At least 212 Scouts and Girl Guides from Montreal and southwestern Quebec and over 60 volunteers descended on the Huntingdon fairgrounds on September 26 as the starting point for the Great Rural Race.
Patrols of Scouts and Guides visited a variety of stations throughout the town on foot as part of a day-long scavenger hunt-style race. The event was organized by a committee of representatives from the Scouting groups in Huntingdon, Ormstown, and Howick.
The groups gathered non-perishable food donations at different stops along their route, collecting over 70 kilograms of food that was proudly dropped off at the La Bouffe Additionnelle food pantry.
The event culminated in an afternoon of activities at the fairgrounds designed to introduce some of the visiting groups to the region’s rural traditions. The children were introduced to cows, goats, sheep, and horses, as well as different kinds of vegetables, gardening practices and farm machinery.
The Scouts enjoyed meeting the animals, sitting behind the steering wheel of different tractors, and some were even overheard reflecting that they now know what a carrot looks like “in the wild” after seeing a bunch displayed with their tops.
“I can’t get over how much support we had from the community for this event,” said area leader Mary-Pauline Vatsis. “It was heartwarming.”
A corn roast and grillades feast was then served before the various patrols prepared to trek back home in the late afternoon. Participants commented that they especially enjoyed discovering the town, meeting people, and trying new things.