history
It is believed that the Canoe Trails program began in Beaver County, PA around 1947. The older Boy Scouts of Troop 406 wanted a challenge to test their outdoor skills. And so, under the direction of Dr. Everett Partridge, an annual Canadian canoe trip was started. In 1951, the annual canoe trip became a district wide program officially named Canoe Trails. Many local Scout troops followed Dr. Partridge’s lead, creating what has evolved into today’s coordinated training and tripping program.
In 1965, Mr. George & Margaret Wildman began the Co-Ed Canoe Trails program. This change allowed the Girl Scouts to have the same Canadian canoe trip opportunities as the Boy Scouts. For many years, Canoe Trails organized multiple trips per summer. Some trips were boy-only trips and others were coed trips. Today we only organize one trip per summer and it is always a coed trip. More than two thousand men and women of all ages have participated in the Canoe Trails tradition. Many have earned the title of Voyageur.
core values
Safety
It can’t happen by accident. You need to work towards it with the right measures, tools, and mindset.
Training
A process, not an event, begins long before participants join and continues indefinitely.
Adventure
It’s everywhere if you know where to look. The key is recognizing it.
Responsibility
A burden that makes us safer and more capable when we’re together.
Voyageur & Coureur du Bois tabs
Voyageur & Coureur du Bois tabs
we are voyageurs
The Canoe Trails Program provides an unparalleled experience in the Canadian wilderness. It offers an adventure for those prepared to engage in primitive canoeing and camping activities.
Volunteer leaders and seasoned Voyageurs of Scouting America Venture Crew #488 dedicate their time to training new participants. They guide Candidates through essential and fundamental skills for a week-long wilderness canoeing expedition. Candidates acquire competence in knot-tying, outdoor cooking, hiking, portaging, ax work, knife work, fire-building, map reading, orienteering, and canoeing.
This program is a year-long journey. To fully experience the Voyageur spirit, we recommend you join us for a second year. In the first year, you’ll learn the skills you need to become a Voyageur. In the second year, you’ll get to mentor a new candidate. This experience is a great way to build confidence. You will also learn leadership skills and make lifelong friends. Practicing the skills of a bygone era is a wonderful method to strengthen relationships. Sharing them with friends and family reinforces this bond.
venture crew
Venture Crew 488 was formerly Explorer Post 488 of Vanport, Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1964 when Boy Scout Troop 488 became an Explorer Post. The Vanport Volunteer Fire Department has been our Chartering Organization since 1966. Mr. George S. Wildman led the Post as Advisor from 1964 until his passing in 1993.
Venture Crew 488 is a year-round program that improves camping skills and supports the seasonal Canoe Trails program. It follows Scouting America principles. It embraces an old school spirit of adventure. It upholds the tradition of passing on outdoor skills to the next generation.
Contact form
Feel free to send us your questions, share comments about a past trip, or offer feedback about the program. One of our volunteer adult leaders will respond as soon as possible.
A note about fundraising
The home of the Canoe Trails program is affectionately called The Barn. This fine structure is essential to our program’s success. Generous people who take care of it also play a crucial role. The Barn is:
- a classroom for our various training activities
- a crafting space for making our own gear
- a venue for our annual social events
- a warehouse for storing our canoes and equipment
- and a museum for preserving our history.
The Canoe Trails program conducts fundraisers. These events help the continued use of The Barn. They also aim to leave it better than we found it for the next generation of Voyageurs. Contact us by phone or email if you would like to discuss opportunities to support the program.