Scouts and Chilly Moose teaming up for our Planet
Scouts for Sustainability X Chilly Moose Contest
We might not be able to change the world on our own, but we can certainly make a positive difference when we work together.
Since the launch of our partnership with our friends at Chilly Moose, in the spring of 2022, we have been able to increase the support given to our Scouting Groups in incorporating the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) into their weekly programming.
By sharing their activities and projects with the at-large Scouting community, Scouts sections were eligible to win some Chilly Moose gear to help support their various outdoor adventures.
We are pleased to share with you the difference that Scouting Groups have been making around us with their projects. We have been so impressed and delighted to see the impact Scouts are having in their communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. We also feel so privileged to be able to do our part and to support Scouts’ vision of Canadian youth making a meaningful contribution to creating a better world.
Here are our Fall 2022 winning groups, including the three Grand Prize Winners, and their SDG-related activities. Stay tuned for the new 2023 Spring edition!
Winning Groups — Round 1
Grand Prize Winners (Received $1,200 in Chilly Moose gear)
Yellow Fish Project
Participants learnt about the impact of pollution and what steps they can take to protect their local water. Then, they did their part by painting yellow fish symbols with the words ‘Rain Only’ by more than 60 storm drains and also distributed informative fish-shaped brochures to nearby households reminding people that ‘Only Rain Goes Down the Drain’.
The Scouts Group sent out a call to their members and friends in response to an appeal for clothing and toiletries for the Ukrainian refugees in their community. The group was overwhelmed by the number of people who answered their call. The items were brought home and sorted into gender and size. A local storage spot was found after the initial community member could not store all the donations at home.
Community Garden Partnership
“We are so excited to be a part of this partnership! Not only will our Group continue to provide fresh vegetables for the foodbank but also, this year, we will be working alongside ACSA's team that runs programs for young families - teaching them about gardening and other amazing outdoor skills.” The 22nd Markham Group completed the garden beds on May 21st and 22nd 2022 to lay the foundation of this impressive and valuable collaborative project.
Goal #1 – No poverty
Goal # 2 – Zero Hunger
Goal #11 – Sustainable communities
Build a Bridge - DaVinci Bridges
All the youth in the 19th Chatham Group learned about various components found in bridges (compression members, tension members, diagonal bracing, truss chords) using a popsicle stick model built by one of the youth (and previously tested in an competition held by Professional Engineers Ontario to hold 143 lbs). The youth then had an opportunity to construct DaVinci Bridges and learn how the structure gets its stability through friction and internal forces. This unique design is held together by its own weight without requiring any ties or connections. Da Vinci called it “The Bridge of Safety”. Everyone had a great time!
More Scouting Groups making a Meaningful Contribution in their Communities (received $600 in Chilly Moose gear)
The 19th Chatham Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers were working towards their Sustainability Bronze badge by cleaning up the beach but also spending time looking for microplastics, learning about what it is and their effects on the life under water. The Scouters were staying on the shoreline for safety, and youth and parent volunteers were on the beach exploring and investigating.
While on an exchange trip with another youth organization, the 1st Orillia Venturers decided to give back to their host community by making individual meals of lasagna and salad, and with the support of the community delivered hot meals to local hamlet elders.
Goal #3 – Good Health and Well-Being
Goal # 10 Reduced inequalities
The 1st Strathroy Colony participated in Clothing 4 Climate Challenge learning about the impact the clothing industry has on Climate Challenge by Let’s Talk Science. During the first part of the activity, the youth learned about ways to prevent clothing from going to the landfills. Then, using old clothing which was too damaged to be donated, the Beavers created Easter Centerpieces for local Long Term Care Residents to share some holiday joy.
“Protecting the environment, making the world around us a better place to live in, is an integral part of Scouting and our Scouts knew exactly what had to be done on their part to clean up the park and to make the hikes on the trail enjoyable for others as well. During our Fall hike, the Scouts came prepared to clean up the trail along the way! They did their best to preserve the beauty of the Fall leaves and to reduce the waste lying around.” Way to go Scouts!
The Cubs investigated an urban forest area to learn more about the benefits of trees for urban life and communities, to understand diversity and to learn the names of different native trees. As part of this project, the cubs also went on a hike in the Royal Oak park, took part in a litter chase, a scavenger hunt for tree identification as well as a litter removal of the area. At the end of the meetings, the Cubs shared their findings, nuts, seeds, leaves with their pack.
The Beavers had learned about the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and picked a project to tackle Goal #1 No poverty. They collected all the items a family would need to throw a birthday party (cake mix, icing, party decorations, etc.) and a birthday bag to put it in that a family could then use for a gift. The items were then donated to our local youth center which supports young families. The Beavers wanted to ensure that every child can have a nice birthday party.
The Kemptville Beaver Group created sustainable insect hotels using natural materials such as grasses, leaves, moss, pinecones, and twigs. Before starting their creations, they learned the importance of insects in our world and enjoyed creating resting spots and safe havens for pollinators such as bees and other busy bugs. Great work Beavers!
Goal # 13 – Climate Action
Goal #15 – Life on Land
Goal # 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
The Strathmore Scouting Group heard about some of the challenges the bat population was facing and wanted to make a difference. Using carpentry skills, the group built two bat houses to install in the Voyageur Provincial Park and the City of Dorval. Aside from learning about the critical situation with bats, the Cub Scouts learnt how to use power tools and do caulking and sanding - all in a safe manner.
The youth in the 1st West Heights Cub Pack in Mission BC also wanted to help the bat population (clearly our Scouting youth care deeply about those little creatures). The youth spent a day building bat boxes and discussing the importance of bats for our eco system.
