2009-2010 HICOP Blog
June 12, 2010
It was another busy day in camp. Mohawk Trails had their Sub-area camp and Marty did 5 fire lighting sessions for 78 youth many of whom came into the HICOP for a visit.
Marty and I always have peanuts in our pockets because the blue jay loves them and we are trying to coax them closer to us. Marty said that he keeps losing peanuts out of his pockets and couldn't figure out how they could fall out.
We discovered that Chip (or was it Dale) was going into his pocket and stealing them. They are also going into the HICOP so we now have to be careful when we close up so that we don't lock one of them inside. There are four chipmunks residing near the HICOP and they have finally figured out what peanuts are.
We also discovered that we have at least one downy woodpecker fledgling at our feeders. It is nice to know that they nested successfully.
I would like to thank Graeme Osler for building a rack on the side of the Stockade. This is to hold the spars that are currently in Tetonka. All we have to do now is get them moved.
I would also like to thank the team that repaired the path to Apple Day. I am sorry but you are too many to name individually. It is inspiring seeing so many people pitching in and getting things done at camp. Too few have been doing too much for too long but that seems to be changing.
We have been having fun with our Stealth Cam. We have been setting it up near the HICOP to test it and guess what. We caught a picture of a Scout outside the centre at midnight with a piece of firewood in his hand. We were looking for pictures of masked bandits not human bandits. He claimed that he didn't take our firewood but brought it with him. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. If he hadn't been a Scout we might not have believed him.
It was a fun day.
June 5, 2010
Is it really June already? Yikes!
We seem to be slowing down just when the camp comes to life.
It was a relatively quiet weekend at the HICOP but very busy in camp. International Camp was being held but they had a fully planned day so we saw very few of them.
The 96th Hamilton Girl Guides came to the centre and went on a hike with Marty. Afterwards he taught them how to light fires with no matches and showed them how to cook tinfoil dinners. I had to leave before they were done but it was starting to smell pretty good around the nature centre. I did manage to get a taste of the wild leaks that they brought back from their hike. They are way better than what you buy.
Last year we had 19 chicks fledge from our bird boxes. This year we have 79 eggs and 5 chicks have already fledged. It seems that opening up the meadow and putting up new boxes is going to do wonders for the bird population in camp.
We have a new toy in the HICOP. A Stealth Cam. This is a motion activated camera that we can put out on some of the animal paths to see what lives in camp. Something has been raiding our one bird feeder and Marty saw this as the perfect test for the camera. I think that we are going to have fun with this. HICOP firewood thieves beware.
May 29, 2010
It was very hot but another fantastic weekend. We were so busy with program that we almost had to close the centre for a short period of time.
I spent the day with the 1st AFC Scouts. They are a new Oakville group this year and the Troop has 15 Scouts, most of whom had never slept in a tent before Saturday night. Bravo to them and I hope that I was able to pass on to them a few skills that will be helpful. I had a great time with them and I hope that they enjoyed the day as much.
Marty was doing World Conservation activities with the 26th Cambridge Cubs who were in camp for the day. They were all smiles but looking very tired by the end of the day. I understand that the Thicket Game was a hit.
Linda was marching in the Hamilton Scout-Guide parade in the morning and led the 81st Hamilton Beavers on a hike in the afternoon.
Marty came back to camp on Sunday to take the 1st AFC Scouts on a tree identification hike. My wife Debbie and I came out to camp to get some pictures and we met up with them at the end of the hike. Everyone was looking exhausted but full of information from a full weekend of new knowledge and experiences!.
Nearly all of our bird boxes have nests with eggs or chicks in them and the bluebird chicks are now fledglings. It was sad to see the empty nest but exciting to know that bluebirds are successfully nesting in camp again.
We were all so busy in camp on the weekend that none of us managed to get any pictures on Saturday so if anyone has any please send me some.
Marty was hiking down by Pod 2 on Saturday and he came back very excited. He could not believe that the garlic mustard down there was gone. That was one of the worst infested areas in camp and there was none to be seen. The garlic mustard invasion is a huge problem in camp and the Scouts who picked it last weekend did a huge service to the camp.
Invasive Garlic Mustard
After Scouts picked it.
The garlic mustard picking Scouts did an astounding job. Not only did they pick all of the garlic mustard but they did it without trampling everything else.
Doc just got back from the WOSM SCENES conference at Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland and he dropped by on Saturday to tell us about the experience. He informed us that his presentation on Camp Nemo was very well received and that he now finds himself on a four person WOSM SCENES steering committee. It seems that other SCENES centres liked our strong focus on educating youth to be environmentally responsible.
Doc's visit was the perfect finish to a remarkable weekend.
May 25, 2010
I was tempted to not write a blog for this weekend because I couldn't write it any better than Hamilton Spectator columnist Jenni Dunning did in today's paper.
It was a fantastic weekend. The rain on Saturday did nothing to dampen the spirits of the youth. In fact it made the mud that we all love so much. Everyone that is except maybe the parents who come to pick them up.
The sun and heat on Sunday and Monday had everyone wilting a bit but it dried the gear out and made it much easier to pack up.
I saw little of the goings on in camp because the Scouts kept us hopping at the HICOP. Every time that we went to sit down another bag of garlic mustard showed up. We were hoping to match last year's pull of 858 pounds. When we went to bed Saturday night there was 830 pounds so we felt that we had a shot at it. What we didn't count on was the enthusiasm of the youth. One team, the 4th Ancaster "Badger Maniacs" pulled 16 bags of garlic mustard for a total of 207 Kg. The total pull for the weekend was an unbelievable 730 Kg. That is 1600 pounds of weeds that will no longer plague Camp Nemo. We want to send out a huge thank you to everyone that helped. We are in awe.
