Jason Teakle
BRANT NEWS

It wasn’t their usual winter weekend camping trip, but local Scouts and Guides enjoyed another Canadian pastime on Sunday.

More than 70 members and leaders representing eight local Scout and Guide groups attended a Brantford Blast hockey game against the Dundas Real McCoys at the Brantford and District Civic Centre.

The event kicked off Scout and Guide Week.

“It is a phenomenal celebration of more than 100 years of scouting to commemorate our founder’s mission,” 5th Brant Beavers leader Kim Clarke said. “That mission is to engage youth in purposeful and meaningful activities that enhance their communities.

“We do a lot of leadership training, teamwork, community service and we have lots of fun.”

Scout and Guide Week is celebrated annually across Canada during the week of international scouting founder Lt. Gen. Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell’s birthday. Baden-Powell began forming scouting groups in Britain in 1907. Canadian groups were also founded that year.

Tyler Richards, 7, a Beaver group member with 48th Brant, caught a puck to take home from Sunday’s game.

“I like Beavers because we go have fun,” Richards said.

Second Brant Scouts troop member Sean Stilwell, 11, said he likes learning new skills and meeting people.

“I like going camping and I like meeting new friends,” Stilwell said. “I get to try a lot of things I haven’t done before.”

Mike Ross, 18, has been a Cub and Scout leader with Second Brant troop for two years.

“I like to work with the kids,” Ross said. “I went through scouting from Beavers to Venturers and I got hooked.

“After seeing the interaction between leaders and scouts, I saw that it helped the kids grow. I wanted to be a part of that.”

Elaine Burnside, a leader with 8th Brantford Guides for 11 years, said Scouts and Guides offer well-rounded programs involving something for everyone.

“We do crafts, camping and life skills,” Burnside said. “We really push equality because it is for everyone.

“We have funding available for subsidies so everyone can join.”

Jessica Hunt, 17, who is serving her third year as Scouts area youth commissioner for Brant, said she would not be where she is today without her 11 years in scouting.

“Scouting is a great program that people should look into,” Hunt said. “It has changed my life because without scouting I would not be as confident as I am today.

“There is so much I have learned and experienced, including camping, general knowledge of the outdoors, achievement of badges and awards and overall enjoyment and fun.”

Sebastienne Moran, a leader and volunteer with 2nd Brant Scouts for seven years, said scouting has a long history in Brant.

“We are the second oldest continuing group in all of Canada,” Moran said. “We are having our 90th anniversary celebration in April.”

Local Cubs will hold their annual Kub Kar Rally at Ryerson Heights Elementary School on Feb. 25 beginning at 10 a.m. as Scout and Guide Week comes to a close. The public is welcome to attend.

Participants will be recognized for best design, best paint job and race results.

“The Kub Kar event is a chance for the Cubs to race the cars they have created,” said Andy Balog, a Cub leader with 1st Burford group. “There will be 20 youth from this area that will go on to a regional race in Hamilton.”

More than 74,000 children and young adults are involved in Scouts Canada programs, which are led by 23,000 volunteers.