Today we had our first crew meeting! We carpooled over to basecamp, and gave the kids a quick tour of basecamp, and some of the rules and expectations of being at basecamp. Then as a crew we set goals and expectations for each other for anything before, and during the trip. Afterwards we sanded the paddles as a crew, so anything they want to paint on the paddle, will actually stick on and get varnished.
Right when we got done with sanding the paddles we tackled the maps. Connor and I let them try and figure it out without any of our help, and they got most of it figured out before we gave the trick that helped them piece all 20+ maps together. Then as a crew we talked about what we could do on trail, cliff jumping, shoot rapids, and any cool landmarks . The crew was inquisitive about where we could do a night paddle, which rivers could we finish on, and even where our resupply was. It’ll be fun in future meetings watch them take these empty maps, and make a trip out of them!
Right after we went outside to the really nice weather and started learning how to flip a canoe! The canoes weight around 70lbs, so it can be pretty hard to get up on your own. The whole crew went into step by step, and each and everyone of them got it up and down, multiple times! We also portaged to and from the tennis courts, this is nowhere near what a portage path will be like (asphalt road), but it gives everyone on the crew a chance to feel what it’s like to portage a canoe! After we put the canoes away, we got inside and finished by learning two knots we will be using on trail. The bowline and square knot, these are pretty common and universal knots, and they caught on pretty quick on how to tie them, we quickly taught them how to wrap the paracord, and then the meeting was done! It was overall a very successful day, and we are excited for our next meeting!
