About 5,000 youths from across Canada, 1,200 volunteers, and maybe even Carly Rae Jepsen, will descend upon Camp Woods on Sylvan Lake in July for Scouts Canada’s national jamboree.
Kaylee Galipeau, Scouts Canada National Youth Commissioner, threw out an invitation to the Canadian pop singer after Jepsen refused to participate in the Boys Scouts of America jamboree due to their stance on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) issues. Unlike their American counterparts, Scouts Canada accepts LGBT members.
But the Canadian jamboree is shaping up to be an exciting one with or without Jepsen, as Galipeau said the thousands of scouts from all across Canada will come to Camp Woods, northwest of the town of Sylvan Lake, for a week of fun.
“It’s the biggest event we hold here in Canada,” said Galipeau. “We’re really excited to have 5,000 scouts and 1,200 volunteers to help out with the programs and have a really great week.”
The jamboree runs at Camp Woods from July 6 to 13.
Throughout the week the participants will have numerous activities they will participate in, including trips outside of the camp to surrounding communities.
“We’ve been able to reach out to the community and be sure we’re making as little environmental impact and traffic impact as possible,” said Galipeau.
As it is taking place in Alberta, Galipeau said there will be some dinosaur themes to the programming, celebrating the province’s badlands region where the prehistoric creatures remains have been discovered.
“Really we’re bringing in a whole bunch of people to the area to be patrons to local businesses and recreation areas,” said Galipeau. “These are people from all across the country, we’re hopeful they’re going to love it here and come back.”
Galipeau said they only have a few spots left for jamboree participants, but are full up for volunteers.
The federal government has contributed $53,350 to Scouts Canada for renovations to the Camp Woods site for upgrades to the camp’s water system and resurfacing of internal roads. Wetaskiwin MP Blaine Calkins announced the funding on Tuesday in Sylvan Lake.
“Scouts Canada is very excited about the Camp Woods restoration project that will be supported through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund,” said Natalie Benson, Scouts Canada director of development, in a release.
“This restoration project will be imperative to the hosting of the 2013 Canadian Jamboree.”
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com