March 19, 2006 - Canoeing at Lake Allatoona

Scouts: Brian Flamm, Peter McKenna, Jaime McKenzie, Ian Graessle, Brennen Graessle
Scouters: Mr. Corbett, Mr. Rick Farber, Mr. Steve Farber, Mr. Flamm, Mr. Scherck

We found some time to get a half day of canoeing at Lake Allatoona in preparation for our 50-miler in Canada this summer. There was a light rain and temperatures were on the cool side, so we got our paddles and PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) and got the canoes on the water quickly so we could get warm and get moving. We paddled across the cove and along the shoreline, with the leaders providing instruction and encoragement to the scouts. We landed on a "beach" so we could get our bearings and switch paddling positions. On the way back we focused on paddling as a team, and keeping the canoe pointed in a straight line using the 5 standard strokes. After we got back to the base, we set up a solo canoe course and let each scout navigate his own canoe - everyone was successful once we got the kinks worked out.
We enjoyed a hot dog and chips lunch prepared by Peter McKenna, then decided to call it a day because of afternoon activity conflicts and the risk of the weather getting worse (which it did!)

Submitted by: Eric Flamm