Bancroft Scouts’ Quebec Winter Carnaval
- The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group is bringing a taste of Quebec to Addington Highlands with a family-pleasant Winter carnaval.
- The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group invites everyone to celebrate the end of winter with a Quebec-inspired Winter Carnaval.
- to 4 p.m., the Big Rock Eco Retreat, situated on the south side of Weslemkoon Lake in Addington Highlands east of Bancroft, will transform into a vibrant winter...
Table of Contents
- Bancroft Scouts Host Winter Carnaval at Big Rock Eco Retreat
- Bancroft Scouts Winter Carnaval: Your Guide to Family Fun!
- What is the Bancroft Scouts Winter Carnaval?
- When and Where is the Winter Carnaval?
- How much does it cost to attend?
- What activities can we expect at the Winter Carnaval?
- what food and refreshments will be available?
- What is the scouts canada National Challenge?
- What does the Scouts Canada National Challenge entail?
- What are the benefits of participating in the Scouts Canada National Challenge?
- What is a voyageur sash (ceinture fléchée)?
- who is Loretta Kasperski?
- winter Carnival Activities Schedule
The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group is bringing a taste of Quebec to Addington Highlands with a family-pleasant Winter carnaval.
The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group invites everyone to celebrate the end of winter with a Quebec-inspired Winter Carnaval. This family-friendly event promises a day of fun and activities.
on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Big Rock Eco Retreat, situated on the south side of Weslemkoon Lake in Addington Highlands east of Bancroft, will transform into a vibrant winter festival. Expect outdoor activities, skills demonstrations, entertainment, and appetizing treats.
admission to the event is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item. All donations will support the North Hastings Food Bank and the Denbigh Community Food Bank.
Scouts Canada National Challenge
The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group, consisting of 24 youth aged five to 15, includes Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, and Venture Scouts. As a regional affiliate under Scouts Canada, this co-ed group focuses on outdoor activities to foster essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication.
The Winter Carnaval serves as the group’s contribution to the final week of the Scouts Canada National Challenge. This challenge encourages scout groups nationwide to participate in weekly themed activities.
This year,the French Carnaval Challenge immerses youth in French Canadian traditions over four weeks. Scouts Canada provides an educational video with a weekly challenge. Members vote for a winning group each week, culminating in an overall winner at the end of the four weeks.
The reason why we love doing these challenges is it’s a fun way to connect with scouting groups across Canada, where we get to see what they do. The youth get to know how big of an association it is that they’re a part of and they see the positive impact they can have on the community.Loretta Kasperski, a Scouter for the 1st Bancroft Scouting Group
During the first week, the scouts created a voyageur sash (ceinture fléchée), a conventional handwoven sash worn by French Canadian voyageurs. These sashes, two to three meters long, served both a functional and fashionable purpose, supporting the lower back during paddling and portaging. Today, it remains a important symbol in Métis culture.
As a voyager Sash has ties to not only the French history but was also influenced by the Indigenous groups here in Canada, we made a beaded bracelet in a sash formation,Loretta Kasperski
For the second week of the challenge, the scouts learned to make their own maple taffy, tapping maple trees and boiling down the sap. This activity will be featured at the Winter Carnaval on March 22.
The youth said they wanted to bring some of the activities that we’ve been doing to the Carnaval, so the community can experience what we’ve been doing,Loretta Kasperski
Other activities at the Winter Carnival include a snow sculpture contest, wooden snake races, and “mini canoe races” using canoes made for the bancroft Santa Claus Parade attached to toboggans.
Jungle Nights, a scouting group from Oshawa, will present a special performance of The Jungle Book, combining storytelling, shadow puppets, and costumed characters.
It’s a combination of storytelling, shadow puppets, and people in full costumes that come out into the audience, and it just brings The Jungle Book to life,Loretta Kasperski
The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group will also lead “wide” games to promote teamwork and leadership. They will perform skits,songs,and cheers,showcasing their scouting campfire traditions.
Food and Refreshments
the Bancroft Lions Club will host a cash-only BBQ. Other food options include cotton candy, popcorn, slushies, and maple taffy, along with free hot chocolate.Live music will play throughout the day, and heated areas will be available for relaxation.
