Fourteen people associated with the 2nd Innisfil Scouting Group were among about 3,000 participants who attended the Pacific Jamboree in British Columbia last month.
Five Scouts — Nathan and Skyler Brennan, Lucas Ellingson, Jason Uhde, and Riley Yates — four Venturer Scouts (who are older than Scouts at 14 to 17 years old) — Ethan Bruder, Aidan Munro, Keifer Vanderzwaag, and Daniel Weichel — and five volunteers, called Scouters — David Brennan, Candice Ellingson, Stephen Yates, Mike Weichel and Rebecca Slade — had the experience of a lifetime.
"I met a lot of new people there,” Skyler said.
This was his first major jamboree with the Scouts.
“I was surprised to meet people from Australia," he said. "I made a lot of new memories. I enjoyed trading badges with youth from other parts of the country.”
"I enjoyed sea kayaking,” his brother Nathan said. “I liked that we got to kayak in the Pacific Ocean, and even though it's a big body of water, it was calm in the area we were in. Some of our Scouts saw seals.”
“We saw eight humpback whales,” Skyler added.
Their father, David, noted that he wishes more youth were able to enjoy such adventures.
“This trip meant a lot to me as a Scouter, and also as a parent," he said. "Being able to facilitate all the youth we brought, and to see them grow, was special. It took on extra meaning sharing that feeling with my own kids. We have all grown — youth and Scouters — as a result of this amazing experience."
David explained that 2nd Innisfil will attend the Fall Campaign of the Scout Brigade at Fort George in September. “It's a reenactment camp we have attended regularly that is held each year in the Niagara Region. It attracts approximately 1,000 Scouts from both Canada and the USA.”
“Now that our current group of volunteers and youth have experienced a large jamboree, they are also looking into other upcoming jamborees and distant camps, such as (in) Iceland, Poland or Holland.”
“We would like to thank this community for their support. Many of our local youth get to have these amazing experiences due to the generosity of Innisfil,” he said.
David and fellow Scouter, Mike Weichel, told InnisfilToday they look forward to continuing to volunteer with 2nd Innisfil.
“The youth have fun, but so do the Scouters. If the youth see the Scouters having fun, then that sets the tone for them as well. I have made lifelong friends due to scouting,” David said.
"It was great to be able to go with the youth to an adventure like none we had done before. Every time I saw them at camp working, they had big smiles and were sharing stories of their experiences,” Mike added.
“My favourite memories of PJ 2024 would have to be the adventure of being outside Ontario for the first time with the other Scouts and Scouters ... Meeting new people from all over the world and the overall experience of everything there was to participate in while being there," Jason said. "My top favourite activities would have to be the day we spent in Victoria going whale watching, and the rock climbing and obstacle course at PJ. Overall I had an amazing experience.”
Learn more about 2nd Innisfil — and its upcoming fundraisers and adventures — by checking out its Facebook page.
