Memories & Musings
July, 2021

The Scouting Program

By Susan Hulland

I got involved in Crawford Bay’s third Scouting Program in 1982 when I became a leader alongside Lois Adams and Reinhart Blum after the hurried departure from the community of former group leader, Alan Hitchen. In the first couple of years our Cub Pack included: Mark Simpson, Simon Shaw, Curtis Gallinger, William Hulland, Arlo Blum, Jim Poch, Richard Klose, Matthew Crawford, Colin Wastrodowski, Wade Stocker, Greg Stocker, Daniel Simpson, Billy Lowen, Jana Shaw, Chris Martin, Tom Hulland, Chris Romano, Brian Poch, Byron Crawford, Ryan Wastrodowski, Colin Draper, Danny Lowen, Tobias MacDonald, Aaron Dow and Clayton Syfchuck. 

The Crawford Bay Community Hall was our home base and one of the annual highlights was always the Kub Kar Rally.  Ron Wastrodowski oversaw the building of the race tracks and the rambunctious, highly competitive event was often officiated by former Scoutmaster, William  Fraser. In 1983 Wade Stocker won, then went on to represent us at the district rally in Creston where he won again and proceeded to the regional race in Trail. 

The Cubs often met at the hall to work on their badges and organize events such as Thinking Day programs and upcoming campouts. The three day event at the Elk’s Club Camp at Sanca Creek with boys and leaders from Creston was the annual highlight when the kids were young.  The boys’ parents often met in the hall too, planning fundraisers and events where their children learned to do community service including serving at Fall Fair Teas, acting as ball spotters at Kokanee Springs Men’s Open Golf Tournaments and doing spring clean ups at the Harrison Memorial Church.  

As the boys got older they were eager to become members of the 1st Crawford Bay Scout Troop. When a suitable male leader could not be found, I became the troop leader. This was precedent setting because at that time in Canada, Boy Scout leadership was a position open only to men.  But with no one stepping up to the job and a full slate of boys eager to move up from Cubs to Scouts the District Commissioner from Creston made a suggestion. I signed the forms as S. Hulland, he endorsed my application and sent it further up the line and soon we were in business!

As the number of boys in the programs increased other leaders joined in to help including Mark Adams and John Smith.  Many parents were generous in their support.  Susan Dow must have baked 1,000 cookies! Betsy-Ann Schultz, Claude Gallinger, Alec and Judy Martin hosted annual ‘After Bottle Drive’ hot dog roasts.  Heidi and Mark Simpson Sr. could always be counted on for help, likewise Ron and Leanne Wastrodowski. Others gave financial assistance. Most generous among them were Doctor William (Bill) and Elizabeth Stewart of Kootenay Bay. In return their names were always on our guest lists for important events such as investiture ceremonies held in the hall.  

We enjoyed trips on the Kootenay Lake Lion’s bus ‘Leo’s Dream’. We took the boys into the USA several times visiting  Grand Coulee Dam, Spokane and attending the Diamond Lake Scout Jamboree in Washington.  Overnight camping trips were made to Kokanee Glacier Park, Fry Canyon, Lockhart Creek, Invermere, Cranbrook and beyond.   Winter camps featuring skiing, snowshoeing, and building survival snow caves were held at the Ripple Ridge Cabin and Nancy Green Park. The planning for all of these adventures took place in our hall. 

The highlight of my involvement came in 1985 when Boy Scout leader Robin Sturdy and I took five boys from the East Shore and two from Creston to the 10-day Canadian National Scouting Jamboree in Guelph, Ontario. To accomplish this required many more meetings of parents at the Crawford Bay Hall to figure out how to raise $5,000 in just four months. Our most successful fundraiser was a two-day camp at Hooker Creek where Scouts, their parents and volunteers from a Brinkman & Associates tree planting crew put 10,000 seedlings in the ground and were paid handsomely by the BC Forest Service to do it! Much of the food for this camp of 30 persons was prepared by parents in the community hall kitchen. 

The program grew again in 1986 when a co-ed Venturer Company was formed that included: Dana Gallinger, Ingrid Zaiss, Malena Draper, Sheila Potter, Ezzy Draper, Jason Davis and Tom Hulland. A project undertaken by the group was the acquisition and refurbishment of one of the original wooden lifeboats from the MV Anscomb. Beth Penny of Boswell made the sail for the ‘Nimbus’ and David Kayle of Gray Creek served as our ‘Boat Master’ during rowing-sailing outings from our berth at Fish Hawk Bay Marina.  Money for this project was raised at a rollicking “Float The Boat” Dance which was held in the Crawford Bay Hall. Music was provided by Ida Marie and Carmen Draper and an old fashioned ‘Lunch Box Supper’ was enjoyed.

During this same time the hall also hosted a successful Brownie and Guide program led by Lorna Robin, Brenda Turner and Fran Kinder. These programs were not the first internationally recognized youth programs that called our community hall their home. William Fraser was Scoutmaster from 1923-1935 and they met in the original Crawford Bay Hall which was built in 1910 on Crawford Creek Road.  The first Guiding program started in 1969 using the new hall on Wadds Road which was built in 1938.  From 1953-1971 Marion Haverstock organized programs for the community’s girls.  

The motto of the Scouting programs is ‘‘Be Prepared” and I try to keep this top of mind as I work with a dedicated group of local residents who comprise the current board of directors of the Crawford Bay & District Hall & Parks Association. Due to its age our  building is not adequately prepared to support the changing needs of our area, nor does it meet some of the new health and safety requirements of a public use building. Like good Scouts we are doing mindful community service to change all that.