Scouters Club News

* Nipissing Area Scouters demonstrated their first aid skills on the victim of a motorcycle accident last Saturday during Woodbadge I/Mentor's Weekend at Camp Wirribara. A 25-year-old man crashed about a half-kilometre from the camp, suffering fractures of his femur and a thumb, but was quickly tended to by most of the 18 Scouters at the camp, which include several nurses, a volunteer firefighter, a half-dozen Scouters trained in wilderness first aid, and several Scouters trained in Standard First Aid. Ambulance paramedics, who picked up the victim at the Chisholm Fire Station, were impressed with the "packaging." Well done Scouters.

* Wilderness First Aid will be held Thursday evening to Sunday, Nov. 6 to 9, at Camp Wirribara. Cost and further details will be announced shortly by Scouter Gord Ford who will lead the training.

* Standard First Aid for Scouters will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22 and 23, at either the Kinsman Centre or the St. John Ambulance office. Details will be announced shortly by Scouter Gord Ford.

* Nipissing Area Winter Troop Camp, Feb. 27 to March 1, will not be at Camp Wirribara this winter as previously planned, but will be relocated to the Songis Road location of recent years.

* Scouter Norm Giroux presented his annual report on Camp Wirribara with the news no vandalism occurred at the camp this year, thanks in part to increased patrols by the Ontario Provincial Police. Improvements and repairs done this year included building a retaining wall to prevent erosion, renovations to BP House and replacing the gas regulators on the bunkhouses and mess hall. Plans for next year call for changes to the washrooms, including new flooring.

* After lengthy discussion, Scouters decided to talk with their group committees about increasing the area's camp fee to $10 from $5 effective next year, and whether proceeds from the area badge office should be dedicated to Camp Wirribara or some other endeavour.

* Northern Ontario Field Executive Allan Haley gave a presentation on risk management. Copies can be obtained from Scouter Ken Sitter.