Junior rangers savour the struggle
JCRs learn from the best during Whitehorse training session
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 16, 2015
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Junior Ranger Dallas Thom just recently returned from an enhanced training session in Whitehorse and he is already looking forward to going back next year.
Junior Ranger Dallas Thom, 14, from Fort Providence is all set to participate in a horseback ride at Sky High Riding Stables in Whitehorse on June 22. - photo courtesy of Petty Officer Second Class Belinda Jeromchuk, JTFN
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Thom, from Fort Providence, joined more than 188 Junior Canadian Rangers (JCRs) from 33 communities for a week of training, hosted by the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. Training began June 17 and ran until June 25.
"It was pretty fun," Thom said.
"I met a lot of people there and the training exercises were fun as well. I hope to go again next year."
This was Thom's second year doing the enhanced training session. This year, some of the training exercises he participated in included whitewater rafting and swift water rescue, where he learned how to rescue people in distress from rapids.
During the week, rangers took part in advanced and basic courses.
Twenty-one rangers between the ages of 16 and 18 took part in advanced training, which included conducting small party tasks and learning to issue orders. From there, they went through four days of field training, consisting of a rucksack march, camp setup and wilderness hiking.
Meanwhile, the basic training component involved 167 rangers between the ages of 12 and 15 years old. Capt. Steve Watton said in an e-mail that those rangers concentrated on three "circles" of learning: traditional, life and ranger skills.
Activities included zip-lining, rock wall climbing and trapping, among others.
Watton said the enhanced training session combined advanced and basic training to provide rangers with a chance to interact and experience cultural differences.
"For some JCRs, the opportunity to travel to a large city like Whitehorse meant seeing trees for the first time and encountering bugs. For others, the training provided an opportunity to practise their second language ... or demonstrate individual talent in throatsinging, drumming and traditional dancing to their peers," Watton said.
The exercise involved more than 36 Canadian rangers from across the North and 30 support staff from the Patrol Group, who provided administration, instruction and support for the training session.
The ranger program is targeted to aboriginal youth in remote areas of the North.
Fort Providence has 44 youth in its ranger program.
