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Scouts Canada...
Started by Lord Bayden Powell, as a place to train boys for military service. Now, it teaches them to survive in the
outdoors, to respect the land, to be a gentleman at all times.... open doors...pull out chairs... Play dodge ball safely and
effectively...
Scouts Canada provides many alternatives to a secular military organization. Camps scattered throughout the year allow
Scouts to meet people their own age from all over Canada, and even from other countries. Scouts Canada encourages a healthy
lifestyle, physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. Through self discipline, respect for other Scouts and Leaders,
and a generall knowledge of their surroundings, they learn to appreciate the world that surrounds them everyday. They are
taught that everything is important in it's own manner. They are taught to know where they are, and survive under any circumstances.
Encouraged by real-life examples, boys the age of 6-8, (Beavers) are introduced to mild camp settings and taught the basics
of camp safety. 9-10 (Cubs) are taught to read a map and compass, the generals for surviving short periods of time in the
wild alone, basic first aid, basic watercraft safety, and a mild, modern form of chivalry. Boys 11-16, ( Scouts) are
taught marksmanship, fire and water safety, emergency first aid, and are trained through rigorous excersizes, including 6-hour
hikes, winter camps, and canoe trips. Scouts are not only taught to deal with the wilderness and it's dangers, but also how
to react practically, in any everyday situation, from cooking disasters to heart attacks, from car accidents to self defence.
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But in many areas, Scouts Canada is dangerously understaffed, and running very low of funds and resources. They have
dedicated leaders and teachers, but they have few of them, and far between. They manage to scrape by on the few volunteers
that will be able to give up two hours weekly to sow back into the community only a little of what's been given them, to help
the next generation of children grow up sound, with good heads on their shoulders. The few staff that do finally show up end
up managing frightening numbers of children, dealing with outrageous ratios in some areas.
Each year, Scouts Canada holds community based fundraisers, and sells their famous popcorn and cookies door to door.
They are seen selling apples, Magazines, and even handing out poppies at shopping centres. They manage to scrape together
a few dollars at a time to fund the camping trips, the movie nights, and finally the rent it costs to have a building to meet
in weekly.
Despite these problems, though, they manage to still pull together a terrific programme for the youth, and have worked
well with what they have. Congradulations, Scouts Canada!
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