Despite giving out free hot chocolate at the Santa Claus Parade, this is the first large event hosted by the scouts themselves. They are brimming with creative ideas.
it’s about getting innovative as they have great ideas and we have to make it more practical for them. They’re having a lot of fun.Loretta Kasperski
Get ready for a Quebec-inspired celebration! The 1st Bancroft Scouting Group is hosting a Winter Carnaval jam-packed with activities, treats, and entertainment for the whole family.Here’s everything you need to know:
The Bancroft Scouts Winter Carnaval is a family-friendly event hosted by the 1st Bancroft Scouting Group, inspired by French Canadian winter traditions. It’s a celebration of the end of winter with a focus on outdoor fun, skills demonstrations, entertainment, and flavorful treats.
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Big Rock Eco Retreat, located on the south side of Weslemkoon Lake in Addington Highlands, east of Bancroft.
How much does it cost to attend?
admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item. All donations will support the North Hastings Food Bank and the Denbigh Community Food Bank.
The Winter Carnaval offers a wide range of activities for all ages, including :
Maple Taffy Making: Learn how to make your own maple taffy, a classic Quebec treat.
Snow Sculpture Contest: Get creative and build your own snow sculpture.
Wooden Snake Races: Cheer on your favorite snake in this exciting race.
Mini Canoe Races: Enjoy a unique race using canoes made for the Bancroft Santa Claus Parade, attached to toboggans.
“The Jungle Book” Performance: Enjoy a special performance by jungle Nights,a scouting group from Oshawa,featuring storytelling,shadow puppets,and costumed characters.
Wide Games: Participate in fun games led by the 1st Bancroft Scouting Group to promote teamwork and leadership.
Scouting Campfire Traditions: Experience skits, songs, and cheers showcasing scouting campfire traditions.
what food and refreshments will be available?
BBQ (cash only) hosted by the Bancroft Lions Club
Cotton candy
Popcorn
Slushies
Maple taffy
Free hot chocolate
What is the scouts canada National Challenge?
The Winter carnaval is the 1st Bancroft Scouting Group’s contribution to the final week of the Scouts Canada National Challenge. This challenge encourages scout groups across Canada to participate in weekly themed activities. This year, the challenge is the French Carnaval Challenge.
What does the Scouts Canada National Challenge entail?
The Scouts Canada National Challenge involves scout groups participating in weekly themed activities.In this case, the French Carnaval Challenge immerses youth in French Canadian traditions over a four-week period. Scouts Canada provides an educational video with a weekly challenge, and members vote for a winning group each week.
What are the benefits of participating in the Scouts Canada National Challenge?
According to Loretta Kasperski, a Scouter for the 1st Bancroft scouting Group, participating in these challenges:
Is a fun way to connect with scouting groups across Canada.
Allows youth to see what other scouting groups are doing.
Helps youth realize the size of the Scouts Canada association thay’re a part of.
Shows youth the positive impact they can have on the community.
What is a voyageur sash (ceinture fléchée)?
A voyageur sash (ceinture fléchée) is a customary handwoven sash worn by French canadian voyageurs. These sashes, two to three meters long, served a functional and fashionable purpose, supporting the lower back during paddling and portaging. Today, it remains an important symbol in Métis culture.
who is Loretta Kasperski?
Loretta Kasperski is a Scouter for the 1st Bancroft Scouting Group. Her quotes throughout the article provide insights into the benefits of scouting, the Scouts Canada National Challenge, and the Winter Carnaval activities.
winter Carnival Activities Schedule
| activity | Description |
| :——————————— | :———————————————————————————- |
| maple Taffy Making | Learn the process of making maple taffy from tapping trees to boiling sap. |
| Snow Sculpture Contest | Showcase your artistic skills by creating unique snow sculptures. |
| Wooden Snake Races | Participate in or watch thrilling wooden snake races. |
| Mini Canoe Races | Enjoy canoe races using modified canoes. |
| “The Jungle Book” Performance | Watch a live performance of “The Jungle Book” by the Jungle Nights scouting group. |
| Wide Games | Participate in group games promoting teamwork and leadership. |
| Scouting Campfire Traditions | Experience skits, songs, and cheers that are part of scouting campfire traditions. |
Don’t miss out on this exciting winter celebration! Join the 1st Bancroft Scouting Group at Big Rock Eco Retreat on March 22nd for a day of family fun and French Canadian traditions.