Sarah Falcon, Scout Leader
Scouts Canada [1] is all about connecting youth with the outdoors and involving them in where they live. It teaches children to be -a part of the environment and interact with environment and community as it has done this all over the world. We have a particularly active troop in Tumbler Ridge.

Our Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts frequently do bottle drives, shoreline cleanups, recycling, wildlife conservation and are involved in community events. The Climate Change Patch encourages climate awareness, learning how each person directly affects their environment from water treatment to soil pollution, and even global warming. Scouts and Cubs are doing their World Conservation Award this is set by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) [2]. which is why their own logo is used in the badge. The focus is on saving the environment for all species. It asks the youth to “think globally, act locally”.

Youth are encouraged to walk to their meetings and car pools are often arranged in colder weather. They have enjoyed recycling challenges such as JUNK WARS, where they created a bobsleigh out of junk that they found in their backyards and; donated items. The troop also worked with BC Hydro [3] on their porch light campaign and will also do the annual community clean up in May.

Donna Merry, Group Commissioner
Some examples of the group’s interest in sustainability, include the regular meetings, which include learning about the environment, sensitive ecosystems, and reducing/reusing /recycling. The program fosters love of the outdoors through regular outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and seasonal sports such as snowshoeing, winter games, swimming etc. The youth take part in nature walks to learn about local plants and wildlife, learn bird identification, and visit unique ecosystems, such as Bullmoose Marsh and Gwillam Lake. The youth also construct useful crafts, such as bird feeders from wood and natural materials, to help sustain thriving bird populations here in winter.

This year, the group has already participated in the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up, Sept. 27, which involved collecting litter from the shoreline at Gwillam Lake Provincial Park, discussing the sources of the litter, categorizing it into five main categories, and sending the information back to UBC to be part of their study to reduce shoreline litter. Also, the youth participated in the Project Porchlight [4], Oct. 15, for which they learned about the energy efficiency of florescent light bulbs, and then helped to deliver the bulbs to the community, sharing the information they learned.

Each year the group participates in the springtime community clean-up, and undertakes bottle drives, which helps the youth learn about the value of recycling to the environment, and towards meeting their financial goals.

The youth and adults of 11th South Peace are actively contributing towards a sustainable future.

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