As we enter another week of social distancing, let’s remember that maintaining distance doesn’t mean losing touch with friends, family or even your community. Through tips, activities and fun, discover how you can stay connected and engaged with the world around you.
We recognize that a change to online and at home activities does create 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.
How can you communicate with people when you can’t see them face to face? Talking on the phone, writing letters or video chatting may all come to mind. Explore the different ways we can communicate with each other and try these activities to have fun while doing it!
Get your creative juices flowing and Make a Comic by teaming up with a partner at home or virtually. Each person draws a comic image or strip, including blank speech bubbles. Swap your comics and write what the characters are saying in the speech bubbles to describe what’s happening. Laughter is sure to follow!
Missing a friend? Become their Pen Pal! Pen pals are friends who mostly communicate through letters or emails. Find a friend and get writing, or play a game of Email Mad-libs using emails instead of strips of paper to share and decode messages.
Writing doesn’t have to be limited to asking someone how their day has been. You can also use your imagination to make up your own stories. Write a Crazy Tale with your family and see how silly the story gets!
It can be hard to get used to not seeing your friends every day, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t stay connected! Form a Movie Club and watch a movie together virtually! There are browser extensions which will let you watch Netflix with someone so that you can start and stop the movie at the same time, or you can watch a movie together over a video call and hit “play” at the same time. Video call your movie club afterwards so you can chat about what you just watched and learned. From documentaries, to critically acclaimed films and more, put your critical thinking skills into play with great company.
Have you ever heard of Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI)? JOTI is a way to connect with Scouts from all over the world to discover what Scouting is like in their country! Normally, JOTI runs in October, but this year, a special edition is running from April 3-5. Find out how you can be a part of this special JOTI event!
Personal Achievement badges stem from the interest of the youth, allowing them to push themselves out of their comfort zone and explore their own personal progression. This week’s Personal Achievement badge is Technology. Discover what it means to be helpful, careful and responsible while using technology, and all of the unique ways it can be used to keep the social connection strong.
Take a look at the full selection of Personal Achievement badges for activities your child can do alone or together as a family, and keep your eye out for further suggestions for personal progression in the coming weeks:
Have you ever used Morse code, sign language or walkie-talkies to communicate? Use the Outdoor Adventure Skills competencies to explore new ways of staying connected. Practise emergency signals. Try using a flashlight to blink SOS in Morse code correctly. Use a musical instrument (like a piano, guitar or recorder) to practise sounding out SOS in Morse code.
Looking to expand your methods of communication effectively for emergency situations? Take it further and participate in a session on correct use of radio communications and protocols (ARES)!
Do you know how animals communicate? Some animals use a technique called echolocation in order tofind our where they are, and maybe even to talk to each other. Practise your echolocation skills and see how you compare to animals like bats or dolphins!
Humans also need to talk to each other – especially scientists. Imagine that you’re the first person to touch down on an unexplored planet. How would you explain it to scientists back home? Put your communication skills to the test with Piloted and Unpiloted Space Exploration and find out how scientists communicate.
Tag @scoutscanada in your #ScoutsDoStuff pics—let Scouting youth across Canada and around the world know how they can continue Scouting at home!
Cub Scout Olivia planted an indoor garden of potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and herbs.
Even while social distancing, a Scout never stops having fun and learning! Scout Vivan shares ideas for how to keep your days filled with fun.
10th Welland Scouts engaged in a good turn while fulfilling their Community Beaver Personal Achievement badge, by designing thank-you cards for local front-line hospital workers.
@scoutscanada #ScoutsDoStuff
— COLLETTE RILES (@RilesColl) March 23, 2020
Olivia cub Scout with 1ST Kincora Scouts. Planting an indoor garden during social isolation. Potatoes,carrots, tomatoes, herbs pic.twitter.com/TizQ91RnBX
3 Thank-You cards for the doctors and nurses at the hospital from our members. #ScoutingAtHome #Thanks #Community stepping up their game as they work towards Community PABs. #ScoutsDoStuff @ScoutsCanada pic.twitter.com/rL7leIaOQO
— 10th Welland Scouts (@10thWelland) March 20, 2020
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Scouts Canada Charity Number: 107761694RR0028
