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Haliburton Scout Reserve

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Haliburton Scout Reserve (HSR) is a 22 square kilometres (5,400 acres) Scout camp located east of Haliburton, Ontario and just south of Algonquin Park. The camp opened in 1948 and is operated by Scouts Canada, Greater Toronto Council. HSR is located in a part of the Canadian Shield with 18 lakes and a multitude of birds, fish, and animals. Centred on Kennabi Lake are 24 campsites accessible by water. HSR is Canada's largest Scout camp and third largest in North America. Scout troops normally come to the camp for week-long summer camps. HSR staff provide numerous programs for troops.

History

Following World War II, Toronto Scout District (now Greater Toronto Council) wanted a rugged site for Scout camping. Their camping committee eventually located a 4,150 acres (16.8 km2) site owned by the Mill Valley Lumber Company, which was completing cutting in that area. The property was purchased in the fall of 1946 and opened the following summer as Camp Kennabi. Many of the original lumber camp buildings are still in use. The first Camp Chief was Field Commissioner James C. Moore, after whom Moore Lake and the J. C. Trail are now named.

Starting in 1953, a composite camp (consisting of scouts from various troops attending as individuals with leadership provided by the camp staff) called Camp Kennaway, was run on the site. Camp Kennaway and Camp Kennabi merged in 1960 to form Haliburton Scout Reserve. Over the years, various plots of land were added to the original purchase. Since 1947, thousands of Scouts from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries have visited the camp.[1]

Program

Staffed programs

HSR's trained staff run a variety of programs during the week. Programs include:

  • Sailing lessons
  • Kayak lessons
  • Riflery with .22 calibre rifles on a 18.288 m (20.000 yd) range.
  • Archery
  • Trapper's Cabin - Scouts visit a reconstructed cabin from the fur trapping era and learn about trapping and logging, both of which were practised on the land that is now HSR.
  • Survival Island — Scouts learn about building shelters, purifying water, and how to become found if one is lost in the woods.
  • Rappelling- Scouts get the chance to rappel down a 50 foot rock face deep in the Haliburton Wilderness.
  • Climbing Wall
  • Low Ropes course - An obstacle course including tight rope walks, slate bridges, etc.
  • Snorkel Island — Scouts don mask, snorkel, and fins and search for treasures in the water near the island.
  • Star Hike — Troops are barged to the middle of Kennabi Lake to look at the stars and hear stories about the constellations, if they stay awake.
  • Badge Trading — Scouts gather at the Hub on Tuesday evening to trade badges.

HSR Regatta

Thursday afternoon is the HSR Regatta. Troops gather at the Hub to compete in a variety of water-based activities. The events normally include:

  • War Canoe race — A race in which there are ten scouts in each war canoe. (This race uses two of the three ten person war canoes owned by the reserve)
  • PFD Swim — Swimming while wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device)
  • Match Swim — Contestants must swim from one dock to another carrying a match. The winner is the first to light their match. Matches are normally carried in the mouth to keep them dry.
  • Medly Swim — Four Scouts swim in a relay, each using a different stroke (back stroke, breast stroke, side stroke, and free style).
  • Head-Up Front Crawl Race - Venturers swim two laps of head-up front crawl
  • In and Out Canoe Race — Scouts race canoes. When a whistle is blown, Scouts must jump out then climb back in before continuing.
  • Canoe Sculling Race — Scouts race three to a canoe without paddles using their hands for propulsion.
  • Canoe-Over-Canoe Race — Four Scouts with two canoes from each site race. When a whistle is blown, one canoe must swamp and be rescued by the other using canoe-over-canoe rescue, and then both canoes must race back to shore.
  • Kayak Race - Venturers compete in an individual kayak race.
  • Solo Canoe Race - Venturers compete in an individual canoe soloing race.

Program resources

Scouts can use canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and rowboats. Kennabi Lake offers excellent fishing. There are many day trips available including visiting the logging museum in Algonquin Provincial Park, seeing undomesticated wolves at the Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, or climbing up the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower.

Hiking

HSR has an extensive network of marked hiking trails and outpost campsites, ideal for overnight hikes. Hiking trails wind their way through forests and over rock formations typical of the Canadian Shield. One can often see wildlife, such as deer on these hikes. Popular hiking destinations include High Falls, where one can have a shower under the waterfall; Pike's Peak, the highest point in HSR offering a fantastic view; and Hurst Lake, where there is a large shelter and a supply of canoes.

Facilities

The central facility at HSR is called the Hub. Here is the Trading Post with souvenirs, snacks, and a small amount of camping equipment. Nearby is the Dobson Centre, where the Country Store is located. The Country Store stocks a full line of food and can make special orders (credit card facilities are not available anywhere in camp). The camp clinic is staffed by a doctor and nurse.

Around Kennabi Lake and on its many islands are 24 troop campsites. Each of these include a dock, swimming area, picnic tables, ground cooler for food, internal telephone, outdoor kybos, rowboats, campfire circle, and several patrol sites. There are also nine family/guest campsites with road access, picnic tables, and fire pits. Some are suitable for trailers.

Haliburton Scout Reserve Staff Alumni Association

The Haliburton Scout Reserve Staff Alumni was founded in 1989 and exists to provide former staff members of the Haliburton Scout Reserve with a sense of ongoing fellowship, camp news and history through linking present and past staff members, while promoting service to the camp through donations and service projects. A variety of activities are conducted each year, both social and service-oriented. Members are encouraged to participate in whatever activities for which they are available. For the majority of members who live outside the Toronto area, the Alumni Thunderbird newsletter is what keeps them connected.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ [1] Archived July 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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