14 Boy Scouts try their hands at canoeing

Fourteen members of the Saipan Troop 913 Aloha Council took to the outdoors yesterday, trying their hands on the rudiments of canoeing.

Scoutmaster Val Welch said the activity, held at the Oleai Beach along the Beach Road, was part of the troop’s summer camp that started last Monday. He said the troop did some activities such as archery, kayaking and canoeing.

Four members of the Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club Famalao’an Tasi group, an all-female group, taught the boys the basics of canoeing, such as how to effectively handle the paddle while at sea.

Outrigger club member Joanne Nicholls said they were teaching the boys the most important aspect in canoeing—teamwork. She said the sport is all about cooperation.

The canoeing session started at 9am yesterday and the boys said they enjoyed it a lot more than kayaking.

Jacob Conner, 14, said the event was also part of their requirement to collect the merit badges they need as part of the troop. He said they have not been home for a week and could not wait for another summer camp this year.

Jerald Habijan, 12, said canoeing was hard for him but was the best “thing” in the camp. “It’s hard to paddle,” he said.

Some of the kids said they could not wait to go home, too. “We miss home,” they shouted.

Welch said that, after the canoe event yesterday, the group would proceed to the Pacific Islands Club for their archery sessions, then later in the afternoon a dinner camp would take place as part of the summer camp’s culminating activities. Parents, relatives and friends would come and join them during the dinner at their camp in Lau Lau Bay.

Welch, who has been a scoutmaster for three years now, said this is the third year they held the summer camp. He said those who are interested to be part of the Boy Scouts could join anytime but they would have to be 11 to 18 years old.

The four women team of the canoe club who taught the Boy Scouts yesterday were composed of Nicholls, Ann Jordan, Sachiko Adachi and Cathy Plaza.

Jordan said their group has about 40 active members this year. The club is active in raising the awareness of the community on the history of canoeing and its importance in the Commonwealth. She said canoeing is a sport in the CNMI and teams in high school are active in state competitions.