Tess LeBrun (Youth)
My name is Tessa LeBrun, and I am a 2nd Year Venturer with the 1st Port Dover Venturer Company.
My Scouting Journey started back in 2011, when I joined the 5th Simcoe Beaver Colony as a brown-tail beaver. Ever since I joined the Scouts Canada program, I have thoroughly enjoyed the many adventures I have been able to go on as a part of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and now, Venturers. I often have had the opportunity to speak to my friends and others in the community about my experiences in scouting and how it has had a great impact on my life.
About three years ago, I completed my Woodbadge I – Canadian Path. I have had the opportunity to work as a scouter with many different groups and have volunteered at a few different Camps. Some of the groups that I have worked with include 5th Simcoe, 1st Simcoe, 1st Port Dover and the South Lake Simcoe Area (a part of Shining Waters Council). I am currently working on earning my Woodbadge II – Canadian Path. I have also received training to be a Youth Leadership facilitator and look forward to sharing these skills with other youth.
I have held a variety of leadership roles at the Section, Area, and Council levels, including assisting with younger sections (beavers, cubs, and scouts), being the Area Youth Commissioner of Lynn Valley Area, as well as my current role, which is Council Support Scouter for Youth Engagement and Opportunities. My experience in these roles has enabled me to experience huge personal growth in terms of my self-confidence, my organizational skills, my leadership Skills, my communication skills, and more.
I was 12 years old when I first started as the Lynn Valley Area Youth Commissioner. My young age, as well as the fact that I was often the only youth sitting at the table, meant that I had to learn really fast how to advocate for the youth in my area, and how to make sure that my voice was heard. This was, at times, a difficult path to travel, but I believe the experience has led me to be a better spokesperson for the youth I represent.
The skills and experiences of my different roles within Scouts Canada have given me a broader and richer perspective on involvement with Scouts Canada as a youth member.
Scouts Canada is an organization that focuses on youth-led programing, recognizing the importance of youth engagement and incorporating the perspectives and voices of youth in all elements of the program. Scouts Canada has always encouraged youth involvement for making decisions and developing programs at all levels (group, counsel, provincial and national) and I think that being a member of the voting committee is a great way to ensure that the youth’s voices continue to be heard and for programing to continue to be youth-led, even through all the craziness we’ve had recently. Scouting isn’t easy to facilitate right now. Scouters are doing their best, but it is times like these when they could use all the help that they can get. Youth don’t have much of a voice, currently, which is something that I would like to change. I want to be that connection, a young person who helps to ensures that Scouts Canada continues to be a positive, youth-led organization.
I thank you for this opportunity to further develop myself, as a both a Youth and a Scouter, as well as the opportunity to be an advocate for those around me.