1st Merrickville Canoes

The website is a snapshot taken in June 2013. It is not related to the current operations of the Merrickville Scout group, It is preserved for historical purposes and to make available the vast amount of information for use by other Scout groups. The current Merrickville Scout group website can be found at http://1stmerrickvillescouts.ca

Canoes

Our Scout group has twelve canoes available for use by Scout groups, areas, and councils, as well as church and youth organisations. Single day, multi-day excursions, or large scale events are fine. Two types of canoes are available:

For flat water use, we have six Evergreen 16' Cottager Kevlar canoes with aluminum gunwales, deep dish yokes, and Kevlar skid plates. They weigh 49 lbs. White water usage is forbidden with these canoes.
Primarily intended for whitewater usage, we have six Esquif 16' Canyon Royalex canoes. They are outfitted with Mike Yee knee pads, thigh straps, NRS bow/stern float bags, and Kevlar skid plates. Outfitting installation by Brebner Outdoors. They weigh 75 pounds. The thigh straps are removeable, as is the flotation, and thus these canoes may also be used on flat water. However, as they do not have a keel, they are harder to keep tracking straight.
The latest addition to our fleet are five Jackson whitewater kayaks (playboats). We have four Fun's and one 2Fun. These are suitable for the smallest 12 year old to a medium sized adult. Included are spray skirts and paddles.

For personal and commerical canoe and kayak rentals, please contact Ted Hitsman (613) 269-3566 at the Canal Tripping section of the Merrickville Canal Gallery & Frameshop.

A six canoe trailer with a large storage compartment is available. The trailer takes a 2" ball and has a four flat electrical connector. There are no brakes on the trailer.

Life jackets, paddles, bailers, and throw bags are also available.

These canoes, kayaks, and safety items were purchased with support of the Ontario Government and the help of our dealers Jenda Paddlesports, Paddle Shack, and Trailhead.

Commercial canoe rental costs $30-$35/day/canoe plus tax. Canoe trailers are typically an additional $30/day. Life jackets and paddles are an extra cost from commercial operators. We ask for a donation of $10/canoe/day (or $10/kayak/day) to offset wear and tear on the canoes and our time. The canoe trailer is also $10/day. All other accessories are furnished at no charge. Due to our time committments, the minimum donation is for six canoes for two days.

Please contact Allan Yates for booking arrangements.

Naturally, the borrower is responsible for the repair and/or replacement of any lost of damaged items. Neither the canoes nor trailer are insured, however liability insurance coverage for the trailer automatically flows from the tow vehicle.

We are collecting trip plans for publishing below. The intent is to make Scout/Venturer canoe tripping information more widely available, and thus encourage leaders to take their youth on trips. We would appreciate receiving your plans, whether or not you make use of our canoes.

Upcoming Bookings

Date	Equipment	Organisation	Contact	Route
Jan 26, 2011	2-Cottager	1^st Osgoode Cubs	Andrew Mason	Pool
Feb 2, 2011	2-Cottager	1^st Osgoode Cubs	Andrew Mason	Pool
Mar 12, 2011	6-Canyon,trailer	Nepean Rovers	John James	Walter Baker Pool
Apr 9, 2011	6-Canyon,trailer	Nepean Rovers	John James	Walter Baker Pool
Apr 16, 2011	6-Canyon,trailer	Nepean Rovers	John James	Walter Baker Pool
Apr 30, 2011	6-Canyon,trailer	Nepean Rovers	John James	Walter Baker Pool
May 17-21, 2011	2-Canyon	St. Paul High School	Mark Orzel	Makobe River
May 27-29, 2011	6-Canyon,5-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Petawawa
May 28-30, 2011	6-Cottager	1^st Merrickville Scouts	Alex Beelich	Whispering Pines
Jun 3-5, 2011	6-Canyon,5-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Palmer Rapids
Jun 3-5, 2011	6-Cottager	1^st Merrickville Scouts	Alex Beelich	Whispering Pines
Jun 9, 2011	4-Cottager,trailer	2^nd Smiths Falls Cubs	Mike Dobbie
Jun 17-19, 2011	6-Cottager,trailer	101^st Ottawa Scouts	Dan McCarthy	Rideau River
Jun 24-26, 2011	1-Canyon	1^st Merrickville	Ivan Wood	Madawaska
Jun 24-26, 2011	6/1-Cottager/Canyon,trailer	1^st Carp Scouts	Blair Gordon	Crotch Lake
Jul 1-8, 2011	4-Canyon,2-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Mistassibi North East
Jul 3-9, 2011	6-Cottager	1^st Merrickville Scouts	Alex Beelich	Algonquin Park
Aug 20-28, 2011	2-Cottager,trailer	1^st Glen Cairn	Dave Skinner	Temagami
Sep 17-18, 2011	2-Cottager	1^st Merrickville	Ivan Wood	Barron Canyon
Oct 1, 2011	3-Cottager,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Kemptville Creek
Sep 30-Oct 2, 2011	3-Cottager,1-Canyon	1^st Carp	Blair Gordon	TBD
Mar 18-Apr 28, 2012	6-Canyon,trailer	Nepean Rovers	John James	Walter Baker Pool
May 2-5, 2012	4-Canyon	St. Paul High School	Mark Orzel	Noire River
May 25-27, 2012	3-Canyon,1-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Petawawa
May 25-27, 2012	1-Canyon	14^th Gloucester Venturers	Bruce Morton	Petawawa
May 25-27, 2012	6-Cottager	Valley Highlands Area	Keith Skelhorne	Whispering Pines
Jun 1-3, 2012	2-Canyon,5-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Palmer Rapids
Jun 1-3, 2012	3-Canyon	1^st Kemptville Venturers	Guy Morgan	Palmer Rapids
Jul 1-7, 2012	6-Cottager,trailer	1^st Merrickville Scouts	Alex Beelich	Algonquin Park
Jul 28-29, 2012	1-Canyon	1^st Kemptville Venturers	Cindy Chandler	Ottawa River
Aug 13-18, 2012	6-Cottager,trailer	2^nd Rockland Guides	Pauline Le Baud Roy	Whispering Pines
Aug 19-23, 2012	3-Cottager,trailer	1^st Glen Cairn Venturers	Dave Skinner	TBD
Sep 26-29, 2012	3-Canyon	St. Paul High School	Mark Orzel	Lower Madawaska
Sep 29, 2012	3-Cottager,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Camp Opemikon
Apr 27-28, 2013	4-Cottager	Valley Highlands	Stew Hamill	TBD
May 10-12, 2013	6-Cottager,trailer	Valley Highlands Area	Stew Hamill	TBD
May 17-19, 2013	6-Cottager,trailer	1^st West Carleton Troop	Yves Cayer	Otter Lake (Ontario)
May 24-26, 2013	1-Canyon	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Petawawa
May 24-26, 2013	6-Cottager,trailer	Valley Highlands Area	Stew Hamill	TBD
May 29-Jun 1, 2013	4-Canyon	St. Paul High School	Mark Orzel	Spanish River
May 31-Jun 2, 2013	5-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Palmer Rapids
Jun 7-9 2013	6-Cottager,trailer	1^st Kanata Alpha Scouts	Pat Hughes	Whispering Pines
Jun 13-20, 2013	1-Cottager	1^st Merrickville	Ivan Wood	Lady Evelyn Smoothwater Lake
Jun 20-23, 2013	2-Canyon	St. Paul High School	Mark Orzel	Palmer Rapids/Ottawa
Jun 27-Jul 3, 2013	4-Canyon,2-kayak,trailer	1^st Merrickville Venturers	Allan Yates	Lievre River
Jun 29-Jul 7, 2013	6-Cottager	Valley Highlands Area	Stew Hamill	Algonquin Park
Jul 10-15, 2013	6-Cottager,trailer	1^st Kanata Scouts	David Lee	Rideau Canal
Jul 20-Aug 3, 2013	3-Canyon,maybe trailer	1^st Glen Cairn	Dave Skinner	Missinaibi (Mattice to Moosonee)
Aug 3-14, 2013	6-Cottager,trailer	1^st Kanata Venturers	Andrew Scott	Algonquin Park

