Scouts and Venturers from First United's Second Truro group travelled to western Newfoundland
for an adventurous trip in early July. Seventeen Scouts, four Venturers, and nine leaders or
adults made the ten day trip.
Peter Lavers led the Scout group, with assistance from Kevin Hudson, Fred Caudle,
quartermaster Sterling Hubley, Susan Lavers, Dwight Stewart, Terry Turnbull and Rod
MacLennan. Mike Brown and Bruce Harvey made the Venturers behave.
There were many highlights of the trip. For the Venturers it was their daring, four-day back-
country adventure, led by Mike Brown and Bruce Harvey. This entailed an 1,800 ft climb to the
plateau of the north-west peninsula highlands, navigating by compass and GPS through
challenging terrain, spotting a large woodland caribou herd at close range and completing, in
total, a rugged 50 km journey. This trek is recognized as among the most challenging back-
country expeditions in Canada, and a pre-requisite of doing the trip is a session with Parks
Canada Rangers who satisfy themselves as to the hikers' competence. Congratulations to Nicole
Hirtle, Walter Grant, Stephen Manicom and Ryan Turnbull for their perseverance.
Although the overall visit was based at Gros Morne National Park, with its excellent hiking
terrain and opportunities to learn about its important geology, the Scouts also travelled further
north, to two National Historic Sites, the L'Anse aux Meadows Norse (Viking) site, and the
archeological site at Port au Choix.
At the Viking location, Scouts learned about the discovery of the site in the 1960's, and then
participated in a number of youth oriented activities relating to Norse times (c. 1000 AD) i.e.
blacksmithing iron nails, spinning yarn the Norse way, trying on Norse costumes and weapons.
Scouts then tried their hand at archeology in a model dig site arranged by Parks staff.
Our Scouts overnighted at the United Church at St. Anthony, where they enjoyed a splendid
supper hosted by the UCW. It was our fifth visit to St. Anthony since our first trip there in 1978.
At Port au Choix, where archeologists work on sites that date back up to 6,000 years ago,
(Maritime Archaic" and "dorset" pre-Inuit), we met the chief archeologist, Dr. Priscilla Renouf
of Memorial University, who explained the work underway at the site, much to the interest of the
Scouts. Staff at the visitor's Centre there gave us excellent insight into the ancient cultures that
once lived in the area.
Trip participants enjoyed a wide variety of activities in the Gros Morne National Park area. A
highlight was the climb of Gros Morne mountain itself, an ascent of over 2,600 ft which literally
took our hikers "into the clouds"! Another favourite excursion was the boat trip on Western
Brook Pond, the 14 mile land-locked fjord surrounded by 1,800 ft glacier-sculpted cliffs, with
numerous waterfalls cascading to the lake surface.
Scouts tackled the Bakers Brook and Green Gardens hiking trails and, at the Visitors' Centres in
both Rocky Harbour and Woody Point learned about the unusual geology which makes Gros
Morne a UN World Heritage Site.
Moose sightings were a common and constant interest, but it was a poor year for icebergs, and
our only sighting was at a long distance from the look off at St. Anthony.
At the start of the trip, we visited the re-constructed fortress and town of Louisbourg, as well as
the place at Kennington Cove (Wolfe's Landing) where British troops supported by the Royal
Navy landed in1758.
Appreciation is due to many individuals whose support made this trip possible. The Rachel
Moffatt Fund, as usual, was instrumental in making the trip financially feasible. Former Scouts
from our first Newfoundland trip in 1978 raised about $3,000, reducing our costs per person by
about $100. The Parks staff at Louisbourg, Gros Morne, Port au Choix and L'Anse aux
Meadows, the wonderful ladies of St. Anthony United, our RCMP friends at Rocky Harbour,
and the leaders and parents who gave ten days, and more, to this adventure, all deserve our
praise.
Introducing our youth to yet another part of Canada's geography and history (in recent years we
have been to the Magdalen Island, Grand Manan, Fundy Park and St. Paul Island) is just a
further step in Scouting's goal of producing good citizens for Canada's future.
Guitar Camp
By: Pat Caudle, 2006
For the past 3 years Camp Malagash has been the scene of a three day guitar camp for Scouts and
Venturers of 2nd Truro. Under the leadership of Rev. Gordie and Scout leader Fred Caudle, the
intention of the camp is to hone skills that will enable the Scouts to take a leadership role in the
traditional Scout campfire.
This year's camp was attended by eight boys and one girl. Each day the Scouts had two or three
learning sessions with extra time for games or other activities. Each evening closed with a
campfire. Weather necessitated that one campfire be held inside but the final one - to which
family and friends were invited - proved to be a beautiful evening. At this campfire each of the
Scouts took a leadership role in some part of the program. Parents were heard to comment on the
progress over the three year period.
In past years Heather MacLean and pat Caudle shared kitchen duties but this year Heather was
unavailable so the Scouts took turns helping Pat in the kitchen. Clean up was their responsibility,
however.
It was a great three days and a special thanks goes to Rod MacLennan who has been a great
supporter of the program.
St. Paul Island
By: Rod MacLennan, 2003
Most Nova Scotians don't even know it's there, but twenty kilometres off the northern tip of Cape Breton - there it is! Seven kilometres long by about two wide it is surrounded by rocky, rugged cliffs.
First United's Scouts and Venturers visited St. Paul Island for five days early in July. It was the sixth trip for our Scouting groups, over a period of thirty years. Including leaders and specially invited adults, thirty-three people made the adventurous trip.
We knew the omens for the trip were good as soon as we arrived in Bay St. Lawrence to see our forty-foot fishing boat which would make the three hour voyage to the island. The boat was named “Nicole and Boys”, and with us as patrol leader of one of our Scout patrols was Nicole Hirtle! After a short night sleeping on the floor of the Bay St. Lawrence Community Centre, we arose at 3:15 am (!) to board the boat. Our skipper wanted an early start!
Landing on St. Paul is a challenge. But with Bruce Harvey expertly handling his zodiac, and three leaders standing in the frigid waters in wet suits, the gear, food and all hands were safely landed on the island. It took twenty trips with the zodiac!
St. Paul is densely forested, and few remnants remain of the trails that recall the days when lightkeepers, and wireless operators lived year round on the island. Today, although two lighthouses remain on St. Paul, they have been totally automated for the past decade. No one lives on the island today.
The four full days we spent on St. Paul were spent exploring various parts of the island.
Atlantic Cove, where our camp was established, was the site of a rescue station, established in 1832, after some of the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred on St. Paul had taken place.
Bird life is abundant, especially seabirds. Bald eagles scolded us as we traveled to our fresh water source. Porpoises and whales were spotted from the boat, enroute to and from the island.
Originally discovered in 1512, by a Portuguese explorer named Fagundes, the island was the scene of numerous shipwrecks until the mid 1800’s when rescue stations and lighthouses were established. Earlier visits by First United groups had discovered material from an 1863 wreck. Even today iron material can be found amongst the island’s rugged shores.
Permission to visit St. Paul is controlled by the Canadian Coast Guard. Our trip entailed a formal contract, liability releases, and familiarity with a recent environmental study of the island. If previous trips are any indication, all participants leave St. Paul with the promise, “Some day I’m going back there!”