EDITOR,
February is a special month for Scouts. It is when we celebrate Lord Baden Powell's birthday, Scout Week, Feb. 20 to 27, and Bring a Friend month! It is also an opportunity for the community of Squamish to recognize the limitless potential of our youth and the work that Scouting does to promote and build a better community for our leaders of tomorrow. The mission of Scouting is to contribute to the education of young people though a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in their community.
The Scouting movement in Squamish currently has over 80 active boys and girls between the ages of five and 15. Our leadership team has more than 20 members. We are highly visible in our community through our position statements of "Healthy Active Living, Leadership and Environmental Stewardship." You may have seen the Cubs hiking around Alice Lake or the Sea Scouts sailing and kayaking on Howe Sound. The five-to-seven-year-old Beavers completed a weekend tour and hike at Tenderfoot Hatchery. No matter what the weather may bring, the Squamish Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers are exploring the natural world around us!
Environmental stewardship is first and foremost on many people's minds these days and Scouts are no exception. Through the Scout trees program, the Squamish Scouts sold more than 200 Christmas trees this past season at the Village Green Garden Centre. They then, with the help of the Garden Centre and Dave Spence, set up a tree-chipping weekend, again at the Garden Centre. Last spring the youth planted 300 young Douglas firs at the Scout tree farm on Squamish Valley Road. This is certainly the right choice - the environmentally friendly choice!
Many of our youth provide and are learning leadership skills both in the Scouting movement and throughout the community. We have Scouts helping younger Cubs with new outdoor survival skills; we have Cubs assisting the new Beavers with animal-themed games and lessons. The children assembled backpacks with everyday essentials for the homeless centre last Christmas under the guidance of a senior Scout. The older Scouts participated in a canned-goods drive for Community Christmas Care. We had a Sea Scout presented with the Chief's Scout award last spring; this award is the highest award that can be earned in Scouts. This summer, several of our older youth will be attending Pacific Jamboree in Sechelt along with several hundred youth from across Canada. These youth are the youth of our community and the leaders of tomorrow.
Our exciting month concludes with a Baden-Powell Banquet at Totem Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 22nd from 6 to 8 p.m. We expect up to 200 youth, leaders and families to attend this festive occasion. If you are a past Scout leader, Chief Scout or Queen's Venturer, we extend a special invitation for you to join us and share your stories.
To become a member or to volunteer, please visit our website at www.squamishscouts.ca.
Karen MacDonald
Fourth Squamish Scouts
Squamish
