Kub Kars and Beaver Buggies

The 1st Whitecourt Scouts group held its annual race night on Monday, May 15 at the Whitecourt Legion. Complete with a long track that extended from the stage to the kitchen, the group, made up of both Beavers and Cubs, raced together using vehicles they created.

Always a fan favourite, the Kub Kar and Beaver Buggy races brought out a bunch of kids and their parents to enjoy a couple of hours of fun on the track. Racers took turns helping to load the starting line while the rest waited patiently at the finish line to see whose wheels would cross first.

James Lehman, Area Commissioner of Grizzly Range with Scouts Canada, said the track event has been happening locally, and with Scouts across the country, for decades. “1st Whitecourt Scouts was established in 1952 and it has run uninterrupted. We’ve never not had a program of some kind in Whitecourt since the 50’s.”

As for the track itself, Lehman says it’s about three of four years old now.  “We got it through donations from businesses around town that sponsored us after the last one was just too old. We upgraded to the new digital counter and the aluminum track which helps the kids with counting who does what and how fast. It was worth every penny of the investment.”

This type of event brings all the different levels of Scouts together to have fun as a group. “This is called a Linking Program because it helps bring all of the programs together. With their programs during the week, they aren’t together. Beavers will do their thing on one night of the week and Cubs another night so this brings them all together,” explained James.

The different levels within Scouts Canada have plenty to offer local youth with weekly programs and special events such as camping. “There are things that the program can offer you and your youth that you can’t get in normal everyday life.” One example of that is the annual Scout Night with the Edmonton Oil Kings. “We go to Edmonton and watch an Oil Kings game. We get to sleep in the building, enjoy tours, meet the players, and then watch a movie on the jumbotron.”

At this time, Beavers and Cubs are the only two levels in the Whitecourt area. The group would love to be able to offer a Scouts level again but without the much-needed volunteers, it would be impossible. “Something that’s lacking throughout Scouts Canada from coast to coast is the volunteers. It’s something that we could really use and I would encourage more people to come in and be part of the program.”

Beavers is for children aged five to eight, Cubs nine to 11, and Scouts 11 to 14. For more information on signing up your children and/or becoming a volunteer, visit www.scouts.ca.