Scouts contribute to community

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: May 4 2018 Strathmore Times

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

The 1st Strathmore Scouts partnered with the Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association on a project for the beavers and cubs members to create bird houses and plant plants to be donated back into the community. Miriam Ostermann Photo

The 1st Strathmore Scouts partnered with the Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association on a project for the beavers and cubs members to create bird houses and plant plants to be donated back into the community.
Miriam Ostermann Photo
A number of eager young members of the 1st Strathmore Scouts teamed up last week to hone their skills and enhance the community.
Nine Beaver Scouts and four Cub Scouts took part in building birdhouses and planting flowers to donate to the Town of Strathmore and the AgeCare Sagewood senior community.
The initiative, a collaboration between 1st Strathmore Scouts and the Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association (WCWA), taught the Beavers and Cubs, ranging in age from five to 10 years, about environment, leadership and community spirit.
“They’re not just doing something and taking it home, they’re participating in a project and enhancing the community by donating them,” said Yvonne David with the 1st Strathmore Scouts.
“That’s what Scouts is about. It’s dealing with communities and different organizations to grow the community and their overall characteristics of themselves. It’s not just doing one thing, it’s seeing what’s out there that they can be involved in.”
A few years ago, 1st Strathmore Scouts and the WCWA, which is a non-profit hunting and fishing association that’s been in existence since 1994, began communications on working together in the future.
Recently, David reached out to the association with intentions of partnering on an environmental project. The WCWA responded with the idea of creating birdhouses and sowing plants. The WCWA donated and precut the materials needed for the birdhouses.
On April 28, the scouts visited the association’s clubhouse and together with adult assistance built their projects. While it was the first joint project between the two organizations, collaboration on other initiatives in the future are already in discussion.
“Wheatland Conservation is widely known for hunting … but it’s not just about shooting and hunting, it’s whatever we can get kids involved in,” said Cheryl Koltusky, supper chair and treasurer with the WCWA. “We’re hoping that we’re going to be able to continue year after year. I hope this isn’t the last time.”
The project was made possible with the help of volunteers Alan Koltusky, Carl Carlson and Joe Foldi, and donations of plants from Bloomfield Garden Centre. The 1st Strathmore Scouts has contacted the Town of Strathmore to find permanent locations for their creations.