Camp Director Silver

The Girl Scouts of Colorado boating program is stronger than ever with the donation of kayaks and more in honor of a special volunteer. Early this summer Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club (RMSKC) members Marlene Pakish and Julie Rekart donated their first kayaks to the GSCO boating program  in honor of long-time RMSKC member Lou Ann Hustvedt, who recently lost her battle with cancer. Lou Ann, known as “Skipper” to the Scouts, had taught boating skills and knowledge to hundreds of young women in summer camps for more than two decades. Their generous donation included paddles, PFDs, spray skirts, cockpit covers and several other items. The boats were complete and ready to provide many years of service to the troop that Lou Ann loved and served. RMSKC’s Brian Hunter, called “Splash” while instructing at Girl Scout camp, picked up the kayaks from Marlene and Julie and gave them a good going-over before delivering them and other donated gear to the Scouts’ Summer Day Camp at Big Soda Lake in Bear Creek Park. Brian and Belle “Hedgehog” Bashaw (lead Girl Scout Kayak Instructor and a new RMSKC member) took the Carolinas for a test paddle. They agreed the boats were a perfect fit for the Girl Scout program: the kayaks accelerated quickly and were nimble on the water. They reported that they held an edge nicely and turned on a dime. In addition to the donations of the best inflatable boat for fishing, gear, and a RMSKC fund in Lou Ann’s name, Brian and Clark “Bald Eagle” Strickland taught for a week at Girl Scout Boating Camp this summer. Article written by Louise “Silver” Bashaw, Troop Leader and Volunteer Summer Day Camp Director, and Sue “Grendel” Hughes