The Scouts Canada program in Sundre is growing and now includes three active age groups – Scouts, Beavers and Cubs.
The program is being offered in town for the second consecutive year, after returning to the community in the fall of 2013 from a hiatus of many years.
Last year there were two active age groups, including Beavers, aged five to seven, and Cubs, aged eight to 10. Officials are pleased to also offer Scouts this year, which covers ages 11 to 14. There are currently four Scouts in the group.
Members have been busy selling popcorn over the last few weeks to help fund the program's activities, according to group commissioner Dave Hill.
The Scouts recently had their first campout in Water Valley and Hill said it was the first time camping for some of them. Officials are planning more campouts for the season, which generally runs from September to May.
The Beavers program involves stories, games and crafts. The Cubs learn more about being a part of the group and working together.
Scouts learn how to take care of themselves and how to do work around a campsite, such as cooking and planning.
“By the time that they're done Scouts at 14, we're hoping that they're starting to take a little bit of leadership and show the way a little,” said Hill.
He encourages more kids to join the program which costs $168 and says people can join at any time throughout the season.
“We're trying to get in more outdoor activities. So we're taking the Beavers down to the park and we're taking the Cubs out camping once or twice a year,” he said.
“And we're trying to do more outdoor things for the Scouts, so they're learning how to cook over stoves and light lanterns and work with an axe and saw.”
The venue has been moved to the United Church and they are also utilizing the Macleod Cabin at Country Road RV.
Members of the program are looking for more people to volunteer as leaders, and are currently unable to run a full Beavers program.
For every six children in the program, one trained, security-cleared adult volunteer is required to supervise.
“We're still growing and we're still looking at doing new things and we're still looking for interested people,” he said.
Members also accept donations at any time of the year, whether it's an old backpack or a tent, he added.
“Scouts is a really good program because it teaches kids to get along with other kids and be independent and they learn some outdoor skills,” he said, adding it's also open to girls.
“It's kind of a program for everybody.”
Jaime Marr was last year's group commissioner, and when Hill was asked to take on the role this year, he didn't hesitate.
He was involved in the program when his children were young and believes it is an important program to have in a community like Sundre.
“I think Sundre is a very close community and a very volunteer-oriented community. Everybody pitches in and I think that this is the type of an organization that kids can join and learn how to do that and have the opportunity to do that,” he said.
“There's lots of activities that we can do in this area to keep the kids interested and learning new things. And there's lots of places we can go and have our adventures.”
Sundre's Family and Community Support Services officials championed the return of the program in 2013. A lack of volunteers forced the closure of the program in town many years ago.
Scouts Canada offers programs throughout the country and has been around for more than 100 years. There are five categories for ages five to 26 – Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers.
The program includes participation in outdoor activities, such as camping, rafting, hiking, tying knots, cooking and learning bush survival skills.
For more information, visit www.scouts.ca.