I am glad that I came to the closing leaders meeting. There were a lot of positive comments and no complaints that I heard. Bravo Sheila! The staff was all thanked but I want to send a special thank you to the Bartys for all the wonderful food and especially to Joan for the little extra sauce she gave me on my serving of her famous bumble berry crumble.
I would also like to thank John Hannam for the special edition to the centre. We don't really have space for Bullwinkle's great grandfather but we will definitely fit him in somewhere. We have to now that he was mentioned in the Spectator.
It was another wonderful weekend to be in camp.
May 15, 2010
Oh what a day we had.
It started with 2nd Don Mills Pack showing up to go on a Hike, with Marty, to check bird boxes. On route they met their Troop who elected to tag along rather than go on the hike that they had planned. When they got back to the HICOP the cubs cooked their hot dog lunch in our fire pit and then they did some knot work. They were a fun group and we hope to see them again.
The part II training team was back in camp this weekend. Both Colony and Troop sections came down to the centre for a visit. The Beaver had a body guard this weekend and the Troop section was having way too much fun. Kudos to the Troop section trainers and participants. I didn't have much contact with the other sections but the Troop participants obviously were have fun learning and that is what Scouting is about.
While E. made friends with the coyote patrol.
Greater Halton Region Cubaree took place at camp Nemo this weekend. Their theme was "Back to the Future". I heard a rumour that Marty McFly suddenly appeared in camp in his DeLorean DMC-12 time machine. I am still not sure how they knew that he was going to appear at that time and place. BRAVO. I would love a picture if anyone has one they can send me.
In total we had 96 youth and 45 leaders visit the HICOP today.
The four bird boxes put together by 1st AFC cubs all have nests in them. Two with tree swallows, one with house wrens and our favourite with bluebirds. The swallows and the bluebirds seem to co-exist with few problems but we would like to see the house wrens gone. The male house wren will build a number of nests and the female will pick one. The problem is that they will fill our boxes with unused nests and they are very aggressive. They will chase other birds off and even go so far as to pierce the eggs of other birds.
On a brighter note the bluebird eggs have hatched and the nest is now full of tiny little fuzzy chicks.
While we are talking about birds I should also mention that I managed to get pictures of two more birds that I can now add to my life list and the camp list. The first that I managed to capture were a pair of rose breasted grosbeaks. The female is very well camouflaged and looks much like a big sparrow but the male is hard to miss with his black and white colouring and the brilliant rose on his chest. The other bird that I saw and managed to get an image of is an indigo bunting. They are also hard to miss with their neon blue colouring.
Some days at camp are fantastic and others are even better.
May 8, 2010
It was another busy day for us. The weather was so bad on Friday night that many groups decided not to come to camp so we weren't very busy in the centre. Marty took the 3rd Toronto Cubs with him when he went to check the bird boxes and we had a wonderful visit with them in the HICOP afterwards.
31st Hamilton did a fantastic job of cleaning up Fleur de Lis Hill again this year but there was really no vantage point where it could be seen in all its glory. Most of it could be seen from the bridge across Nemo Creek near the HICOP so we decided to cut some trees to open up the view. That bridge is now one of my favourite places in camp. We still have about three branches that need to be pruned but they are very high up and we didn't have gear to climb the trees. Many thanks to Harold, Cam, Gerry and Linda for all their hard work.
May 6, 2010
I wasn't able to be in camp last weekend but from what I have heard it was a busy weekend. The Company Part II participants visited the HICOP on Saturday and Marty did a LNT session and a fire lighting demo for the Part II Pack participants on Sunday.
Fire pits seem to be springing up all over camp. We ask that if you are building a fire in a location without an existing fire ring that you build a proper "Leave No Trace" fire and remove all signs of it before you leave.
Camping in non traditional sites is not a bad thing providing you use "Leave No Trace" ethics and do not disturb wildlife. If in doubt please ask.I was out to camp last Thursday and found that the Eastern Bluebirds had 5 warm eggs and a pair of tree swallows had built a nest in another box. I even managed to get some decent pictures of the bluebirds.
When Marty checked the boxes on Saturday he found that bluebirds had built a nest on top of the swallow nest and the swallows had mover over one box so we may have two pairs of bluebirds and a pair of swallows nesting in Harvester field. Please try not to disturb these nesting birds any more than is necessary.
I know that it is absolutely not possible but apparently there were a number of beaver sightings in camp on the weekend. This has to be a hoax. It would take some pretty conclusive evidence to convince me.
April 24, 2010
It was another great day in the HICOP. We had no youth visitors because Albion Mills was having their sub-Area camp and they had lots of organized activities to fill the day. It meant that Marty and I could do some house cleaning and close the centre while we went and monitored our bird boxes.
We were delighted to find that one of the boxes that were put together for us by the 1st AFC Cubs had four Eastern Bluebird eggs in it. We have wanted desperately to get Bluebirds back in our boxes so it was pretty exciting to find that we have some.
There are lots of wildflowers blooming right now so there is colour everywhere in camp. Much to our dismay there was a tent pitched right in the middle of a trillium patch that just happens to be my favourite place in camp. It was another case of leaders and youth being unaware of the damage that was being done.
My goal this year is to photograph and identify every wildflower that I see in camp.