Photos

Sample Trip Plans

Please note that these trip plans are provided for illustration purposes only. There may be other risks depending on the time of year, weather conditions, leader/youth skill, and specific route. As a leader you must be fully aware and investigate all possible risks to ensure they are minimised. The Lifesaving Society Boat Rescue course and a River Rescue course (for trips on moving water) are highly recommended.

Swift Water rescue courses are offered in eastern Ontario by:

Paddler Co-Op at Palmers Rapids on the Madawaska River
Esprit Rafting on the Ottawa River

Documents

Document	Word	PowerPoint	Excel	PDF
Mistassibibe NE Canoe Trip Plan July 2011 1^st Merrickville Venturers
Canoe Borrowing Agreement
Canoe Route Comparison
A Tale of Two Schools - Some Thoughts About Risk Management
Baja, Mexico Kayaking - Kanawa Magazine
Mistassibi NE River - Kanawa Magazine
Colonge River Trip Planning
Lake Superior - Kanawa Magazine
Dumoine River - Kanawa Magazine
Ottawa Valley Paddle Routes
Batiscan River Presentation July 2010 1^st Merrickville Venturers
Batiscan River Trip Plan July 2010 1^st Merrickville Venturers
ORCA Canoe Trip Photography
ORCKA Canoe Trip Equipment
ORCKA Canoe Trip First Aid Kit
ORCKA Canoe Trip Menu Planning
ORCKA Canoe Trip Planning
ORCKA Canoe Trip Repair Kit
Lièvre River Trip Presentation July 2009 (no videos)
Lièvre River Trip Presentation July 2009 (with videos)
Lièvre River Trip Plan July 2009 1^st Merrickville Venturers
Whitewater Safety and Techniques
Whitewater Safety Session Mike Miller
Whitewater Safety Session Tom Miller
Bowron Lakes Food Plan - 9^th Surdel
Bowron Lakes Risk Management Plan - 9^th Surdel
Canoe Tripping Menu Planning - Cindy Courtland
Carleton Place Missinaibi River Trip Meals
Carleton Place Missinaibi River Trip Barrel Contents
1^st Merrickville Scouts Canoe Trip Algonquin/Achray 2009
8^th Orleans Canoe Trip Frontenac 2006
8^th Orleans Canoe Trip La Verendrye 2004
1^st Kanata Algonquin Canoe/Joe/McIntosh/Big Trout/Merchant/Otterslide/Burnt Island Lakes
3^rd Carleton Place Algonquin Achray/Barron Canyon/Squirrel Rapids
Algonquin Achray/Barron Canyon/Squirrel Rapids
Noire River Trip Plan July 2008 1^st Merrickville Venturers
Barron Canyon 132^nd Toronto Venturers
Barron Canyon Calvary Pentacostal Church
Noire River Trip Presentation July 2008 (no videos)
Noire River Trip Presentation July 2008 (with videos)
White Water Canoe Tripping Preparation
South Simcoe Water Activity Manual (includes extensive tripping information)
Canoe Trailer Plans and Construction Ideas