Local mentor receives scouting’s highest volunteer award

VANCOUVER HEIGHTS — Local youth mentor, Ellen Krane of the Spirit Lake District of the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America, was presented the prestigious Silver Beaver volunteerism award March 30 at a special virtual recognition ceremony in her honor. The Silver Beaver Award is the top honor that a local Boy Scout council can bestow upon a volunteer mentor. Recipients are selected by confidential nominations of adult peers, and only one award may be presented for every 60 troops, making it a prominent honor. Krane is a paraeducator for Marshall Elementary School in Vancouver. In her work, she serves both learning support and general education students. As such, Krane has devoted much of her time and effort toward mentoring and helping the youth of her community. Krane found her way into the world of Scouting first through the Girl Scouts, as a professional Scouter in a “STEM in Schools” program. When her sons joined Pack 328 and later Pack 435, Krane worked as a pack committee member and chair, as well as den leader at every level. Over the years, she has held various positions on committees and commissions, and mentored Scouts across the council. Krane was excited when policies changed so girls could experience Scouting. She immediately volunteered as the advisor for an Explorer Club in 2018, leading a group of girls interested in Scouting, and continued to foster this team until it grew into Troop 5310. Krane is now the assistant scoutmaster of the troop.