Submitted photo: Gregory Luke, left, was
presented with the Silver Acorn award
for his distinguished service in Scouting
from fellow Whitby Scout Brian Wick.
The 51-year-old was presented with the
award at the Whitby Legion on Oct. 2.
WHITBY -- A local volunteer member of Scouts
Canada has been presented with the Silver Acorn award for his
long-standing service.
Gregory Luke, a co-adviser to 1st Whitby Venturers and 1st Whitby
Crusader Rovers Crew, was given the award at Branch 112 of the Royal
Canadian Legion on Oct. 2. The national level award is for
distinguished service in scouting.
"I was flabbergasted," Mr. Luke, 51, said upon receiving the award.
"They don't hand those out very often. I'm rarely at a loss for words
but I was just speechless; I truly was."
During his time in Scouts, Mr. Luke has been noted for changing the
quality of district level Scouting camps for youth in the Whitby area.
He was instrumental in changing the regular location for District
Cuboree from Heber Down Conservation Area to a rotational camp in
Midland, Picton and Fort York, raising attendance at camps from roughly
50 to 95 per cent. Additionally, he has been leader of a number of other long-term
camps including four different Venturer companies to the Yukon,
England, Finland and Russia, including 14 days to the Czech Republic
and Holland last May to work on a church-restoration project, explore
the local culture and stay with Scouting families. "Greg has devoted time and effort to Scouting which is not usually
seen," said Dave Archer, a former Whitby Scouts leader. "He has
enriched the lives of so many youth and motivated other adult members
to do the same. He rightly deserves this recognition."
Mr. Luke said when he worked with the Cub Scouts, it was about
trying to turn them on to the outdoors and camping skills and making
that a part of their lives. However, with the Venturers up to
17-years-old, and the Rovers up to 26 years old, it's now about
"moulding young adults," said.
"They've made a lot of the choices they're' going to make in their
life so you're not teaching them a lot of stuff anymore; you're doing a
little bit of mentoring here and them, a little bit of fine-tuning if
you can," said Mr. Luke, who is vice president at a software company. Overall, he said he doesn't volunteer for the awards, but for the
kids.
"It's seeing the smiles on the kids faces. We talk about making
memories, but you are. You put something together that you know they're
going to remember for a long time, maybe have an impact on them you
know?" Return to 1st
Whitby Venturers Uploaded October 22, 2006
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Whitby Crusaders Rover Crew