 Program Description
In this exciting program you'll learn how to portage canoes and equipment to different lakes, receive first aid and survival training for use in the wilderness, experience the gear Northern Tier will provide, learn what gear to bring and how to pack it... all from staff members who have been to Sommers Canoe Base!
The instruction also covers the food preparation and menus used at Sommers.
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Please make arrangements for Saturday breakfast on your own. The remaining meals over the weekend are provided.
Training Schedule *
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| Friday |
8:00 pm |
Personal, Crew and Northern Tier Supplied Gear will be reviewed. Current Northern Tier Issued crew/food packs as well as personal gear Duluth packs will be issued. |
| Saturday |
8:30 am |
Break camp and assemble at the pavilion with gear you will carry for a gear shakedown. We will not camp on the main base for Saturday night. We will cover canoe loading, navigation, map reading, Safety Afloat and portaging. |
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12:00 noon |
Lunch. After lunch we will paddle, practice navigation and portaging. |
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~3:30 pm |
We will find camp and set up. Keys to camp setup and the organization of the idea campsite will be discussed. |
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6:00 pm |
Dinner. Northern Tier menus, food preparation, baking and clean up issues will be discussed. After dinner we will cover Leave No Trace topics like camp sanitation, water treatment and bears. |
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10:00 pm |
Lights out. |
| Sunday |
6:30 am |
Wake up! |
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7:00 am |
Breakfast |
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8:30 am |
Break camp and paddle, paddle, paddle...
Key today will be to put our new portaging and navigation skills to work. |
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10:00 am |
Worship services. Please be prepared with at least 5 to 10 minutes of a scout led service. All crews will participate. |
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12:00 noon |
Return to base camp, clean up and put away gear, and depart for home after checking out with instructor (usually by 12:30). |
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Crew size: Minimum 6, maximum 14.
What to Bring *
Size is more important than weight: The more compact the better. There is a real possibility that everything will get wet, so pack in Ziploc bags or bring heavy duty garbage bags to line your personal gear packs! Checkout the resources below for detailed information to prepare for your trip to Northern Tier. The items you need to bring for our training weekend are divided into two lists, shown below:
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Crew Gear Provided for Allatoona Weekend:
 Granite
Gear personal gear Duluth packs
Kondos
Outdoors food/equipment packs
Tent
(big enough for 4 people)
Cook
kit (including utensils)
Tarp
with lines
Cook
stoves (backpacker type, 2 per crew)
Small
shovel
Crew Gear Needed for Allatoona Weekend:
First
aid kit
Personal Gear Needed for Canoe Trip:
Kitchen
Cup,
bowl, spoon
Water
bottle
Tools/Miscellaneous
Flashlight
Knife
Pencil
& note pad
Fanny/day
pack (optional)
Sit
pad
Camera
& film (optional)
Stuff
sacks for personal gear
Fishing
pole (optional)
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Clothing
BDU's (fast drying long pants – NO sweats or
jeans)
Suspenders or belt
2 changes of underwear
2 crew t-shirts
2 pairs of wool socks
2 pairs of sock liners
1 pair of shorts
1 long-sleeved shirt
Camp shoes (dry shoes for use in camp)
Jungle boots (you WILL get them wet)
Rain gear (absolutely NO PONCHOS!)
Wide brimmed hat
Bandana
Sleep shirt/clothing
Bed
Sleeping bag & sleeping pad
Hammock (optional)
Bath/Hygiene
Biodegradable soap (camp suds or similar)
Toilet paper
Bug repellant
Sun screen/sun block
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental floss
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 Requirements
Safety
Afloat Guidelines must be followed: 2 Trained leaders for
10 or
fewer scouts
or 3 Trained leaders for 11 or more.
Must
be a swimmer (bring completed NT Swim Classification record).
Must
be at least 13 years old.
BSA
Class 1 medical forms for the entire crew including advisors.
Canoeing
Merit Badge HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Although
the Canoeing Merit Badge is not specifically required by
the Northern Tier, poor or nonexistant canoeing skills at
best make for a miserable trip and at worst an unsafe trip.
This prep course is not intended nor designed to teach basic
canoeing skills.
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Resources
Northern Tier Leaders Guide Equipment List
Troop 764 Northern Tier Website
Northern Tier Canoe Newsgroup
Click here for a printable copy of the Training Schedule and Gear Lists.
Click here for a copy of a Duty Roster example.
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