Maple Ridge will host to the annual Fraser Valley Beaveree for Scouts Canada for the first time Saturday, May 12.
More than 400 Beavers and their siblings, from White Rock to Hope, will converge on the Albion Fairgrounds for a day of educational fun and games.
Traditionally the event has been held at Camp McLean in Langley. But this year the Three Rivers Area of Scouts Canada, which includes Mission, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, has been chosen as host and Scouts Canada decided to showcase Maple Ridge.
The theme for the 30th annual event is 'In Your Neighbourhood', so in addition to Scouts Canada activity stations, various community groups have also been invited to host stations as well.
"They are going to learn from the community about all different people who are within their community," said Christi Goncolves, deputy area commissioner for the Three Rivers Area colony of Scouts Canada. "And then they will learn environmental issues, environmental protection and good old fashioned Scouting fun."
Maple Ridge mayor Ernie Daykin will be opening the event as an honorary Beaver leader.
Representatives from ARMS, KEEPS and the CEED Centre will have stations set up, as well as the Maple Ridge fire department.
The Maple Ridge Concert Band will be making tambourines with children and playing music with pop bottles. The Golden Ears Jazz Band will be performing during the lunch break.
Scouting stations will include a carnival in a box where various carnival games, like knock over the tin cans, will be set up in one area. There will be chariot races where children race around a course with chariots made out of plastic blue rain barrels.
Another station will be called the Great Canadian Beaver Hunt where wet sponges will be launched at targets and Hug A Tree that will teach children what to do if they get lost in the woods.
Only members of Scouts Canada and their siblings can participate.
"It is definitely going to be fun," said Goncolves. "It is amazing to see that many kids all with the same interests all in one place."
• The 30th annual Scouts Canada Fraser Valley Beaveree takes place on May 12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Albion Fairgrounds.