Coho Night Hike

The Coho Night Hike is a free night-time ramble around Mundy Park. It is usually on a Saturday evening in late-January or early-February. Typically there are 6-10 stations that involve practical skills or teamwork. The stations are put on my Coho area Scout and Venturer groups (including ours) and it takes a couple of hours to walk (5km or so) around to all the stations. The hike is open to all Sections. Scouts who are not involved in running the stations are welcome to attend and link up with Cub or Beaver Sections.

The event is hosted by the Coho Area. After the hike, hot chocolate and cookies are provided, so bring a lug (lug-a-mug). The starting location is on Hillcrest Avenue at the picnic shelters at around 5:30. The stations run from 6:00 to 9:00. Mug-up runs from 8:00-9:30.

The contact name is Rob Clayton robwclayton@hotmail.com with 1st Poco. Let him know the numbers in advance so they have adequate cookies and hot chocolate.

Special patches are created for the event.

Scouters need the following paperwork

• First aid kit.
• Pre-register with the hike organizer as a participant Section or as a Section doing a Station.
• An Adventure Application Form (AAF) prepared and signed by the Scouter in Charge, and approved by the Group Commissioner.
• Registration forms and emergency contact details for all attendees (printout from myscouts, not just access to myscouts on your phone).
• Hold Harmless forms for non-registered attendees.

Notes for participants

• Eat before you come.
• As with all Scouting events, wear your uniform including necker.
• Dress for the weather (cold and/or wet). Winter jacket, gloves, hat, boots, etc.
• Bring a backpack with what you normally bring on an outing including:
  • Mug for mug-up (they won’t have any available for you),
  • Flashlight,
  • Spare gloves,
  • Water bottle,
  • Snack (no peanuts).
  • Emergency kits if the youth made them in your Section,
  • Compass (optional as we may test the kids to read a map on the trail).
• Youth running a station can consider bringing a camp chair.

After the event

• Provide Section participation numbers (youth and Scouters) to one person and place a single order for patches the whole Group after the event. Patches are usually about ~$4 per patch plus a shipping charge. The cheque should be made out to “Scouts Canada - 1st Port Coquitlam Scouts” and mailed to Rob Clayton, 2050 Columbia Avenue, Port Coquitlam, BC, V3C 4W4. Delivery is usually around 4 weeks later. Rob will supply special OOS (Offer Of Service) patches free for the people who volunteer at a station (both youth and Scouters).

Stations

The organizers always need help to run the stations. Annemarie often puts one on and needs Scouts/Venturers volunteer to help. With simple stations we can leave Knox Church at 4:00 and start setting up by 5:00. A more complication station may require more setup time.

It is suggested that the Troop or Company doing the station should practice the station before - how it works, who is doing what, practice how explain it to the participants, etc.

Some ideas for stations include:

• Orienteering (how to use compasses).
• Alternate communication methods (Semaphore, Morse Code with flashlights to transmit preselected messages to their partner down the trail), etc. In the locker, we have laminated sheets with morse code and some example messages. You will also need the Morse Code flashlights, bring pens, paper and clipboards to decode the message. (done in 2016, 2017 and 2018)
• Stars. Learn about the planets and constellations. Annemarie has done this.
• Flip a Tarp. The whole group of youth stands on a tarp and works together to flip a large tarp over without stepping off and onto the ground (or lava pit).
• Cross the River of Lava. Youth work in groups of 3 or 4 or so using only two 4' long pieces of 2x6 or 2x8 or plywood that the kids have to keep passing along to eventually get 30' down the trail without falling into the raging river / lava pit. Increase the difficulty by requiring them to bring a Scouter back. Need a method to mark the start and finish lines (the edge of the river or lake of lava). (done in 2020).
• The Ball Carry Cooperative Challenge. Using a metal ring with four strings attached to it (each 3 feet in length), youth are to carry a hockey ball sitting on top of the ring, holding only the strings. They are to carry it cooperatively for a distance of 30 feet, and deposit it in a plastic bucket. If the ball dropped off the ring at any point, they had to return to the starting point. For more skilled groups, challenges were added. These challenges included having one member of the group to remain silent, one (or more) to be blindfolded, and to have a race with another group to see who can reach the bucket first without dropping the ball. (done in 2017 and 2019)
• Water Relay. Have four buckets and two sponges. Two teams try to relay as much water to the far bucket as possible in 3 minutes. This is not a great one to do in the cold. (done in 2019).

For those running a station, consider bringing some or all of the following:

• First aid kit.
• Materials for the activity.
• Method to mark start and stop lines of activity (rope or ?).
• Towel for kids to dry hands if doing a water-based activity.
• 10'x10' pop-up shelter.
• Table or camp kitchen contraption.
• Lantern, fuel, propane tree and lighter/matches.
• Spare lantern so when the first one leaks fuel, you have a backup.
• 12th New Westminster banner.
• Rope/twine to hang lantern and tie banner.
• Camp chairs.
• Snacks and drinks for the OOS.
• Stove for hot chocolate (stove, pot, ladle, water, hot chocolate).
• Propane fire ring.