Local Scouts give back to community
Planting trees, tuning up bikes and helping the homeless were just a few acts of volunteerism taken on by Calgary Scouts during this year’s Good Turn Week.
Cub Scout leader Derek Mawbey was one of 150 Scouts and another 60 volunteers who spent Saturday planting moss, grass, flowers and trees all native to Alberta at the Fish Creek Mountain Bike Skills Park, which officially opened the same day.
With Good Turn Week coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Cub Scouts in Canada, Mawbey said the youngsters wanted to take on a project that would benefit both the community and the environment.
“The point of planting in the park was to reintroduce all the native vegetation beneficial to the ecosystem and that area of park,” he said.
“Fish Creek is a place we frequent often with our youth, so the kids felt strongly about giving back to the park.”
A reclaimed site converted into a mountain bike skills park, Mawbey said around 400 trees, grasses and flowers were planted to repopulate the barren, dirt-packed area.
With all the seeds and shrubs neatly buried along the boundary line of the skills park, Mawbey said the flourishing vegetation will also act as a barrier between the road and the park.
Another group of Scouts gave up their day in the sun to lend a hand at The Mustard Seed sorting centre to organize donations, fold clothes and learn about the needs of homeless and impoverished Calgarians.
Scout leader Jennifer Riley was thrilled when the kids picked The Mustard Seed of their own volition, and said the day provided a great opportunity to teach Scouts about empathy, gratitude and the importance of helping others.
“I think it teaches them how fortunate we are,” she said.
“They were a little surprised at some of the donations like feminine hygiene products and chewing gum. Some kids said, ‘What, they don’t have gum!’
“They’re learning that sometimes there’s not enough money to pay for both rent and food.”
Scouts Canada launched more than 30 projects across the country for the eighth annual Good Turn Week, which runs from April 29 to May 7.