“The most beautiful gift we could give ourselves.” This is how Scouting Erica board member Mark Vinke describes the purchase of the one and a half hectares of forest with club buildings behind the Catholic church in Erica. After about a year of frantic fundraising and crowdfunding, we managed to raise 2.5 tons for the purchase. Scouting Erica thus retains its home base. The necessary scribbles for this were made today.
The purchase was necessary because the church wanted to dispose of the site. For scouts it is a place with great emotional value: they have been using the forest since the end of the Second World War. Their club buildings are also on site. “We organize countless activities, build things, light campfires and teach the children to work together. And now this piece of forest and the buildings are really ours. And also in our 80th anniversary year.”
The road to the purchase was long. Money was collected frantically for a year, says Vinke. “From selling oliebollen and raffle tickets to a benefit concert in the village. We also received support from many local entrepreneurs and the municipality, which donated a huge amount.”
The amount raised not only made it possible to complete the purchase, but also to start a small renovation of the existing club building. Yet the work is not done yet. The planned expansion of the club building will require at least another 100,000 euros.
According to chairman Harry Platzer, expansion is desperately needed. “We currently have a waiting list of about 40 children,” he explains. “Especially for the Beavers, the waiting time is up to three years. Of course, we don’t want children to drop out or go somewhere else because of this.”
To accommodate this growth, the association has now also purchased the adjacent garage. It will be insulated and equipped with new sanitary facilities. “There is an attic above the garage that we can add to the club building.” said Platzer. “Ultimately we also want to build an extra wing.”
Pastor Peter Stiekema of the Catholic Church is also satisfied with the transfer. “Due to the aging population, we have to make choices,” he explains. “The forest and the buildings require maintenance and volunteers, while we only used it once a year for the procession. Now the forest will be preserved and we have agreed that the procession can continue to take place there. There is no better party imaginable to sell it to.”
For Vinke, the result is a reward for the hard work of dozens of volunteers. “I am extremely proud of our club,” he says. “It shows that if you really want something, scouts always make it happen.”