Quest Mission

Quest is a back country canoeing adventure camp. It will include three canoeing out trips of between 2 and 6 days duration. Participating youth will be assigned to a trip appropriate to their canoeing and camping skills and to their willingness to contribute to a tripping team. Shorter trips will provide an excellent introduction to canoe tripping and longer trips will allow more experienced paddlers the opportunity to expand their skills while exploring some new back country areas.

Quest is open to all youth who are registered in September of the Scouting year as 2nd year Scouts or older (usually 12 and up at the beginning of the Scouting year), including Venturers and Rovers. First year Scouts who have previously attended Scoutlook are also welcome. Canoe tripping experience is not necessary but participants should have at least a minimum of paddling knowledge, which may include paddling day trips, canoe training in a pool, or family paddling. First or second year Scouts who have never paddled and youth moving from Cubs to Scouts this year are encouraged to participate in ScoutLook, an introduction to canoeing camp at camp Alloway, a Manitoba Council Scout camp on Big Whiteshell Lake.

Adults in any section may attend Quest. We have a core group of experienced canoe trippers and encourage adults with limited tripping knowledge to join us and expand their skills.

Registration for Quest is limited to 36 youth and 14 adults. If there are more registrations than available spaces, the order in which COMPLETE applications, including all required paperwork and fee deposit, are received will be the criteria used in determining who may attend. If maximum attendance is reached, a waiting list may be established. To be included on the waiting list, potential participants MUST submit a complete registration package, including fee deposit. Phone or e-mail requests to be added to the waiting list will not be accepted if no paperwork is submitted.

Quest will include a mandatory pre-camp. The day camp will include canoe training, instruction on the use of tripping gear, tips on personal packing and trip preparation, and some initial packing of group gear and supplies for the trips. The pre-camp day will also be an opportunity for trip members to meet each other and begin to work and have fun together. Pre-camp is mandatory for all youth and adults intending to participate in Quest. Youth and adults who choose not to attend the pre-camp for reasons other than illness may not be able to participate in the camp. The day will go from 8:30 am – 8:30 pm and will include an opportunity for parents to meet the Quest team and ask any questions they have about assisting their youth with preparations for the camp.

The goal of Quest is to provide youth with an experience that they will find challenging but not overwhelming. This can only be accomplished if the youth who are participating truly WANT to be there. Canoe tripping is very much a team activity. If a member of the team is only there because he wants to go fishing or because her mom thought it would be good summer activity, the youth often will not rise to the challenge set before them. A teammate who is a reluctant attendee is often unwilling to contribute to the success of the overall trip, especially if conditions such as weather become difficult. Before submitting a Quest registration, parents are strongly encouraged to talk to their youth to be sure that the camp is what THE YOUTH really wants.