We also have our new HICOP crests available. The "I HICOPed" crests are available in the HICOP for $5. We had 500 of these crests made and it is a limited edition so we will not be getting any more.
April 17, 2010
Oh what a day it was. In recent years more and more people have been coming out to pitch in for camp cleanup and this year even topped last year. I spent a good part of the day wandering around taking pictures and shaking my head in awe. I am especially impressed by the number of young people taking ownership of the camp. For many camp cleanup has become a tradition and they just keep coming back to help.
I don't know all the groups that were in camp this year but I want to say a special thank you to the 31st Hamilton Group. About 5 years ago they took up the challenge to restore Fleur-de-lis hill to its former glory and they have returned every year since to make this camp landmark shine.
While the Scouts were working on the hill the 31st Venturers and their advisors were working their tails off felling dead trees, cutting them to firewood length and hauling them up to the woodshed.
There are loads of other facilities such as bridges, chapels, trails etc that need yearly maintenance if any groups are interested in taking responsibility for them.
1st Binbrook Scouts used GPS co-ordinates to retrieve 15 old bird boxes that were lost in the new forest and then in the afternoon they cleared a new trail out to Bronte Creek. That was a job well done for us and they earned their Fish and Wildlife and also their Forestry badges in the process.
Another hard working group moved the bridge leading to Apple Day over to the trail and lifted huge logs into place along the path where the bridge was. Still lots of work to be done here but what a great start.
Also impressive was the huge group involved with cleaning out the Stockade. Everything was taken out and only items that are actually used were put back in. That was a huge job to be done in one day.
I love my camp and it is becoming obvious that more and more people are starting to feel the same. The best part is that everyone who I saw was smiling.
April 10, 2020
Have I said that I love my job? It was a quiet morning in the centre so Marty and I closed up for an hour and went walk about.
I am really beginning to see the camp differently. Being in camp most weekends means that I see how Nemo Creek is constantly changing. It has definite moods that change from weekend to weekend. It can be quietly hunkered down under a blanket of snow and ice, or roaring with rage during a spring melt or just quietly going about its business during the dry summer months. It is amazing how much it changes from storm to storm too. Its path changes, rocks and gravel beds appear or disappear under silt. Recently a natural dam has appeared near the HICOP. This has created a nice pool and the water flowing out of it is adding much need oxygen which will greatly improve the health of the creek.
Spring is here. The colt's foot are blooming and the trilliums have buds which will soon open. The trout lilies are through the ground as are the wild leeks.
Next weekend is Camp Clean Up. Please come out and offer a hand. I am so proud to be working in a Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature and Environment. Our camp is a special place but with help we can make it even better.
March 27, 2010
It was another very busy day in camp.
Fourteen 1st AFC Cubs did a fantastic job of putting together 5 bird boxes for us. We have hung four of them in Harvester field. The other two will likely be put up in the new meadow. They started off a little tentative but by the time the boxes were built they where banging nails like pros.
James Albert did a fire lighting demonstration for them after lunch.
Marty and Linda were kept busy with the 1st Glen Abbey Scouts. Eight of them earned their Fish and Wildlife badges in the morning and then their Forestry badge requirements were completed in the afternoon.
It was cool when we first got there but when the sun came up it got quite comfortable. A perfect day for working outside.
Thanks to Graeme Kilgour we now have a few new items to display in the centre and Joan and Colin Barty dropped off some Rubbermaid bins for us to use for storage. It means we have some work ahead of us tidying up our storage and creating new displays. We really do appreciate the gifts.
March 20, 2010
It was a quiet day in the centre today with only one group of Beavers and some Venturers dropping in for a visit. Marty however was very busy with program. 13th Hamilton Scouts were down to the centre in the morning and Marty took them through all the requirements for their Fish and Wildlife badge. They cut down about 20 more trees so our meadow is getting larger. Hopefully we will see some eastern bluebirds back nesting in our boxes this year.
13th Hamilton Scouts came back in the afternoon to do the Forestry badge program. Marty took them on a hike and discussed with them the various habitats and communities that we have in camp. They were a very tired looking group as they dragged themselves back to the HICOP. You earned those badges and helped to improve the camp environment at the same time. Well done.
March 14, 2010
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothings much better for cleansing the blood
So come with me follow
Down to the hollow
And there let us wallow
In glorious mud.
The rain was coming down the creek was rising and still they hiked. Nothing in camp excites me more than to see a leader slogging through the mud with a group of sopping wet youth in tow. It is easy and natural for most youth to smile and giggle under these conditions but not so for adults because we know better. I doff my hat in respect for these leaders. Me? I love the mud. My motto is "No mud, no fun" so I thought that yesterday was a blast.
The camp wasn't full but it was close.
Marty did a World Conservation activity with the 1st Binbrook Cubs. They hiked the camp looking for wildlife and signs of wildlife. They looked more than a little bedraggled when they got back.
In the afternoon Linda took the 74th Hamilton Beavers on a hike. At the very beginning of the hike one of the beavers ran out one of his boots in the mud. The poor little guy took about 5 steps in his sock before he could get stopped. He hopped back to his boot, stuck his muddy foot in it and carried on as if nothing had happened. I haven't laughed so hard in ages. There was hot chocolate waiting for them when they returned to the centre so they were all smiles too.
Linda unveiled two new camp crests yesterday. There is a new oval camp crest which will become the official camp crest and a new limited edition triangular HICOP crest. We will not be ordering any more of the original four triangular camp crests.
