RUSSELL—There’s action on the ice for the February 15 Woronoco Heights Outdoor Adventures at Moses Scout Reservation. WHOA will be going “forward into the past” with a variety of winter activities both on and off its frozen lake. Participants can meet WHOA presenter Dennis Picard who’s been demonstrating the ice harvesting trade for more than twenty five years at museums and environmental education centers. A frequent speaker on the ice industry for libraries, museums and universities, he has also consulted for the BBC and PBS’s NOVA series.

Mr. Picard, will display some of his antique tools of that trade including several invented in Massachusetts and share the interesting tale of this once massive enterprise which is fading from our collective memories. WHOA invites would-be ice harvesters to come up and handle Dennis’s antique implements, including a “pond saw” and the breaker bar to make a really big hole in the ice.

Beginning at noontime, once the ice harvest hole is large enough, the Russell Fire Department will be on hand to conduct their annual ice rescue training. Russell Fire Chief, Niles LaValley, will be welcoming WHOA’s participants to view the fire fighter’s using the latest in ice rescue training. The Fire Department will provide ice safety tips and allow for up close viewing of the training in real time.

Along with the ice rescue and ice harvesting, WHOA Director, Mia Santos-Izak announces a new opportunity. The WHOA YUKON CHALLENGE, where participants will have the chance to earn a special patch by taking part in at least three of WHOA’s five winter activities (ice fishing, ice harvesting, show shelter building, snow shoeing, and sugar shack hike). Upon registration, guests may pick up their own YUKON CHALLENGE score card and work to complete their card by the end of the March 14 WHOA. Director Santos-Izak states that with the unpredictability of the weather some activities may not occur as planned. If so, participants will be allowed to take more than one WHOA weekend to finish their card.

Other activities planned for the February 15 Saturday include; Amateur Radio, Blacksmith Shop, Cell Phone Photography, Craft Shack, Disc Golf, Escape Rooms, Geocaching, Ice Fishing, Ice Harvesting, Ice Rescue, Maple Sugaring, Orienteering, the WHOA Selfie-Cell Phone Photography Scavenger Hunt Bingo, Snow Shelter Building, Snow Shoeing and Welding.

Each month WHOA presents activities taking advantage of the Moses Scout Reservation’s 1300 acre camp, just a few minutes from I-90 Exit 3, at 310 Birch Hill Rd. in Russell MA. From 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM, a day of “WHOA” is only $15 per person, $10 for children under ten years and group rates available for parties of 10 or more. The ever growing list of activities is open to everyone. One does not need to be a Boy Scout to take part in a WHOA Saturday. Families, children, teens, adults, clubs, teams and others may participate. All proceeds benefit various improvement projects and programs at the Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation. To find out more go to www.wmascouting.org/WHOAor to preregister on line see; www.wmascouting.org/WHOAFeb2020

It’s winter time so guests are suggested to dress warmly by wearing layers of clothing. No need to worry about making a fashion statement, you’ll be at a Scout Camp. Wear what will keep you warm, sneakers are really a “no, no”, especially out on the ice. The old say of, “If your feet are cold … then wear a hat!” holds true. However, for those who might get chilled, warm food and hot cocoa is available at the camp’s trading post. As WHOA’s director exclaims, “WHOA! Rain, snow, or shine it doesn’t get any better than this!”