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One small step for scouts, one giant leap to badge

A group of Port McNeill Cub Scouts took a giant step toward earning their watercraft badges
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Port McNeill Cub Scout leader Murray Estlin watches Brady Ranger construct a knot Saturday at Port McNeill harbour.

PORT McNEILL—With a short step from the dock to a Coast Guard Auxiliary inflatable, a group of Port McNeill Cub Scouts took a giant step toward earning their watercraft badges Saturday at the local harbour.

The Scouts, under the guidance of pack leader Murray Estlin and volunteers Kelly Jones and Jonathon Flintoft, visited the harbour and split into two groups. While one group toured the harbour with Aaron Frost in the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s inflatable, the other was taken on a walking tour of the docks and shown various types of boat and taught boating terminology.

Boating safety was a big part of the morning. After both groups completed their harbour tours, Flintoft showed them each item of safety gear worn by the auxiliary and its purpose. A couple of the youngsters got a chance to try on a vest, helmet and goggles.

After the boating demonstration, the entire pack demonstrated their knot-tying skills next to the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s office at the harbour, then broke off for lunch.