A Special Thank You
The 81st Hamilton asked us to do a presentation on Camp Nemo at their banquet. Marty did a wonderful job and the Group Committee made a very generous donation to the nature centre. Thank you very much for your kind support.
March 3, 2010
1st AFC Cubs (Al-Falah Centre) were our guests at camp on Wednesday night. Marty and Linda led them on a very dark (no flashlights allowed) hike. The youth, with their good night vision, steady balance and no fear, didn't seem to have any problems but it was a challenge for some of the adults.
They arrived back from the hike all smiles and headed into the HICOP to check it out. This was a larger group than we like to see in the centre at once but they were all very well behaved and full of intelligent questions so it wasn't a problem at all.
They were in no hurry to go back outside until they discovered that Debbie had hot chocolate waiting for them and I had a fire going.
When I suggested that they would have to come back one of the youth said "Next week?" and another said "Tomorrow?" so I think that it is safe to say that they had a good time. We certainly did.
March 2, 2010
SCENES
Let the work begin. Last night at the Hamilton Wentworth Honours and Awards banquet it was announced that Camp Nemo is now certified by National Council as a SCENES camp. SCENES camps are Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature and the Environment. This means that Camp Nemo will be internationally recognized by WOSM as an environmental education facility. We are very proud of our camp and it is fantastic to see it getting this recognition. I believe that we will be the eleventh (maybe twelth) camp in the world to be recognized as a SCENES centre, the third in North America and the second in Canada (Blue Springs was certified in 2007). A peer assesment is required by WOSM before we can be recognized by them. More information about SCENES centres can be found here.
I would like to send out a special thank you to some key players:
Dr. Hague Vaughan for starting up the Camp Nemo Stewardship Committee roughly 14 years ago and for being our mentor and insperation.
Marty Albert for working tirelessly to create program and document the camp. There is nobody that has your grasp of the Scouts Canada outdoor program or the Ontario school curriculum not to mention your vast knowledge of everything outdoors. I have learned so much from you.
Rick Elop for handing us the ball and letting us run with it. Without your forsight, as camp manager, there would be no HICOP or SCENES accreditation. Thank you for you trust.
Finally I would like to thank Allen Eden, our new camp manager who insisted that we set deadlines and stick to them, and the Camp Committee for supporting us. You were all behind us the whole way and and this definitely was a team effort.
This does not mean that we can rest on our laurels. Now it is up to us to prove ourselves worthy. Our top priorities will be to make the camp more accesible, develop more programs, build some new facilities and to clean up and repair our existing ones.
Our anual Camp Cleanup is April 17th. Please come out and give us a hand. No special skills are required. Camp Nemo is now on the world stage so lets all work together to make it look like a world class facility.
February 28, 2010
It was really wet on Saturday but WE HAD SNOW! Winter finally came to Camp Nemo and oh what fun it was. The camp was full of laughter.
It is always good to see friends that haven't been around for a while so it was a wonderful surprise when Graeme and Caroline showed up for a visit. Caroline managed to get a photo of two pileated woodpeckers in Camp.
We were kept hopping most of the day by a steady stream of visitors. There is a lot of work to be done in and around the centre and we don't get much of it done when we are busy but that suits us just fine. It just means that forming a camp Rover Crew is now a priority. Rover Chalet may again become a building for Rovers to meet and stay in when they are working in camp.
We had groups from Toronto, St Catherines, Milton, Oakville, Caledonia and Woodburn in camp this weekend. We love to see new faces in camp. 1st Milton Cubs posed for a group photo outside the HICOP.
Another visitor returning to the HICOP was the red bellied woodpecker. He came to the feeder a number of times. Right up until I set up my camera on my tripod. Oh well maybe next weekend.
February 20, 2010
It was Snow Moot so there was a lot of activity in the camp today but it was slow in the HICOP. It did however give Marty and I a chance to get some work done.
A downy woodpecker and a white breasted nuthatch died by flying into our windows. We had enough money in our donations box to get them mounted and we hung them in their final resting places today.
We also created a knot wall on the outside wall of the HICOP. Currently there are six numbered knots hanging on the outside wall. Can you identify all six? We will be adding more in the future.
Some 1st Meadowvale Venturer advisors dropped in for a visit. They spent a good part of the day on our trails and it sounded like they knew where they were at least some of the time. We also had a good visit from some Venturers and Rovers. Sorry but I don't know what groups you are with.
We may have had a first in camp this weekend. Someone actually used the bulletin board on the sign. There was a list posted showing what groups were in which buildings. It is nice to see it being used.
I wasn't in camp last weekend for Klondike but from what I heard it was a success despite the lack of wintery weather.
I understand that 96th Hamilton Girl Guides had a great day, under James Albert's guidance, building a shelter with spruce boughs. Building shelters if done right can be very environmentally friendly. We have white spruce trees in camp that we want to remove but in a controlled manner. These shelters are good protection for humans as well as small mammals and birds.
February 11, 2010
Where is all the snow? Has this ever been a strange winter. There was just enough on Fleur-de-lis hill to slide. There was also enough snow to find good tracks which give us a good idea of what wildlife is in the camp. We have been itching to try out our snow snakes and haven't had enough snow.
We have been having fun at camp all the same. Requests to do Fish and Wildlife and Forestry badge program and Marty's ever popular fire lighting demonstrations are keeping us hopping.
