The wait is over! We’re excited to jump back into outdoor Scouting, are you? As we get ready to return to Scouting in September, try out these activities to get ready for new Scouting adventures that are fun, safe and great for indoor or outdoor activity!
Let’s get back to Scouting with these fun ideas and more.
Looking for more inspiring activities to try? Catch up on all Scouting at Home editions here
We hope you’re as pumped as we are to embark on NEW and SAFE outdoor adventures. We believe that members should come back to Scouting when they and their families feel comfortable. It is for this reason that Scouts Canada is taking the following steps:
For planning purposes and safety reasons, we ask ALL members (Scouts and Volunteers) — whether you intend to participate in Scouting or not — to indicate your intentions through this sign-up process. We need your answer by August 31st, 2020.
Following the success of our first National Virtual Campfire, kick-off the new Scouting Year with a ‘welcome back’ campfire! Share the laughter and joy of a Scout campfire online with the Scouts Canada community on Saturday, September 26 at 7:00pm EDT. Check out all the fun—there will be songs, skits, cheers and more!
If you or your Section would like to share a performance, please submit your pre-recorded video using the button below by September 16.
Submit a video for the Virtual Campfire
As we celebrate the return to outdoor Scouting, Personal Achievement badges are a great way to keep busy and trying new things. As a bonus, you can share your adventures and what you’ve learned with your Section once Scout meetings resume!
This week’s Personal Achievement badge (PAB) is Olympic Beaver or Year-Round Fitness. These PABs can help you make sure that you’re keeping your mind and body healthy so that you can continue enjoying an active, well-rounded lifestyle.
Use the Personal Achievement Badge Planning Template to get started on your adventure!
There are lots of other great organizations creating resources for doing activities at home, so why not share them? Here are a few of our favourites!
Take a chance to relax with Cosmic Kids yoga and mindfulness YouTube videos. Follow along with these fun videos to take care of not only our bodies, but also our minds, and continue to stay healthy while jumping back into in-person Scouting!
COSMIC KIDS
IIt can be hard to imagine how Scouting meetings will look at a distance of 2 metres. Not to worry, a group of dedicated Scouters has created a list of activities and games that can be done while distancing! Check out the Scouts Canada wiki for ideas – this is meant to be a living document, so please feel free to contribute your own ideas!
With the return of outdoor Scouting, there’s no better time to try out some new Outdoor Adventure Skills (OAS)! Here are some tips on how OAS might fit in to your meetings. Set yourself a challenge to learn a specific number of skills this Scouting year.
Scoutcraft Skills: Learn some new knots and lashing. Try a building challenge to see what you can build with limited resources! What can you build using only wood, rope and twine?
Camping Skills: Practice making shelters to keep you warm and dry – this might even pay off during a cold or rainy meeting! Don’t forget to Leave No Trace when you build.
Trail Skills: Can you use a compass? You may not always have access to Google Maps or a GPS, so knowing how to use proper maps is important when planning your adventures. Create your own map of your meeting location and note special landmarks.
Winter Skills: Many places in Canada get cold by late fall. Learn to dress appropriately for cold weather and stay safe! What’s layering? What tips can you learn to stay warm during cold weather?
Emergency Skills: What should you pack in your daypack? This might be what you need to be prepared for an outdoor meeting! Make sure you’ve got everything on your list.
What things will you need to bring with you to your meetings? Are there things that you might have to bring that you do not normally bring, like hand sanitizer? Try packing a day pack with all of the things you will need!
What’s a skill or game that you know? Practice teaching it or explaining the rules of the game. When you return to Scouting, share your skill or game with the members of your Lodge, Lair or Patrol!
As the weather changes throughout the fall, you might need different gear to keep you warm. Create your own piece of cold-weather gear, like a neck warmer or sit-upon!
-ACHOO! How far can a sneeze travel? Why is it so important to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze? Using a spray bottle filled with coloured water, spray a mist of water over snow or white paper. How far did the droplets go? Did they go further than you expected?
-How big is 2 metres? When we’re spending time with people, we’re reminded that we should stay 2 metres apart in order to reduce the chance of anyone getting sick. How big is 2 metres? Try this Trail Card and see how many objects you can find that are 2 metres in length. Mark 2 metres on the ground using chalk and stand with one person on each line. Is 2 metres bigger or smaller than you expected?
-Meeting outside in the fall might seem easy, but what about as the weather gets colder? Discover more about dressing for cold weather as you Keep Warm on Everest.
Tag @scoutscanada in your #ScoutsDoStuff pics—let Scouting youth across Canada and around the world know how they can continue Scouting at home!
Enjoy baking over the campfire with @katherinekrige and her kids!
This busy Beaver Scout is spreading cheer in her neighbourhood by sharing her artwork.
Did you take part in Saskatchewan Council’s Wilderness Rendezvous Hike Challenge this summer? 1st Haney Scouts did—check out this beautiful 15km excursion!
1st Southfields is at it again! Looks like this time they had a fun virtual visit to the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory for a visit with a Nature Interpreter!
We recognize that a change to online and at-home activities creates a vulnerability for some children especially those in difficult or at-risk living conditions. In line with our safety culture and values, Scouts Canada continues to prioritize safety and offers support by providing access to various experts and resources. We encourage kids to reach out to Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) for 24/7 counselling. You can also visit Cybertip.ca for best practices on internet safety or review Scouts Canada’s Safety Tips on cyber safety and social media.
As always, be sure to keep the Two-Scouter Rule in mind, whether engaging in online conversations through email, virtual conversations with other Scouts or on social media, and by phone.
Media inquiries, please contact Naina Trivedi: naina.trivedi@scouts.ca
Scouts Canada Charity Number: 107761694RR0028