Eight Scouts from 1st BX Troop have returned from an adventure of a lifetime: Pacific Jamboree 2015.
About 3,000 Scouts and Scouters converged into Camp Bernard on Vancouver Island for a solid week of activities and camaraderie. For many, it was their first ferry ride to the Island but a week-long tenting adventure made for an experience never to be forgotten.
“We had tons of fun with a high rope course, an obstacle course through the forest, dragon boat racing, canoeing, gold panning, fencing with an Olympic champion, geocaching, and we spent an awesome day exploring Victoria,” said Brooke Francescutti. “Working to raise money to get to the jamboree was a bit hard, but it really paid off!”
For Connor Robertson, one of the highlights was trading badges with scouts from all over the world.
“We were always looking for people with different looking badges,” he said. “We would start talking and maybe make a trade.
“I met people from New Zealand, Manitoba and spent quite a bit of time on a bus ride getting to know a group of Scouts from Ontario, a place I’ve never been.”
Scouter Shawna Bader gives thanks to everyone in the community who helped get the Scouts to PJ.
“We are so thankful to The Morning Star,” she said. “Their coverage put us in touch with several former scouts, now grown up, some of whom have experienced a jamboree as a youth, others who never had such an opportunity. I know many of our new scouts will now be looking forward to their opportunity to experience a jamboree, perhaps the next PJ in 2019.”
Scouter Brad Clark also gives thanks to everyone who donated their bottles, Christmas trees or cash.
“We simply could not have made the trip without the community’s support,” he said. “Thanks for thinking of 1st BX.”
The group’s adventure has been documented in a video. Anyone can watch it by searching YouTube for “1st BX Scouts.” Meantime, 1st BX is accepting new registrations for Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts. Interested parents can contact Scouter Amanda at 778-475-1135.