At one point last Saturday it seemed like there were about 50 Hermitage Springs youth in the HICOP. We try to limit the number in the centre to 15 youth at any one time but they just kept slipping in when we weren't looking.There wasn't room to move but everyone was smiling, asking questions and just getting warm.
Next weekend is Klondike Camp and we at least have a bit of snow now. It will be a busy time in camp and I am unable to attend so please send me pictures and information.
January 28, 2010
Last weekend was a very busy weekend in camp but a very quiet weekend in the HICOP. It was Mohawk Trails Sub Area camp and there were lots of youth in camp but they had their own activities organized and we weren't involved. It is so good to see the camp that full of laughing youth.
We did have some leaders from 1st AFC in Oakville come with some youth to see what the centre has to offer. We are looking forward to meeting them and all their youth at a later date.
Because we had so much quiet time we got quite a few odd jobs done. My son Alex even managed to cook up five large batches of char in my new dollar store tin. We used a pair of my father's old denim jeans to make the char and it was far superior to the t-shirt cotton. It ignites just as easily and smoulders much longer.
Now if we could only get some snow so that we can try out the snow snakes.
January 16, 2010
The HICOP is one.
When I get home from camp after a day like Saturday it takes a while to mentally slow down. What a fantastic Day.
Scouter Mike Virgin brought a used but very useful telescope donated on behalf of 7th Aldershot and a pair of binoculars donated by Efston Science in Toronto.
Scouter John Edwards our good friend from Blue Springs brought us a bag of Altoids tins. We have been looking all over for some of these because they are perfect containers for char in fire lighting kits.
It was good to see Eriks and Bruce working in camp again. It is always nice to see missing faces return to help out in camp. We can certainly use all the help that we can get.
It was a very busy day with youth too. At one point I was hosting a group in the centre, Marty was doing a fire lighting demonstration for about 16 Scouts from 1st Bronte and Linda had another group on a nature hike. I love days like this.
Just as Marty and I were getting ready to leave camp Elizabeth Barrow asked us if we could show the HICOP to Scouting friends that were in town, from I believe Windsor, for the curling bonspiel. How could we turn down our strongest supporter and a chance to show the centre off?
The only sad moment in the whole weekend was when a Cub pointed out to me that one of our male downy woodpeckers had died flying into the window. Another friend has offered to pay to have him mounted so he can become a permanent resident in the centre. We will be putting streamers on the window to prevent future deaths.
Saturday was our one year anniversary and a time for reflection. We are pleased with the number of visitors we have had and are right on track as far as our plans go, with the exception of staff.
The HICOP staff would like to thank all those that have been supportive of our efforts and especially all the friends that we have made over the past year. A special thank you goes out to all the visitors we have had over the year. Your smiles, laughter and questions are what keep us going.
January 10, 2010
Happy New Year everyone. I am sure we all are resolved to be outside more this year. Right?
Is it really 2010? I can remember when 2001 a Space Odyssey was a science fiction movie.
Yesterday was another fantastic day to be in camp. It must have been very cold at night and I know that some Scouts headed indoors for Saturday night. It was -18 C when I got up this morning so sleeping outdoors would be a challenge for the best of us. My hat is off to those that managed to stay outside.
2nd Simcoe Cubs and Scouts showed up to watch Marty do his magical fire lighting demonstration. It never ceases to amaze me how easily he can get a flame from a spark.
1st Mount Albion Brownies were in BP lodge for the weekend and they seemed to be having a blast. All 18 girls and their leaders came to the HICOP for a visit. We are so used to seeing the HICOP filled with powder blues and greens it was fun to see all that pink. It was a treat having them visit. Usually 18 youth in the centre becomes mass bedlam but these girls were very well behaved and very inquisitive. We love the questions. The Guiders should be very proud of both the girls and what they have accomplished as leaders.
We are hand feeding the chickadees again and there are a couple of blue jays that will now come and take peanuts from the window sill under the porch. The birds are becoming very friendly and constantly flit about while we are outside. I was taking a picture of a downy woodpecker on the feeder and a chickadee landed on my shoulder.
I love my job.
December 29, 2009
Marty, Linda and I spent the day out at camp cutting up wood to make bird boxes. We now have all the pieces cut to make 14 new bird boxes come spring.
December 25, 2009
The Camp Committee and HICOP staff would like to wish all those that celebrate it a very Merry Christmas and to everyone a Happy New Year.
December 23, 2009
It was a fairly quiet time in the HICOP last weekend. Nobody came to visit all day but there were only three groups in camp and one was Scouts and the one Venturers.
74th Hamilton Scouts did come for program though. Marty took them out in the morning and they completed the qualifications for their Fish and Wildlife badges. They came back in the afternoon and he took them out to cover their Forestry badge requirements.
I spent the day playing in the centre and trying, without much success, to learn bird calls. They still all sound pretty much the same to me.
December 17, 2009
We have had a number of requests for the link to the Stellarium astronomy software package. It is here and it has been added to the links page under astronomy. It really is an amazing package for looking at the night sky on your computer. It will show the night sky and constellations for any time and place and will move real time or can be sped up. If you are in the nature centre feel free to ask to see it.
December 12, 2009
It was another great day at camp. It was sunny. There was snow on the ground and it actually got up to 4 degrees. Perfect.
The chickadees weren't hand feeding but one of them kept coming to visit Marty and I when we were standing on the porch. I suspect that it might be the one that I cradled in my hands after he knocked himself out flying into the window last week. There is no way of knowing for sure but this one certainly seemed to trust us and like our company.
