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The longest canoe been on prior to this w she longed to be inclu applying last October. "I found out in April and we left July 3rd for camp and left the morning of July 5th on our trip," says Scott, who has been a regular at the Algonquin Taylor Statten Camps for years. lenge unlike enced before in her a new maturity. An outdoors lover and a "pretty strong (canoe) tripper", Scott lived for the "short little canoe trips" that were a part of each summer‘s camp agenda, dreaming one day of a lengthier advenâ€" While friends and classmates spent the summer taking in movies or shopâ€" ping at the mall, or gathering at McDonald‘s for burgers and fries, this 16â€"yearâ€"old Oakville Trafalgar Grade 12 student covered more than 1,000 kilometres by canoe and on foot from Killarney Park â€" just outside of Algonquin â€" up the Spanish River, through the Biscotasing and Temagami areas, down the Ottawa River to Biset Creek and finally Canoe Lake where the camp cabin was located. This was serious "tripping". There were no pizzas or onion rings, no motel stops when the thunderstorms came; instead Scott and her fellow canoeists indulged in a steady diet of pasta and granola from a pack that, after food drops, weighed about 60 pounds, and slept three to a tent every night with no more comfort than a sleeping bag and a thermaâ€"rest underneath. It was a physical and mental chalâ€" Elflll\)lfl 1LOMI & Pfl\rl drops, weighed abou slept three to a tent e more comfort than a : thermaâ€"rest underneat It was a physical lenge unlike anythin Oct. 20. 1993 Fiftyâ€"day canoe trip was more than a wilderness experience She signed up for a 32â€"day canoe trip last summer, but never had the opportunity to follow through after snapping a knee ligament. When she found out she had a spot in one of the canoes for the 50â€"day trip, she was ecstatic, a feeling that turned to anxiety as the date approached. When the Taylor Statten Camp canoe trip was over, she left the Algonquin Park Wapomeo cabin for Oakville, drove her mom to work, turned on some music and sat by herself. The room was filled with an odd silence; the sounds she was used to were mosquitoes and black flies buzzing around her head, waves lapping against shorelines, crackâ€" ling fires at sunset and the voices of her eight companions. But she was ready with her backâ€" pack full of camping equipment, hiking boots, a set of light and heavy clothes for day and night and some writing materials. By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff And there was shelter that wasn‘t made of canvass and tables to eat on instead of dining with the ants and spiâ€" ders on hard, uneven ground. It was a strange sensation adjusting to civilization once again and when peoâ€" ple quizzed her about her trip, she didn‘t know how to verbalize what she deems "the most incredible" time of her young life. She was somewhat shellshocked. We had a beautiful summer..incredâ€" ible summer. There were only three sigâ€" nificant electrical storms..." says the athâ€" letic Scott who plays volleyball, jogs and does some weight training. ~ Nerves about being thrown into an Uunknown situation with complete strangers, quickly dissipated soon into the trip, says Scott. hat Kate Scott noticed most Wupon her return from 50 adventurous days in the wildemess, was the noise. People chatâ€" ting and milling about, cars humming by, running water. «_ "On the first day you knew who the strong trippers were and who the weak ones were. You develop incredible friendships. You can‘t hide anything on a canoe trip about your personality or Homemakers provide people with options agencies _ "I‘ve cared for a few palliative clients, people who have chosen to come home from the hospital and die at home with dignity," said Laing, adding people have this option thanks to home support workers. "Red Cross homemakers spend the greatest number of hours with palliative clients." In other cases, able to reduce the to clients‘ hom rewarding to start 1 and go from being making the clients dealing with their some cases I‘ve be the number of hou its per week to once weekly. It‘s filling to see a number of people once again able to manage on t own." ever had "This is the only job I‘ve been involved with where when you go to work, you‘re greeted with a smile every morning. People are glad to In other cases, Laing has been e to reduce the number of visits clients‘ homes. "It‘s very varding to start working on a case 1 go from being very involved to king the clients more capable of iling with their own situation. In ne cases I‘ve been able to reduce number of hours from three visâ€" per week to once weekly. It‘s fulâ€" ing to see a number of people are 4 ce again able to manage on their FABR]G LTD m. > Overall, it‘s the best job Laing‘s r had. 5380 south (Continued from page 13) hysical and mental chal anything she had experi and one that has instille sense of confidence an« anoe trip Scott had is was 16 days, but included and began es. . "It‘s working on ; very invol s more cap; _own situat g has been er of visits "It‘s very ng on a case involved to : capable of situation. In le to reduce physical ability, there were some incred ibly tough days." Although the two male guides carâ€" ried the canoes over land, the girls portaged with packs. At times it was gruelling and discouraging â€" the water levels of the Spanish River were so low because of the temperatures, they had to drag their canoes over rocks from 8 a.m. to sundown and when the paths between lakes were so obscure or overâ€" Kate Scott But she always rallied and not only learned to trust her own ability more, she learned to appreciate the beauty of the country and became more aware of environmental issues. ‘"We tried to cover 30 kilometres a day," says Scott, recalling one day they went 50 without one portage. "We had leniency with our route, we just had to make it to our food drops. It was exhausting physically and mentally but it was relaxing in a way too." There were times, she admits, she thought to herself, "This is nutty. I can‘t believe I‘m doing this." grown, they had to forge through the brush. Although she never felt in danger, there were occasional risky situations like the time their canoe tipped and the packs â€" laden with fresh food packages â€" spilled into the water. And then just as suddenly as the time had come to push off from shore, it was all over. They paddled along Canoe Lake to the cabin and a subdued greetâ€" ing from a few campers. They spoke to the camp director, showered and collectâ€" ed their mail and a few days later she was home. One of Scott‘s friends told her she seemed at peace with herself. She spent some time at the family farm recounting the "most incredible 50 days their own trail DESIGNER WaLLCcoVvERING THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Curtains, Blinds _ Oriental and Contemporary and Cushion Formy $79.95 BEDSPREADS MANUFACTURER From $1.00 a Single Rol of my life so far" and is already talking about future canoe trips. It would appear the adventurous life of this casual young outdoorsy teen has just begun. She is looking at a number * PORCELAIN VENEERS *« BONDING * RESHAPING * BLEACHING * SPACE CLOSURE « CROWNS BRIDGES *« BONE IMPLANTS *« TEETHâ€"STRAIGHTENING «* PARTIAL/FULL DENTURES « DERECT FROM THE *# COSMETIC DENTISTRY 4# * â€" GENERAL DENTISTRY â€" â€" OVER 8 YEARS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE â€" DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCEâ€" $6.00 a square yard and up Bring your room measurementy Tel: (905) 270â€"5112 2500 Hurontario Street, Mississauga Huron Square Plaza BROADLOOM Sofas, Love Seaty and Chairy Chaise Lounges and Ottomany CuUsToM FURNITURE of different boarding schools overseas for her second semester of Grade 13, but is leaning heavily towards the U.S. based National Outdoor Leadership School where trips like 75â€"day excurâ€" Upholstery Drapery Veloury Starting at $3.00 a yard AREA RUuGgs BEFORE MPUTER ) COSMETIC IMAGINC sions to Kenya, involving sailing and hiking, are the norm. "I like the outdoors, I love helping people. I definitely like challenges," says Scott. AFTER 15