By Kathy Rowe
If your family has been involved with the 2nd Highland Creek Scouts over the last 10 years, chances are you know Kevin Beleskey. His big voice, infectious laugh and buoyant personality are what make Kevin such a dynamic leader. As a graduate of the Ryerson University Technical Theatre program, he is at home when leading kids and adults alike.
Scouting was a part of Kevin’s childhood and it remains his passion. “I wanted to ensure that my own kids would get the scouting experience that I remembered,” he said. “I wanted to be able to help in our local group while making that happen.”
Kevin and his wife Cat both became involved with 2nd Highland Creek Scouts when their first child was 5 years old. Their twin boys were 3 at the time so the Beleskeys knew they would be invested volunteers for the long term. That was back in 2010, and to this day Kevin continues to be a role model for Cubs, Scouts and the young adult leaders that he trains.
“I love working with the 8- to 10-year-old Cub age group,” Kevin said. “They still do what they are told, and they can do the tasks!” All three Beleskey boys joined the 2nd Highland Creek Scouts as Beavers and as teens they are now trained scouters who continue to work with the Cub pack.
“One of the main reasons I got involved was for my kids, and now my kids are helping other kids. We couldn’t afford to send our boys to overnight camps, but we could give our time as Scout volunteers. They have had fantastic experiences with scouting. They have been to Cub jamborees, Scout jamborees and even a world jamboree. They have experienced a lot of camping too. They have been all over the place.”
Like many other organizations that deal with gatherings and hands-on experiences, scouting suffered when the pandemic hit. “I hope to rebuild 2nd Highland Creek Scouts post pandemic,” Kevin said. “I want people to know that scouting is still very much about leadership, fellowship and environmental stewardship. It’s about teaching kids how they can make a difference in their own neighbourhood with activities like food drives, recycling initiatives and outdoor clean-ups. It really allows young people to learn in a way that school just can’t teach.”
If you would like to register your child with the 2nd Highland Creek Scouts, registration begins on September 1. Go to www.scouts.ca and select “Join” and then scroll down to the “Find a group” section.
Kevin and his family have given thousands of hours of their time to the 2nd Highland Creek Scouts over the years. Their continued dedication to this organization is impressive and important. The CCRA is proud to be a loyal sponsor of the 2nd Creek Highland Scouts.