The blue jays are getting tamer too. There were three of them visiting us and they would sit in the trees until we tossed out a peanut. They would then swoop down to scoop up the peanut as quickly as possible. We managed to get one of them to within about 2 metres of us and they certainly know that the peanuts are coming from us because they sit patiently and wait for them.
I small rodent like critter burrowed under the snow and popped up right at the base of the stump where we pile seed for the ground feeding birds. He was cleaning up all the seed that the birds knocked off the stump. It looks like a mole but it eats seed so I suspect that it's a vole. The one time that I managed to snap a quick picture a chickadee flew in front of the camera at the precise moment that I pressed the button. You can just see the vole at the base of the stump on the left side.
December 8, 2009
It was a fairly quiet Saturday at the HICOP. We had about 25 youth visitors and about a dozen adults. It was fun because visits could be a bit longer and smaller groups meant more time on the microscope.
Since nobody showed up for Marty's fire lighting demonstration I got out the various tools and managed to light three different fires using no matches. There is something very satisfying in lighting a fire using only a chunk of steel, a piece of rock from the escarpment and a small square of old worn out and charred Scout shirt. If you want to learn how come join us at 1:30 most Saturdays.
It looks like we may have some snow on the ground this weekend. Yee-haw! We will be able to start hand feeding the chickadees again.
December 4, 2009
Is it really December already?
Last night Marty and I had the pleasure of hosting the participants of a Woodbadge I training in the HICOP. It is always great to see new leaders getting involved and it gave us a chance to show off the centre and to discuss our program offerings with them. We would like to thank Susan Little and her team for giving us this opportunity.
We borrowed a projector and used it to try out the Stellarium software that we loaded onto the laptop. If you want to learn the consellations or get to know your way around the night sky this is the software to use. It is open source and free and works incredibly well. We need to thank Jim Bryce for introducing us to it.
While we were waiting for the participants we finished putting the hardware on the parking lot sign and spent some time in the centre getting ready. Marty spotted a deer outside the window so I took some pictures of it. I tried to sneak outside to get a better shot but when I went around the corner of the centre I spooked four more that I didn't realize were there and they all beat a hasty retreat. Camp Nemo really is a remarkable place. It is teeming with wildlife.
November 30, 2009
Wow! It was another great weekend. Marty, with Linda's assistance, took 10 81st Hamilton Cubs on a hike and discussed animal habitat and communities with them. While on the hike they completed sections 1 to 4 of the Cub World Conservation badge. I am sure the Cubs had a great time. I know that Marty did.
While they were out and about I had about 55 youth plus their leaders visit the HICOP. It is always fun having the centre filled with youth and Saturday was no exception.
I really need to get a good 35 mm camera. There is so much to photograph at camp but a longer lens is often required. Marty and I were excited to see the red bellied woodpecker at the feeder on Saturday and I tried to get a decent picture but there wasn't enough light and I couldn't get close enough. We are hoping that because he was at the feeder he will stick around all winter. The red bellied woodpecker is one of my favourite birds.
November 24, 2009
What a fantastic weekend in camp. The camp was filled with learning and laughter.
Cam Napholc and a crew of 13th Hamilton Venturers spent the morning clearing trails. That is hard work and they did a fantastic job. Thanks guys.
East Burlington Scouts had their PL/APL camp at Camp Nemo and over 50 Scouts came down in two groups for a fire lighting demonstration by Marty. He can light fires a number of different ways using no matches and natural materials. It was a special treat for me because my granddaughter, Bailey, was in the first group and I was invited to a very good roast beef dinner with them.
Marty's son James was in camp for a visit and he came very close to lighting a fire with a fire bow. That is not easy. Especially when it is as damp as it was on Saturday.
Dr. Hague Vaughan donated a digital miroscope to us and we now have it working with the laptop. We are going to have a lot of fun with it in the spring when we can look at all kinds of creepy crawlies in creek water samples. Now we need a projector so we can show them to groups of youth.
We had a lot of visitors to the centre on Saturday so we were kept hopping most of the day. I love it when we are kept busy and it is so much fun having the HICOP full of visitors and Marty working his magic outside. Two other groups came down and I believe that he did the demonstration four times in all. It was a great day.
November 18, 2009
Has it really been this long since I posted. Yikes! I have been totally absorbed in the Camp Nemo SCENES submission followed by a house guest and the blog got lost in the shuffle.
Our SCENES submission has been completed and it has been approved unanimously by both Hamilton Wentworth and Battlefields Councils. It has been forwarded on for National approval so it is time to turn our focus back to the HICOP.
Two weekends ago was a Part I training and the Sixer/Seconder and PL/APL training weekend. We were kept hopping and had a fantastic time. There was lots of interest shown in the centre and our programs and we made some good contacts.
Last weekend the camp was full of youth and we had a blast. We were again kept hopping but this time the centre was filled with youthful laughter and we wouldn't have it any other way. I didn't have my camera with me and some Ancaster Scouting parents and leaders said that they would send me some images to post but I haven't as yet received any. I will post them if and when I do.
Marty Linda and I were out at camp yesterday afternoon to put cork on the bulletin boards. We didn't have quite enough cork to complete the job but we glued up what we had. The cork that we put up was donated so we will have to take some money out of our donations box to get the rest that we need.
There are more and more birds at the feeders so winter must be in the air. I love winter in camp and can't wait for the snow.
