FOCUS-Scouts Canada Youth
Leadership Training Conference
December
5th – 7th, 2003 - Samac Adventure Base, Haliburton, Ontario
Based on Scouts Canada National Youth Committee's Focus '97
Link to Dec 3-5, 2004 FOCUS Leadership Training
Participants
1st
Whitby Venturers:- Ryan, Roderick, Sean, Kevin, Amy, Siobhan,
Selena, Karen, Sam, Keith, Brendan, Leader Brian Wick, Tim Pollock,
guest Jake Wiid (UK Scout Org.)
1st Port Perry Police Venturers:-
Cody, Justin, Mike P, Mike V., Leader Scott Rundle.
1st Uxbridge Police Venturers:-
Andrew, William, Leader Diana Rowland.
The
Location
The following link has details
and directions to Samac Adventure Base
http://www.wpccampbookings.com/adventure_base.htm
The Plan
8:00 pm Arrival at the “Trading Post”
10:00 1st session: “Who Am I” (Ryan
Mitchell)
12:00 Cards, etc.
2:00 am All quiet
9:00 am Rise and breakfast
10:00 Outdoors and mapping exercise
(Outdoorsman Award Requirement 2.c.)
11:00 2nd session: “Effective
Communications” (Keith McGinty)
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 3rd session: “Group Dynamics
& Teamwork“ (Roderick Dotzko)
4:00 Outdoors and football
5:00 4th session: “Goal-Setting” (Brendan Hendel-McCarthy)
7:00 Dinner
8:30 5th session: “Situational
Leadership” (Selena Lam)
9:30 Night hike to Al's Diner
10:30 Cards, etc.
1:00 am All quiet
9:00 am Rise and breakfast
10:00 Pack up gear
11:00 Spiritual reflection, debrief
impact of weekend
... clean cabin and prepare to leave
for noon.
Download
Focus Participant's Manual (MS Word.doc, 260 KB, revised Winter 2002, )
Download Focus Trainer's
Manual
(MS Word.doc 201
KB, revised
Winter 2002)
Weekend Menu
Menu for the youth is as
follows $20 each:
Friday: Hot chocolate, cookies,
nacho chips with cheese and salsa
Saturday am: instant oatmeal, coco
puffs, lucky charms (limited supply) milk, apples, juice crystals,
coffee
Saturday noon: hot dogs, chilli,
chicken noodle soup, crackers, raw carrots, juice crystals
Saturday evening: pasta, sauce,
chicken breasts (oven), juice
Saturday late: sandwich meat, cheese
slices, bread or buns
Sunday am: instant oatmeal,
coco puffs, lucky charms (limited supply) milk, apples, juice crystals,
coffee
How did it go?
We were delighted to arrive at
Haliburton to about 6” of crisp clean snow. The temperature was a
chilly negative 15 degrees Celsius. Once on site, the Venturers loaded
their gear into the large cabin and each individual picked out a bed
that they thought was suitable for their specific needs. Shortly after,
everyone was unpacked and introductions took place. The weekend was
going to be spent with new friends so the Venturers made sure they all
knew who they were staying with.
The main game plan for the weekend was to run the FOCUS leadership
training modules for the youth. It was run by the youth themselves with
Venturers Keith Mcginty, Ryan Mitchell, Selena Lam, Roderick Dotzko and
Brendan Hendel-McCarthy as the trainers. Module one was to be conducted
by Ryan and at first the youth were very hyper and had a tough time
staying focused and on topic. Eventually, after it was stressed that
the modules would go quicker if the youth paid close attention, they
began to settle down. Module one was started around 9:45 p.m. and
concluded around 10:30 p.m. After that, it was decided that no more
modules would be run until the next morning. For the rest of the night,
the youth mainly talked while some played a few games of cards. Lights
were called out at around 2 p.m. and although the youth were still
talking, they were resting and eventually they all dropped off to
sleep.
The next morning, everyone was up by 10 a.m. and breakfast consisted of
cereal. The two cereals were Count Chocula and Lucky Charms. Once
everyone was fed, it was decided that module two would be started. This
was to be run by Brendan. The youth were cooperative this time around
and the module flowed nicely. Once Brendan concluded, Roderick took
over and continued on with module three. This went smoothly as well and
soon it was concluded.
For the modules, the youth were issued work books that they were to
take notes in. Some of the youth were using these to their advantage
while others were not, righting in silly sentences and scribbles.
Either way the modules would continue and Keith was up next with his
module, number 4. He was to the point and that was exactly what was
gotten across. Once Keith finished, it was time for lunch but before
that happened some of the youth went outside to enjoy the snow. They
used picnic tables and logs to build a ramp for sledding. That was good
fun. Eventually they were called in because lunch had been made. They
headed in to enjoy a nice warm chilidog lunch. Most of the youth
enjoyed that, but especially Sam. After lunch, it was time for module 5
which was to be run by Selena. By this time the youth were all
listening attentively and it was clear that maybe some of them were
making an effort to take more out of the program then they previously
thought they could. Once Selena was finished, a closing was made and
the program was laid to rest for the weekend. To be honest, most of the
youth were overjoyed at this. Regardless, they still had gone through
the experience.
At this time many of the youth were tired and decided to nap. This went
on for a good 2 hours. Others sat around the woodstove and watched the
fire. Around 4 p.m. Keith, Brendan and Kevin decided to head home due
to obligations back in the city. Soon supper rolled around and pasta
with chicken and tomato sauce was whipped up. This was a very enjoyable
meal and went down well. After supper, some more napping took place
while some Venturers decided to play dominoes and cards.
A little later, Jake (a Scout visiting from England) came in to see if
anyone wanted to go hike to Al’s Diner for a hot chocolate. No one
moved so he left but shortly after, Brian came in to do some
persuading. This time everyone went and the hike was on. Brian stopped
everyone half way along the trail to take a moment and reflect on the
quiet of the forest and different forest sounds not heard in the city.
Once they reached Al’s Diner at the top of a long hill everyone was
relieved. What was supposed to take 20 minutes ended up taking more
like 40 minutes, while they go lost on the snow covered trail.
Everyone sat down to enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate. After
they got back to the cabin, the youth were all pretty tired and
everyone hopped into their sleeping bags to rest and soon to drift off
to sleep.
The next morning, everyone was up by 10:15 a.m. and on the menu for
breakfast was oatmeal, orange juice and milk Tim had bought the night
before. Groups broke out to collect wood, clean the kitchen, clean the
cabin and prepare to leave for noon.
Everything went well. There is no question the trainers got the most
value out of the weekend. It gave them the opportunity to learn the
material and try their best to deliver it to a group of their peers who
may not have been as focused as desirable. Focus took on a whole new
meaning.
The participants were encouraged by Scouter Brian Wick to carry on the
message and take the FOCUS program back to their Companies, to teach
their peers.
Return to 1st Whitby Venturers
Contact Brian Wick