Southern Alberta scouts groups learn critical emergency skills at winter training camp
More than 150 scouts from across southern Alberta gathered this weekend to attend a winter training camp aimed at teaching emergency and survival skills to youth.
The Senator Buchanon Winter Skills Training Camp invited 12 different scout groups to set up camp on a field just outside Diamond Valley.
Children learned basic first aid along with how to pack their bags for a hike and what essential items are needed in frigid conditions.
Instructors also taught how to care for someone experiencing hypothermia, how to tie different knots, start a campfire, and how to boil fresh snow into water to prevent dehydration.
“You never know when you’re going to need these skills in life,” said 11-year-old, Folu Ajibola with the 86th Woodcliff Scouts.
“I’m learning how to turn on stoves because it can get pretty cold and also about nutrition plans and how to use carbs, fat and protein because that's really essential when you're out in the wildlife.”
Scout groups attended this weekend’s event from Okotoks, Diamond Valley, Lethbridge and Calgary, camping overnight to get a real-world experience of experiencing the wilderness.
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Annette Bermack is the co-camp chief of the Scouts Canada Chinook Council and a scouter for more than 30 years.
She says these types of camps are important not just for teaching survival skills, but also life skills.
“I've seen kids who are special needs and were non-communicative, and in a year, they are now communicating,” Bermack said.
“Scouting is great for everyone. It doesn't matter the circumstance. We do leadership and self-esteem built into training and we’re always helping out with anything that our youth might need.”
Scout groups attended this weekend’s event from Okotoks, Diamond Valley, Lethbridge and Calgary, camping overnight to get a real-world experience of experiencing the wilderness.
Getting to meet new people from different scout groups especially means a lot to 11-year-old Violet Bracko.
“I don’t have a lot of friends at school so learning and hanging out with a bunch of people who have similar interests is so much fun,” she said.
“We’re always able to relate to the same things and we get to help each other learn which is something I really appreciate.
The camp wraps up Sunday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.