November 4, 2009
Last weekend was a very quiet weekend in camp. Having Halloween on a Saturday means nobody is camping. It gave Marty and I a chance to catch up on some paperwork, make some plans and we got out for a hike. We do I took my GPS and plotted the new section of trail where we moved it so that it bypasses the poison ivy. I hope to get the maps updated withing the next few days.
Marty's son James dropped by and hiked with us. It was good to see him at camp again. I am hoping that we can recruit him to help out.
It was too wet to glue the cork on the sign so that will have to wait.
At least one of the chipmunks now knows what peanuts are and he knows that I am giving them to him. I can get to within about three feet of him now. I am hoping to be able to hand feed him before the snow falls but I am running out of time.
October 28, 2009
I love camp Nemo and nearly all those who camp there but there are a small few who drive me to distraction. I don't like to use the word steal, especially when Scouting people are involved but people keep stealing firewood from the HICOP. There are signs stating that the wood stacked under the centre is not for camper use but that doesn't seem to make a difference. We work hard to cut and stack that wood for program use so please DO NOT TAKE OUR FIREWOOD!
October 26, 2009
It was our best day yet in the centre. We recorded 126 youth and 63 adult visitors. I am sure that there were a few that didn't get written down.
We had youth inside visiting the centre and playing the card concentration game with leaf cards. We had youth outside under the tarp doing leaf rubbings and we had youth down by our fire learning a bit about Leave No Trace ethics from my son Alex. There were smiling faces everywhere.
The biggest and best smile was on a VIP who needed a bit of help to get down the hill and inside the HICOP but who we were delighted to see. He was a reminder that better access to and into the HICOP needs to be a top priority.
Marty worked with eight 4th Ancaster Scouts. He took them up to our new meadow and they helped him by cutting about 15 trees down. By helping to open up the meadow and build more bunny piles they earned their fish and wildlife badge which was presented to them before they left.
I am making friends with a local blue jay. I now have him taking peanuts off the table when I am on the porch so he is slowly getting used to me. The chipmunks on the other hand still have no idea what peanuts are.
We received a lot of very positive feedback from some groups who traveled to camp from outside the Hamilton-Wentworth Area. Most of us in the Area take the camp for granted and it is nice to get a chance to see it from another perspective.
I am sure that Cub Fun Day was a huge success again this year. The rain held off and everyone was laughing and smiling. We were far too busy to get up top to check things out so I have no pictures to post. If I am sent enough good ones I will create a Cub Fun Day page. Much Kudos to the Cub Fun Day committee and a huge thank you for putting us as an activity.
October 21, 2009
Wow! Another warm sunny day at camp but can you say ladybug. Marty and I were at camp working on the sign and there were millions of ladybugs swarming everywhere. I had them in my ears, up my nose, down my shirt. We put a sheet of acrylic over one side of the sign and we couldn't get the back on without having some trapped in between. Down by the HICOP they were even worse.
Our plan was to put the acrylic in place and to cork both panels on the front side. The cork was in rolls and we couldn't get it to lay flat to apply contact cement so it is getting flattened and will be installed at a later date.
The bulletin boards on the sign are for camper use so feel free to post notices for friends, parents etc on the board. Please no advertising and keep them appropriate. Also please remove anything that is outdated.
October 18, 2009
It was another glorious day at camp. The fact that it was Apple Day weekend meant the camp was almost empty and it was a bit chilly but the sun was shining and Marty and I accomplished a lot. We redirected a section of the Perimeter Trail so that it no longer goes right through a huge patch of poison ivy.
We are still looking for nature lovers to help us staff the centre and we are in need of people to help with trail maintenance. Especially Venturer and Rover aged youth and Brian. Certified chainsaw operators are desperately needed.
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, 779 Black Knight Squadron were in camp doing some training and they cut down and removed a huge deadfall that was hanging across the trail. It is a constant battle to stay on top of all the downed trees and we appreciate all the help that we can get. Thank you very much.
1st Bronte Scouts were in camp again and dropped in for a visit. We enjoyed their company when they visited last year and it was great to see them back again.
There are more birds at the feeders every time we're in camp and they are constantly flitting about us when we're working outside. The blue jay still isn't sure what to make up us but he loves the peanuts. The chipmunk doesn't seem to know what peanuts are yet but he has started sniffing them. I think that the blue jay constantly snatching them from under his nose has him curious.
We are starting to develop more program and we are working on this year's schedule. I will post updates here as they happen. Last spring we were totally focused on getting the building ready. This spring we will be more focused on program and I find this very exciting. A lot of improvements have been made in camp over the last few years and this year looks to be one to remember.
There are seven SCENES camps worldwide. Does Camp Nemo have what it takes to become one? Is Camp Nemo special? More and more people are starting to think so. I think so.
October 11, 2009
We finally brought down the big dead poplar tree by the nature centre. Gerry felled it and Linda, Marty and I cut it all up, split it and stacked it under the HICOP. This wood is for nature centre program and is not to be used by campers. If you need firewood check out the wood shed and please keep in mind that volunteers come out to camp to cut and split the wood for your use. Please don't waste it.
We have started filling the bird feeders again and the birds are back in full force. Chickadees and nuthatches were constantly flitting about us while we were working. We have been coaxing a blue jay to come to the picnic table for peanuts but he is still a bit shy. There are also two chipmunks that don't seem to get along very well. I am hoping that we will be able to hand feed them before winter sets in.
I love this time of year at camp. The bright sun shining on the yellow, orange and red leaves is very calming. Mother Nature is telling us that it is time to start slowing down. It was a shame that the camp was so empty but it is a weekend of thanksgiving and families. 74th Hamilton Beavers were at camp for the day and were having a great time. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos so I am hoping that someone will send me some.
