by Cheryl Leschasin
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 28/97) - Andrew Poisey, 24 and Joamie Apak, 26 are making a difference in their home town of Clyde River.

The pair recently attended a training session in Yellowknife to prepare them to establish a scout troop in their community.

"I want to help kids grow up nicely," said Poisey. Apak shared the feeling of wanting to help kids in their community grow up with role models. "There is no leadership in town. I want to try and be a leader for the kids."

The scout branch hasn't opened up yet. Apak and Poisey are still wading through the paperwork necessary to get the club up and running.

Kids in town are anxious to join the new club. "Over the past couple of days, kids are saying 'When does boy scouts start?'" said Poisey.

Both Apak and Poisey have always been interested in youth and providing a positive role model for kids to look up to. Just last summer Poisey built a basketball court at his parent's home for kids in the community and himself to enjoy.

The two were grateful for the chance to travel to Yellowknife to take their Wood Badge One, the first step in scout leadership. Both young men said they felt they learned a lot about leadership and dealing with youngsters.

The two, with the guidance of community elders, are looking forward to their chance to make a difference in the lives of Clyde River's young people. "We're going to try to help the kids in the community. We want to help change the kids in Clyde River," said Apak.

Eric Brown, with the Yellowknife Scout Club, helped train Apak and Poisey over the 10-day program in the capital.

"While they were here, they learned all the basics of scouting," said Brown. He also said the two young men weren't the only ones to learn something new.

"The scouts go out on a three-day snowmobile trip every year. One young fella's machine broke down. The two went to work and four hours later they had completely rebuilt the engine," said Brown.

Brown said he hopes Apak and Poisey will eventually become trainers for other NWT scout leaders. "It will make a big impact for them to go into a community," he said.