What does Scouts Canada do to ensure my child is safe at Scouts?
As Canada's largest co-ed youth organization, we are deeply committed to showing leadership in the area of child and youth safety. We truly believe we have a responsibility to help make Canada safer.
Here are some of the ways we put Safety first.
a) 24/7 Emergency Safety Line - to be called after 911 / emergency procedures have taken place
b) Prospective Scouters must undergo a stringent screening process: Please see the Volunteer Screening Procedure for a detailed understanding of our screening procedure. Our employees complete the same process as our Volunteers.
Until the screening procedure is completed Volunteers may not participate with children.
Volunteers must
- Provide a clean Police Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening
- Complete a screening interview conducted by two Active Scouters who have received interview training.
- Provide three passed reference checks. Note: These references may not be a conflict of interest. Reference checks are conducted primarily by a professional reference checking company Sterling Backcheck.
- Complete 5 hours of eLearning that teaches safety and our program, The Canadian Path
- Agree to the Code of Conduct
c. Our 'Two Scouter Rule' is the requirement for two Scouters to be within the field of view and within earshot of one another when with youth. The Two Scouter rule is an integral part of the Code of Conduct that applies to all Scouts Canada Volunteers and staff. See Supervision Guide for Scouting Activities for a comprehensive understanding of The Two Scouter Rule, Youth:Scouter Ratios and Scouter Team Composition.
d. Section (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, etc...) ratios. We operate on a 1:8 ratio (1 Scouter for every 8 youth with a minimum of 2 Scouters as per the 2-Scouter Rule). The same ratio rule exists for every section. Our ratio is the lowest Scouter to youth ratio when compared with other comparable Canadian youth organizations.
e. A comprehensive set of Policies, Procedures and Standards to guide Volunteers on Youth Protection and Managing Risk .
f. First Aid Standards that ensure youth always have First Aid Certified Scouters ready.
g. A library of Safety Tips for over 50 topics/circumstances. For example: Safety Tips: Lyme Disease and Ticks / Safety Tips: Toboggan Safety / Safety Tip: Bunk Bed Safety
When does the Scouting year run?
Each Scouting year officially begins January 1st and ends December 31st. Many Groups 'pause' over summer holidays or reduce programming, this is because most families have summer plans.
Most Scout groups run their program parallel to the academic year, starting in September and ending between May and June.
Some Groups offer summer programming, indicated by a sunshine icon next to the Group name when listed for registration.
Refunds are available for 30 days after registration. This allows for your youth to attend meetings and see if the Group chosen is the right fit for them. If not, a refund can be requested, or the youth can be transferred to a different Group.
Refunds can be requested within your MyScouts account. Simply log in and select 'Request a Refund' from the left side menu titled 'My Menu' on your homepage.
What is our program, The Canadian Path?
The Canadian Path is a program unique to and developed by Scouts Canada. This well-rounded program offers youth ages 5 to 26 the opportunity to experience new things, have more adventures and develop into confident and capable individuals, better prepared for success in the world.
There are 6 main Program Areas:
Environment and the Outdoors: Learning about and interacting with nature and the environment.
Leadership: Learning about and practising the skills of being good leaders in their section (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts etc...) local community and Canada.
Active and Healthy Living: Learning about being active while developing good mental and physical habits for happy and healthy living.
Citizenship: Learning about being good citizens in their community, Canada and the world.
Creative Expression: Learning about exploring and sharing their own creative expression and trying out the creative expression engaged in by others.
Beliefs and Values: Learning about personal values and beliefs as well as the diversity of cultures and faiths that make up our communities, our nation and our world.
From Beaver Scouts to Rover Scouts, youth take the lead, youth will organize ways to achieve goals, and will collectively reflect on their experience after the goal is met. With support from adult Scouters, this “Plan-Do-Review” method is one of the many ways that the Canadian Path can help youth develop into critical thinkers, extend their personal progression, and encourage active participation in an inclusive team dynamic.
What if my child does not like their Group?
If your youth does not like the Group they have been registered with they can be transferred to another Group. Or if it has been less than 30 days since registration and you choose not to transfer to another Group you will receive a full refund.
The cost varies each year slightly and varies depending on the Group. The fee is divided into two parts, the National Fee that changes depending on when you register during the year & the Group fee which is determined by the Group dependent on Group activities. Please note: Scouting is available on a sliding scale for low-income families.
Is there assistance available if I cannot afford the cost?
We believe every youth should have the opportunity to enjoy Scouting. We have a subsidy program called ‘No One Left Behind’, which ensures low-income families who cannot afford the cost have the opportunity to participate in Scouting. It is applied for within the registration process.
A low-income family is defined nationally via their LICO (low-income cut-off) score. Here is more information on LICO scores.
May I attend meetings with my child? Do I have to Volunteer as a Scouter to do this?
Yes! Parents/Guardians may attend meetings with their child. No, we do not require you to Volunteer to do this.
We ask that if you are not attending as a Volunteer that when in attendance you solely provide additional support for or supervise your child while they participate.
My child has special needs can a family member or support worker attend to support my child?
Yes! Family members (over 18) or a support worker, both from an agency or not may attend and support your child. These support workers are screened according to the Volunteer Screening Procedure with components listed under 'Parent Helpers, Other Adult Resource People including Hired Resource People (e.g. Canoe Guides) and Support Workers for Youth with Disabilities'
The Group's closest to you are listed from you to choose from within the registration process. You will be shown Groups by distance from your postal code. As most people choose Groups close to home we show you all of the Groups in your neck of the woods with their weekly meeting times and locations. This makes it easy to find the best Group for you.
Select Join when you are ready to register.
Still need help? Please feel free to contact the Scouts Canada Help Centre: