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Scouts fundraise to attend Pacific Jamboree

The Second Rossland Scouts (SRS) are raising funds to attend a Pacific Jamboree, taking place in Sooke, B.C. from July 11 to 18 next year

The Second Rossland Scouts (SRS) are raising funds to attend a Pacific Jamboree, taking place in Sooke, B.C. from July 11 to 18 next year. The scouts hope to raise $4,500 to attend next year’s quadrennial event hosted by B.C. Yukon Councils on Vancouver Island. Here students will be engaged in activities, such as sailing the Salish Sea aboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship, Oriole. This is an important event as the youth attending, aged between 11 and 14 years, would not have this opportunity otherwise.

“They are very excited about this opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and have new adventures,” said scout leader Shanna Tanabe.

Tanabe explains the range of programming extends from scuba diving to gold panning and beach combing and more that will allow the kids to meet like-minded youth from other areas. The objective of this program, and scouts more broadly, is to develop well-rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world.

The SRS unit attending Pacific Jamboree will comprise of eight youth and two scout leaders who have to be totally self-sufficient and practice outdoor skills at the weeklong camp. SRS will make their way west by vehicle with their equipment in tow, before getting on a ferry to cross for the island.

Once on the island there are ample choices and challenges for the scouts to choose from. Everyone will have an opportunity to try fencing with instruction from Olympic champion, Igor Gantsevich.

The first planned fund raising challenge is a dip in the chilly waters of the Columbia River. On New Year’s Day, scouts will participate in the Forty-Fourth Field Engineer Squadron Polar Bear Plunge at Gyro Park, Trail. Fifteen per cent of donations made in support of this challenge will go to Sanctuary, the pre-teen centre in Trail.

More fundraising activities are yet to come. Scouts have been “paying it forward” by doing a good deed a day. This has included offering to shovel snow for their neighbour’s driveways.

Readers can donate to the fund now by visiting the Yodel webpage rosslandscouts.yodel.org.