Fonds MG04 - Cowichan Lake District Scouting Association fonds

The first Scout and Cub troop was formed in 1931 in Lake Cowichan by Rev. LeBreton with Trevor Green as an assistant. The original scouts were George and Alex Gillespie, Sid and Billy Grosskleg, Harvey Carnell, Okie Oleson, Ken Stanlake, Jamie Madill, Ernest and Tom Boulet, Douglas Alexander, Preston Weir, Jimmy Hatter and Walter Miller. There is no information from 1933 - 1943 when the first enrollment of Youbou guides and Brownies was held. Chronology: 1944 - a meeting was held to organize Boy Scouts and Cubs. Mr. John Strothers was confirmed as Cub leader and Don Hammond as the Scout leader; 1948 - the Cubs received their Charter; 1949 - it was decided to form a Youbou group; 1951 - the 1st Caycuse Cub Pack was formed; 1954 - in January the Kinsmen began their sponsorship of the Scouts and by November the Legion took over; 1955 - the 2nd Lake Cowichan troop was formed with Wayne Speer as Cub Master and Jack Osokin as Scout Leader. Their original sponsors were the United Church Sunday School and by 1963 the United Church Men assumed sponsorship; 1958 - the 1st Lake Brownie Pack was established and sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary to the IWA; 1961 - a 3rd Lake Cowichan troop was formed with the Anglican Church as sponsors. This troop dissolved in 1965 due to lack of leadership and the boys went to the other troops. Also in 1961 the Marble Bay Scout Camp had it official opening; 1964 - the Boy Scout Association acquired the Christmas Tree farm at Meades Creek; 1965 - the 1st Lake troop officially launched and held a christening for three patrol boats - the Sea Mist, Sea Lion and Sea Bird; 1970 - the 1st and 2nd Lake troops amalgamated to form the Lake Cowichan Group Committee with the Legion and United Church as sponsors; 1983 - Beavers and Cubs were in jeopardy due to lack of leaders; 1993 - a new Scout Camp was named for Andy Mendes.