1953-1957::The Sourdough Lodge Boys Camp of Sooke, British Columbia

A boys' club to honour the time of the Great Pacific gold rushes and the Klondike Sourdough Miners.

"1955::Sourdough Boys Selling Christmas Trees in Sooke, British Columbia"

Photo Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1955)

Victoria, British Columbia

In 1953, an all-boys club was formed in Victoria, British Columbia, to recall the time of the great Pacific gold rushes and to honour the old Sourdough miners of the Klondike. It was a different kind of club, operating with a full roster of kids and only a small schedule of activities that ran parallel to what they could afford. But the kids loved it, and when the club graciously accepted the donation of an old truck and the use of a wilderness lodge in the Sooke Hills, its small schedule of activities got a lot more exciting.

"1957::The Old Truck"

Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1957)

Victoria, British Columbia

Every other weekend, the boys and their leaders would pack themselves into the old truck and drive out to their lodge in the Sooke Hills. They'd spend their days exploring deserted mine tunnels, practicing archery, and learning how to spot minerals in rock formations. Under the guidance of an old prospector, they'd pan for gold on the banks of the Leech River, where a gold rush had taken place nearly a hundred years before their time. On several occasions, and with a bit of luck, they'd even experience an ol' miner's thrill of walking away with a golden nugget in their pocket worth a little more than a dollar bill. After a full day of exploring, they'd return to their lodge, where they'd learn how to cook beans and bacon on an open fire, just like the miners did a long time ago. The old truck took the boys everywhere they wanted to go, but it was expensive to run, and it often broke down. With their parents' help, they hosted fundraising events and sold vegetables and baked goods from the back of their truck. The money the boys raised covered the cost of gas, but it was often insufficient to cover the truck's maintenance costs. Until one Christmas, they came up with a great idea. The boys chopped Christmas trees in the woods near their lodge and hauled them into Sooke and Victoria to be sold. They raised enough money to keep the old truck on the road for a bit longer, but when it finally died, the Sourdough Lodge Boy's Club soon died, too.

"1957::The Club's Final Days" Clip: Victoria Daily Times (1957) Victoria, British Columbia

The Sourdough Lodge Boys' Camp, formed in 1953 at Lampson Elementary School, lasted only a few years. In 1957, the old truck broke down for good, marking the club's final days together. At its peak, the club's membership accommodated over 100 youngsters, with students joining in from North Ward, South Park and James Bay schools. Although their time together was short, the boys had learned valuable life skills, just like the miners of long ago.