About Scouts in Canada...

Scouts is a program designed for youth between 11 and 14 years of age.

The outdoors is an essential part of the Scout program. Weekend events, extended hikes, no-trace camping and seasonal sports opportunities round out the Scout experience. Developing an active, healthy lifestyle is the prime goal.

Enjoy mountain biking, rock-climbing, canoeing, kayaking, extended hikes and lots of camping. These are just a few of the adventures you’ll tackle in Scouting. You’ll enjoy your outdoor adventures as part of a team, working together with other young people to accomplish thrilling challenges. Scouting gives every member a chance to be a leader. It might involve running an activity, organizing a camp, or participating with other young people across your province or Canada in a youth forum.

Scouts meet in a group called a troop. The troop is split into smaller groups called patrols. There is approximately one leader for every six Scouts.

Each Scout learns a promise, law and motto to help guide their personal development.

Promise:

On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and the Queen
To help other people at all times,
And to carry out the spirit of the Scout Law.

Law:

A Scout is helpful and trustworthy,
kind and cheerful,
considerate and clean,
wise in the use of all resources.
A Scout is helpful and trustworthy, kind and cheerful, considerate and clean, wise in the use of all resources.

Motto:

Be Prepared.

The program

The Scout program is designed around a variety of activities based on personal and group interests. Scouts emphasizes outdoor and environmental activities, citizenship and community service, leadership, and personal development. Individual interests and skills are recognized through an awards system.

For an interesting look at these awards and badges have a look at these sites:

How Troop Are Organized

The troop refers to all members in your child’s Scout program. Within the troop, Scouts are broken into small groups called patrols. A Scout who is asked to lead a patrol is called a Patrol Leader (PL). The Patrol Leader has an assistant called an Assistant Patrol Leader (APL). Scouts usually rotate through these early leadership jobs based on age and experience.

Behind the Scenes

The leaders in your child’s Scout Troop are supported by a group committee. The committee is responsible for ensuring the programs offered meet Scouts Canada’s guidelines and that the pack has enough resources to operate effectively. Our Group Committee meets once per month, usually on the second to last Tuesday. The group committee represents a sponsor which is the overall partner with Scouts Canada. Sponsors are typically community centres (ours is the Royal Candian Legion Brach #119), clubs, religious institutions, or parent groups. The sponsor works closely with Scouts Canada to ensure Scouting programs and resources are meeting the needs of all its youth and adult members.

Tenderpads and Investiture

While learning a bit about Scouts, your child will be a tenderfoot, a Scout who is not yet ready to become a formally welcomed member of the troop. After a brief period of training (mostly to learn the background, rules, and expectations for being a Scout) parents will be invited to attend the investiture ceremony to help welcome your child officially into the Scout troop.

The Scout Uniform

The Scout Uniform is designed to fulfill two functions - to be practical and to allow a more formal look. The basic uniform consists of a shirt, a neckerchief (necker), and a sash. While there is a wide variety of optional items (belts, hats, etc.) this is the basic outfit. Along with a Scout Handbook and a Scout Fieldbook, these are the most important items to purchase.

At each meeting and formal event the full uniform is worn. For less formal activities, the sash is not required. For some rough-and-tumble-and-let’s-get-dirty activities, only the necker is worn – and it is tied (leave the woggle at home!)

The Shirt

The shirt will have all the identifying badges/patches that identify to which country (Canada), province (British Columbia), council (Fraser Valley), and area (COHO) your Cub belongs. Those that don’t come with the shirt will be provided. Epaulettes (also provided) will be handed out to indicate that your Scout has been invested, and are also used to indicate whether a Scout is a Patrol Leader or an Assitant Patrol Leader. Where to sew on the badges and crests is identified in the Scout Handbook.

The Sash

The sash is red, with green stripes. On the sash will go the badges, and challenge awards that the Scout earns either during the meetings or through personal or family activities.

The Necker

The necker is the easiest way to identify which troop a Scout belongs to. Each troop has its own distinctive colours. Ours is burgandy with a black trim. The standard way of attaching it is with the Scout woggle. The necker and the first woggle will be provided.

*** Put your Scouts’s name on every item of clothing! ***

The Scout Handbook

The Scout Handbook will encourage your child’s participation within patrol activity areas. While your Scout will see only the fun and excitement the activities present, each area focuses on a clear purpose and goal. The purpose and goals for each activity area set out how the activities are relevant to today’s child while meeting developmental needs.