Scouts plant trees in Southeast

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This article was published 15/05/2024 (418 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hundreds of Scouts gathered in a clear spot along a fire road south of Marchand on Saturday to do their part for the environment.

The Scouts, the majority of whom came out of Winnipeg, came prepared with spades, buckets, and strong backs as they prepared to plant thousands of trees.

Accompanied by parents, the Scouts were given bundles of young Jack Pines, shown a demonstration on how and where to plant, and then directed to a line of holes marked for transplanting.

Manitoba Scout Tree Coordinator Peter Elwick said between 300 and 400 people turned up to plant 8,000 trees.

“Ever since the pandemic our special events are way more popular than they used to be,” he said.

Elwick said Scouts Canada has been planting trees since the early 1970s and have now planted more than 75 million trees.

That aligns with one of the themes of scouting, which is environment.

“I think we were an environmental movement before there was one,” he said. “We’ve been planting trees and doing stuff like that forever.”

Elwick said it’s a great way for young Scouts to make their mark.

“Even if you’re five you can plant a tree,” he said.