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When I was in scouts I took part in Canoe Trails. Canoe trails was a high adventure program that was run by Explorer Post 488 in Vanport, PA. It was run by George Wildman. We went canoing in Kipawa Canada. There is almost nothing on the internet about Canoe Trails or Explorer Post 488 which I find amazing. Maybe by making this post someone who has more information will stumble upon it and help me find out it's current status.

The best thing I have found is the Canoe Trails Training Manual, which just happened to be posted on the Kipawa.com website. The only other relevant webpage that I can find was an exhibit in the Beaver County Heritage Foundation. I'm going to have to email them and see if they can get me more info on Canoe Trails.

Update: 2008-11-18

I received an email from a fellow canoe trailer who remembered me and my boots where the soles fell off. Here is some more info about Canoe Trails.

Hi Jeff, was looking to see if anyone placed anyting about Canoe Trails on the internet. Not. I remember you as the 15 year old who lost the soles of his boots and John Mac laced them back on with aluminum wire out in the bush. Anyhow, Mr. Wildman passed away in 1993 and John Mac about 2 years ago. Andy Zachodni is running the program out of the Post 488 barn. 488 and Canoe Trails are now one in the same. I believe the program is now called a Venture Crew and the number is 498 (it's 487). At any rate there seems to be a spike in interest with young people again and some of the older youngsters are coming back out of the woodwork to support the program - or so I've heard. I don't have Andy's number but he lives in Industry and should be listed in white pages.

This is the best I can pass on. Denise Wilson

Update: 2009-03-19

Canoe Trails has a website!

I received an email from someone still in canoe trails and they have a website. That's great news!

Canoe Trails is still up and running out of the same building in Vanport. As far as I know post 487 is inactive, but Venturing Crew 487 (not 498) is what everyone in Canoe Trails is registered under with the BSA. The last couple years of the program have been pretty slow, but participation started to pick up this past year.