Attawandaron Cabin Project
Scouts Canada is the leading youth organization providing co-ed programming to over 70,000 youth between the ages of 5 and 26, across Canada. The mission of Scouts Canada is to help develop well rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world. Through their involvement in the Scouting program, youth express a strong sense of civic responsibility and environmental awareness, extending their “pay it forward” attitude to the community. They become more healthy, energetic, outgoing, conscientious and compassionate.
The Bluewater Area of Scouts Canada encompasses all of Sarnia and most of Lambton County and provides Scouting programs through an extensive network of over 100 volunteers. Scouting groups operate in Sarnia, Bright’s Grove, Petrolia, Corunna, Sombra, the Aamjiwnaang First Nation, and Watford. Currently there are over 425 youth involved in Scouting programs in Bluewater Area. Membership in Scouting organizations in Bluewater Area have consistently grown over the last ten years, in spite of a drop in the number of school aged children in the Sarnia Lambton area.
The local scout camp, known as Camp Attawandaron is located near the Pinery Provincial Park. The camp is managed and operated by a group of 25 volunteers from within the Scouting organization in Sarnia/Lambton.
The purpose of the project is to replace 12 seasonal cabins at Camp Attawandaron with 12 cabins that will be suitable for year round use.
Camp Attawandaron was established seventy years ago by what was then the Sarnia District of Scouts Canada. Initially the camp was used exclusively by youth aged 10 - 14 involved in the Scout program. Over time, the camp expanded and offered facilities for youth in all Scouting programs, from Beavers (ages 5 - 7), through to Rovers (ages 18 - 26)
As part of this expansion, over 40 years ago, 12 small, rustic cabins were built for use primarily by the Beaver and Cub (ages 5 - 10) programs. While Scouts have traditionally camped in tents year round, the cabins were used as a way of introducing younger members to camping in a rustic setting. The cabins were designed to hold 6 campers per cabin.
The cabins have exceeded their life expectancy and although still usable, need to be replaced. Because of their design, the cabins are only suitable for use from mid-May until the end of September. Replacement of the cabins will provide the opportunity to provide cabins suitable to year round use, increasing the opportunities for users of the camp.
Scouts Canada recently revamped its programming to place even more emphasis on nature, the environment, and the development of outdoor skills - hiking, camping and