Doctor *ordered* me to not go to Cub/Scout Camp.
So my Doctor said no, & I’m glad she did! Cuz she was right.
Last Thursday I helped the Howlers clean off the canoes so they could use them. (We don’t wanna contaminate the algae or other slime or bugs of one body of water to a new environment)
On Friday afternoon I helped get everyone off, including the trailers for the canoes & equipment.
Cubs At Camp
On Saturday, I finally woke at 10am on 6 hours sleep cuz my pain was keeping me up. Unfortunately, I woke in more pain than I fell asleep in.
i have a pattern – I feel worse first thing & feel good until I approach bed time.. I hurt in the morning because I’m still – I haven’t been moving or stimulating my muscles while I sleep unless of my restless legs are keeping me up of course. When bedtime approaches, I start too slow down and that makes me more aware of my body and the pain and inflammation that I’ve been ignoring comes to light. I have always been like this as a kid – I would be ill, but better in the evenings & want to go to guides or soccer or dance…
Instead of Cub Camp, Saturday activities ended up included folding laundry and reading a book in the lounger in the backyard. Not alot of activity.
So I went to bed on Saturday night in lots of pain. Woke up Sunday with lots of pain.
Sunday required me to pack for the cottage, which was fun..it took me several hours to get my stuff organized & packed (yet still left swimsuits at home).. Imagine, had I gone to camp, how much pain I would be in. Packing up Sunday morning and making a 4 hour drive home, then unpacking equipment at our storage area. Afterwards, add in me trying to unpack from camp, do some laundry and then repack for the cottage all in a few hours then drive almost 2 hours up here..
imagine if I had tried to do camp, I would not have been able to pack for the cottage, let alone make it here for at least 2 days, possibly up to 4 or 5..
So, as the days have progressed, I’m having to be careful.. We (Lilly & I) ran errands on Tuesday, and spontaneously stopped at a local conservation area to take the pup for a walk (6 km later we are both dying) .. I walked around in the cool lake water to help the pain and heat in my leggs as well as a quick dip for Lil for that & heat relief… It helped a bit..
We took Wednesday easy.. Went about 500m in the kayak before I remembered I had a webinar in 20 minutes! & that was my exercise.. And yesterday I crashed out.. not even making it outta bed until 7 – in the evening..
So while, besides yesterday, I’m doing “ok”.. I was managing pain at about a 4/10. Imagine where I would have been had I gone to camp.. Besides packing, I’d be driving 4 hours to the camp ground, help set up three sites, including tents, kitchens and shelter. Poor sleep Friday night would almost be a given, but up between 7am & 8am for breakfast & on my feet going all day, including canoeing with the kids, hiking, games, skills training, archery, helping with 3 meals a day in some capacity, etc. No breaks, no stops, no naps untill after campfire, if I made it that long, starting at 9:30-10pm start.. so in bed for midnight.
Cubs & Scouts Camping c at Camp Impressa
Sunday would have consisted of breakfast & packing the equipment all up & reorganizing the trailer. Then the 4 hour drive back as I mentioned earlier..
if you add all that activity on minimum sleep, are you really all that surprised that I would have crashed on Monday. Which I kind of did anyways just from packing up with the cottage.. if without that activity my pain levels are at a 4, maybe 5. Imagine what level I would have been at had I actually participated. I figure probably near 9/10 and I tend to go to the ER between the levels of 7 and 8!
Normally, if I’m ‘well’ I can do camp Friday – Sunday, then crash for 2 days.. but I can normally make it through camp.. but I wasn’t starting at ‘well’..
So, yeah I am so glad my pain doc ordered me to stay home..
Yes. I know. You missed it in the fall, but we have finally started the 2020-2021 Popcorn campaign..
Who: You
What: We have a new supplier of Nut-free, Gluten-free, Premium, Canadian Popcorn products They include popping kernels, Caramel Corn, Belgian Chocolate Drizzled Caramel Corn and Popcorn Seasoning. We also offer bundles of popped kernels in combinations with Cheddar, Butter,. Sweet & Salty,. Dill, Salt & Vinegar, and BBQ Flavours.
