Cubs Scouts grow with food and service at Community Garden

Cub Scouts meet at the Libby Community Garden. Photo courtesy of Linda Alkire, Libby’s Community Garden.

 

By Danielle Nason

 

On April 8, Cub Scout Den Leader, Virginia Rose Arnold took Libby Cubs and their siblings down to the Libby Community Garden for their first meet and greet and to pick out a plot. There they agreed to put up a waterproof sign in exchange for a garden plot. This year they have committed to growing the fruits and veggies that they want to learn about and eat.

“The Cubs are not just helping at the garden. They are full members who have chosen to connect with their community through agriculture. I can’t wait to see them harvesting and eating. We will show them how to harvest and prepare and eat their first salads of the season. The Cubs will learn a lot in this hands on workshop, called a garden,” said Linda Alkire, Founder/Manager of the Community Garden Board.

“The BSA (Boy Scouts of America)  leaders we have in our community truly are top notch, Lou Kuennen and Frank Votapka both hold a Silver Beaver award, which is one of the highest awards in the state. They are knowledgeable about Scouting with loads of experience, this community should truly be taking advantage of having them by getting their family into Scouting as young as they can,” said Arnold.

The crew of Cubs gathered at the garden to help get it ready for the coming planting season. They had fun not just cleaning up and pulling weeds at the garden but learning about growing plants as well. It had the atmosphere of a good educational day of labor and laughter.

“This is our first year trying out a plot at the Community Garden. Learning about plants and how to care for the plants, grow your own food, etc., was/is the goal. For some, it also helps them earn a belt loop (Cub Scout equivalent of merit badges),” said Libby’s AOL/Wolf Cub Scout Pack #4925 Admin.

“The children were so enthusiastic that they cleaned their plot that same evening and planted some seeds. Partnerships at the garden are always exciting to us, I especially love groups that are eager to learn. Children are our future, (no one can argue that is true). The Cubs are lucky children, to have dedicated leaders and parents interested and vested in their futures,” said Linda Alkire.

Cub Scouts can be found doing many service projects throughout the community, such as Scouting for Food (November), Caroling at the Care Center (December), highway cleanup (April). According to Arnold, being in the shared section of the Community Garden is just one more way the Cubs can be of service to their community.

“We’ll be camping, hiking, fishing participating in parades and of course gardening plus more through the Summer, so if there are parents interested in getting their kids into a great organization that transforms their kids into amazing young men, they can contact myself, Rose Arnold at 291-3805 and we can invite their family along for an adventure to see if this is the place for them.”