October 8, 2009
I wasn't able to be at camp last weekend. My daughter insisted that her wedding was more important than camp.
Marty and Linda had a great day in the HICOP and they reported that about 52 youth came for a visit. Linda lead the 58th Hamilton Cubs on a hike.
The firewood at the HICOP is for program use so please don't burn it on us. We cut chop and split it for that purpose. Also, if you have a fire anywhere in camp please stay with it until all the wood is burned down to ash. If you put the fire out someone has to clean out the pit or restart it and burn it down. Marty and Linda spent the afternoon burning the charcoal left in our pit.
58th Hamilton visited the centre and sent us pictures which are posted in the gallery.
October 2, 2009
Is it really October already?
Battlefields Council now has their website back up and running. I have added a link on our Links page.
I posted a map of the camp on the sign. It is printed with waterproof ink but on paper so we will see how long it lasts without a Plexiglas front to protect it.
Allen Eden has made up a form showing who is where in camp each weekend and we will make every attempt to have it posted on the sign. I am sure this will help parents and youth find their groups so if someone asks you if you know where their child should be the sign will be the place to start.
I can't be at camp this weekend but it is full so please send me pictures for the gallery.
September 27, 2009
Marty put the shingles on the sign on Friday and Gerry spread gravel around the base so it is beginning to look really good. All we really need to finish it is that 48 inch by 45 3/8 inch piece of plexiglas to cover one side so that we can protect maps and other semi permanent notices. Does anyone know where we can get a good deal on plexiglass?
Yesterday was another fantastic day. Linda, Marty and I were all at Hamilton Wentworth's Resources Day which went very well.
Marty headed out to camp after his morning session and I joined him after my afternoon session. It was Venturer Rock Climbing Camp so Camp Nemo was mostly filled with Venturers. I assume that, as for the past few years, they headed up the road to Rattlesnake Point to rappel and climb. I hope that the rain didn't interfere too much with their plans.
The lone exception was 1st Dundas Beavers, Cubs and Scouts who where there for their family camp. The Beavers and Cubs came down for a visit and we had a blast with them. We didn't count but I think that there were about 40 youth in three groups. What a wonderful group. They had been on a hike up to the caves on top of the escarpment. This is a long uphill hike with a lot of climbing around in crevasses at the top. It started raining when they were on the way back but it didn't dampen their spirits. They arrived tired and wet and with broad smiles.
Doing leaf rubbings with crayons was a huge hit. All those happy faces were the perfect finish to a very long day.
September 17, 2009
It was another great day at camp. Marty and I managed to get the roof of the sign framed and sheeted and I must say that it looks pretty good.
Does anyone know where we can get a piece of plexiglas to cover one panel so that maps and semi permanent notices are protected? The exact size is in the list on the items wanted page. We are also looking for cork that is thick enough to put thumb tacks into to cover all four panels.
This sign will be an information board with maps and notices for visitors but it will also be a place where youth and leaders can post notes or notices. Hopefully a list of which groups are where can be posted there, each weekend, to help parents and youth find their groups when they arrive in camp.
There will also be HICOP notices posted here to let campers know what is going on in the centre.
Who can tell me what kind of bird this is? He is our newest permanent HICOP visitor.
September 16, 2009
What a great day to be at camp. The weather was perfect for working outside. Marty Albert, Graeme Osler and I spent the day working on a new sign/bulletin board at the back of the parking lot. It isn't finished but it is standing straight and tall. When finished it will contain a camp map, notices and hopefully a list of what groups are in which buildings.
September 14, 2009
We will be doing fire lighting demonstrations at 1:30 outside the HICOP most Saturdays. Did Voyageurs have matches? How did they light fires? Can you light a fire with no matches? Want to try?
Does anyone know where we can get some fist sized pieces of chert to be used to strike sparks?
Please check out our "Items Needed" page to see if you can help us out. The HICOP has been built and run strictly on donations and we would like to keep it that way.
A lot was accomplished at camp last year and this looks to be a fantastic year too. Excitement is building in the camp. Great things are starting to happen but we have a ways to go and we can use more help.
September 13, 2009
It was a wonderful day to be at camp. Marty, Linda and I enjoyed the fine weather and did a bit more organizing in the HICOP.
It was very quiet. Not a sound except the birds.
August 18, 2009
Has it really been two months since I last posted? Where has the summer gone?
It is time to start kicking things into gear again for a new Scouting year. There is lots to do. Thanks to the generosity of 5th Ancaster Venturers we will have the use of a laptop in the HICOP this year. That opens up all kinds of opportunities for us.
We would like to start a 1st Camp Nemo Venturer Company and Rover Crew. These would be youth dedicated to helping to maintain the camp, learning about environmental issues and using what they have learned to instruct the younger sections. They would meet on Saturdays, when they are available, at Camp. We need to know if there is any interest in this project.
We also would like to get the HICOP scraped and/or power washed and painted. We have the paint but not the people power.
Another project to be done over the next couple of weeks is a new sign in the parking lot. With luck we will have it constructed by early September.
Marty has changed up some of the displays so there is lots that is new to see in the centre. We also have a new bird in residence. Because he died flying into one of our windows we decided that he should become a permanent resident.
I have been looking through last years pictures and one of my projects is to start a Camp Nemo photo gallery. It will be a webpage of photos taken at camp and submitted by campers so start sending them in.