2nd Amherstburg Scouting holds end-of-year ceremony

A special presentation of a ten-year service award to longtime volunteer Stephanie Pouget-Papak, the award was presented by her son and Group Commissioner Dawn Martinello.

Under sunny skies and surrounded by laughter, families and leaders gathered at Bryerswood Youth Camp last Monday (May 25) as Scouts Canada’s Second Amherstburg group celebrated its annual end of year ceremony with awards, 

promotions, and special recognitions.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious North Star Award to eight members of the Beaver section. Myles Champagne, Hudson Wells, Anderson Ouellette, Kayden Couture, James Cluney, Finnigan Hindi, Clark Doyscher, and Felix Karloff all received the honour, which is the top section award available to Beavers.

To earn the award, the youths completed five outdoor adventure skills badges, five hours of community service, and planned and completed a community project. This year’s project involved a cleanup at Toddy Jones Park and Navy Yard Park.

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts gathered in their groups to say their mottos and start the afternoon ceremony. 2nd Amherstburg Scouting held its year-end ceremony May 25 at Bryerswood Youth Camp.

The Beavers also participated in community activities throughout the year, including Apple Day and singing at senior centres. In addition to the award patch that will carry over onto their Cubs uniforms, recipients also received a special North Star Tail to attach to their hats.

The ceremony also marked an important transition for many of the young Scouts. Nine Beavers officially moved up to the Cubs section, while six Cubs advanced to Scouts.

Another milestone recognized during the event was the presentation of a ten-year service award to longtime volunteer Stephanie Pouget-Papak, the award was presented by her son.

Dawn Martinello, Group Commissioner and Beaver Section Leader, said the ceremony serves as a celebration of everything the youths have accomplished throughout the year.

“This is the end of year for Scouts Canada for Second Amherstburg where all of our groups do one final linking event,” said Martinello. “We’ll see the Beavers moving up to Cubs and getting their Top Section awards, Cubs move on to Scouts, Scouts will sometimes move up to Company when we get a few of those ones.”

Martinello added that the event also included the investiture of a brand-new Scout who joined the group only weeks earlier.

“This year we’ve got a brand-new Scout that joined us just a few weeks ago, so he’s actually getting invested as well,” she said. “So, this is kind of our final culmination of everything that they’ve earned for this year.”

While many children begin in Beavers at age five, Martinello noted that youth can join Scouts Canada at nearly any age.

“We’ve had kids come in at fourteen years old, but they can start as young as five,” she said. “Some kids go on to become youth leaders.”

The evening closed with smiles, applause, and excitement for the adventures ahead as the Scouts celebrated another successful year of learning, leadership, and community involvement.

2nd Amherstburg Scouting holds end-of year ceremony

By Donna Tuckwell