Youth Exchange Canoe Trip and campout, Sept. 11 & 12

The weekend started on Saturday morning in Paris around 9.30 a.m. at the Cedarview Evangelistic Centre, where everyone met.First there was an orientation meeting (with Tim Horton's)were the students were briefed on the do's and don'ts and they all introduced themself.This year we have students from, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, France, Switzerland, Chile, Mexico, Denmark, South Africa, Ecuador, Austria,Bolivia, Japan and Australia, welcome to you all.After the student meeting we also had an information meeting with Youth Exchange Chairs and Councilors about the same topics.The pizza came out at about 11.45 a.m. and was appreciated by all.The students left for the canoe trip around 1 P.M., the trip this time was from Glen Morris to Paris, about 1.5-2.5 hour trip.It was reported that only one canoe tipped over with South Africans Stevi and Leigh in it, but were rescued shortly after.(the water was 4 feet deep)This was an experience most students have never had and was enjoyed by most.After the canoe trip they all headed towards the Stam Farm, were they were welcomed and directed to their tents to get rid of their possessions.Some of the students went swimming in the pond and others were just hanging around and getting aquainted.Around 6.30 p.m. the barbeque was ready and corn and burgers was enjoyed by all. Several Rotarians and friends came out to the barbeque and evening.The evening was filled by sitting around the campfire and in paddleboats and rowboat and on the tennis court, some of the students slept around the campfire and never went to bed.Around 7 a.m., the orange sun coming up trough the fog is one of the most beautifull things we saw that morning.Slowly people were waking up, some jumping in the pond, trying out their survival skills in the cool water.Breakfast was served by Rotarians and Friends, which was pancakes, toast, eggs and bacon.We had no planned activities, but the weather was so nice that most spend time in the pond, trowing each other off the raft and others playing tennis and soccer and just sitting around and talking.Around 1 p.m. people started coming around to pickup their students to take them back home.I want to thank all the people that participated and helped out this weekend, because without you it would not work, and I hope that you enjoyed yourself as we did.Pieter and Edie Stam!!!!