Why: Scouts Canada says it’s to help support Scouting Groups in funding more great adventures and most importantly, you give kids something to look forward to. PThisvfundraisevall.supportd the No Youth Left Behind subsidy program, helping youth facing economic barriers experience the benefits of Scouting..
Why Us: I’m with the 1st & 13th/30th Oshawa Cub packs. 2 weeks after the word shut down in March 2020, the 13th Oshawa started back up again, in a virtual environment. 2 weeks later we were joined by the 1st Oshawa to run the 2 packs together for the remained of the Scouting Year, including a virtual camp in June.
We know this had been hard on the youth and for some of them, Cubs was their only social.interaction with friends outside of their Bubble. Because of that, we continued on through the summer part time including a second virtual camp requested by the youth..
Due to lack of available leadership, in September we amagimated the 21st Oshawa into the 1st & 13th Oshawa Packs.. We have been bouncing between virtual & in-person meetings depending on the government & Scouts Canada restrictions. We also had the 30th merge with the 13th in January..
To run our programs, the youth need supplies for virtual activities, and even some supplies for in-person activities (cuz you never know what we will get flipped in virtual only). So, we have been providing this to the youth with very little funding, as we are not currently braking weekly dues. Every 6 weeks or so, the youth receive Cub Adventure Kits with supplies such as paint, wax, popsicle sticks, rope, first aid supplies, seeds, dirt, building kits for birdhouses, Kub Kars, drink stations & other projects, rocks, origami, Soapstone and snacks.
It is through the support of people like you who purchase the Scouts Canada products like the Scout Popcorn, Scout Coffee & Scout Seeds. And for that I, WE, Thank You.
Note: While the 1st Oshawa is not participating in this fundraiser, you with find the 13th Oshawa Cub Pack listed with our other sections, as well as the 30th Oshawa.
Face Mask Fundraiser For The 1st, 13th & 30th Oshawa Scouting Groups
These are some of the fabric patterns we have…On last check we had 70+ different ones
Will you help support these Oshawa Scouting groups, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers & Rovers through our handmade cloth face mask fundraiser? We are raising funds for events, materials and activity expenses.
We have premium reusable 3-ply cloth face masks available for sale in both youth and adult sizes. The masks are available for $12 each for youth and $15 each for adult. Available for local pickup (Oshawa/Durham or possibly Scarborough) or can be mailed within Canada. Shipping and Handling is $2 for first mask and $1 for ea additional masks. 13th Oshawa Scouting will receive 50% of the sales.
100% cotton, double layered (high quality quilting cotton) PLUS Non-woven filtering centre layer.
Style designed for improved breathability
Elastic ear loops are adjustable for comfort and for better fit.
Metal nose piece reduces eye glass fogging (all adult masks. This can be added at no charge to youth masks by request)
Reusable, handmade, machine washable
Additional fabric styles and sizes available.
**Custom sizes can be made for a small additional surcharge. Perfect for larger faces or those with beards.
Me, in my Purple Sparkles fabric from our masks both with – without my glasses on – No Fog!!
We have a Facebook Group with additional information including all fabrics.. We currently have just over 70.. with over 10 more fabric patterns on deck.
The 2021Scout Seeds fundraising campaign is running from February 1st until March 31st, 2021.
Scouts Canada has partnered again with our 100% Canadian supplier Make It Sow to offer an exciting variety of seed kits. This allows customers to have fun learning more about growing their own garden all the while supporting Local Scout Groups!!
Groups will receive 40% of the retail price as profit and more than 5% will be allocated to the No One Left Behind (NOLB)program to help subsidize the Scouting cost.
**If you are local to me (Durham Region, Ontario), and would rather not pay shipping, you can purchase directly with the me at the 13thOshawa as we are sending in group orders.
Today would have been the 164th birthday for Lieutenant General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Founder of the Boy Scout Program. In Canadian Guiding it is Thinking Day, but in Canadian Scouting it’s Founder’s Fay
Fibromyalgia 
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