Sent to: All Scouters and Rovers in Voyageur Council |
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Voyageur Council Trail Guide
February 11, 2022
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We're halfway through the Claim the Flame Challenge!
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Hello Scouters,
Have you been enjoying the Claim the Flame Challenge? Close to 2,000 youth and over 170 groups have participated so far across the country! The Games have begun and you've gone for the Gold; over the next two weeks, you can look forward to enjoying a Polar Picnic and showing off your Skillz n' Chillz. Don't forget to use the online form to submit your Section’s weekly challenge to win prizes and bragging rights!
New and updated information this week: Camp Opemikon Spring Clean-Up 2022, Basic Wilderness First Aid Course, Member Services Update, Property Update
Have you checked out the News and Events section on Scouts.ca? You can find great updates there along with new ideas, new resources, and much more!
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COVID Restrictions
The following information is based on feedback we have received from the Public Health Units in our Council, as well as information from our CK3 counterparts in Ontario and Quebec and Scouts Canada's leadership team.
Effective February 21, 2022, the Government of Ontario will be increasing social gathering limits to 100 people outdoors and increasing indoor capacity limits in public settings (including meeting and event spaces).
Effective February 28, 2022, the Government of Quebec will be removing the capacity limits on the number of participants for sports and recreation.
Additional information will be shared as we approach this date and receive more guidance from the provincial governments.
Any changes will be shared in a subsequent email and our Facebook group. Please contact your Relationship Manager if you have any questions.
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Voyageur Groups in Quebec
All Groups in the Outaouais/Gatineau region (QC) may operate under modified Stage 3 Scouting.
In-person, indoor and outdoor gatherings are permitted.
- Size of gatherings: 25 people maximum.
- Patrols: 8 youth maximum.
- We highly encourage the use of Patrols (8 members) to allow for physical distancing and to minimize the sharing of equipment.
- Camping is not permitted as it is currently prohibited in the province until further notice.
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Outdoor meetings are preferred. Wearing a mask is strongly recommended if physical distancing cannot be maintained.
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Voyageur Groups in Ontario
All Groups under all Ontario Public Health Units may operate under modified Stage 3 Scouting. However, please note that not all Public Health Units are have interpreted the provincial regulations consistently.
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
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Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit
Effective Monday, January 31, 2022, Scouting Groups operating in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit and the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Health Unit can operate under Schedule 2, Section 14 of the regulations ("Businesses that provide teaching and instruction").
- In-person, indoor and outdoor gatherings are permitted. Outdoor meetings are preferred.
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When meeting indoors, the total number of participants permitted must be limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in the space, and in any event, cannot exceed 50 per cent of the capacity of the indoor space. We encourage you to speak with your meeting location to ensure that you are in compliance with their restrictions. Face coverings and/or masks must be worn at all times.
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When meeting outdoors, the total number of participants permitted must be limited to the number of persons who can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person. Face coverings and/or masks must be worn when distancing (two metres or more) cannot be maintained.
- We highly encourage the use of Patrols (8 members) to allow for physical distancing and to minimize the sharing of equipment.
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Camping is permitted; Groups are required to follow the safety guidelines for COVID-19 for camps produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Please speak with your Relationship Manager or a member of the CK3 to ensure all restrictions are being followed (especially for younger Sections).
Ottawa Public Health Unit
Effective Monday, January 31, 2022, Scouting Groups operating in the boundaries of Ottawa Public Health can operate under Schedule 3, Section 1 (b) of the regulations ("Social Gathering").
- In-person, indoor and outdoor gatherings are permitted. Outdoor meetings are preferred.
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When meeting indoors (in a meeting or event space), the total number of participants who are permitted to be in the indoor areas of the business or place at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity. We encourage you to speak with your meeting location to ensure that you are in compliance with their restrictions. Face coverings and/or masks must be worn at all times.
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Outdoor, in-person activities are limited to a maximum of 25 individuals (including youth and Scouters). Face coverings and/or masks must be worn when distancing (two meters or more) cannot be maintained.
- We highly encourage the use of Patrols (8 members) to allow for physical distancing and to minimize the sharing of equipment.
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Camping is permitted; Groups are required to follow the safety guidelines for COVID-19 for camps produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Please speak with your Relationship Manager or a member of the CK3 to ensure all restrictions are being followed (especially for younger Sections).
All Other Public Health Units
We are continuing to seek clarification from the following Public Health Units:
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit
- Eastern Ontario Health Unit
Therefore, we encourage Ontario Groups in these Public Health Units to follow the guidance we are providing our Ottawa Groups until they are able to confirm with their local representatives how their municipality interprets the regulations. If you receive written confirmation from a Public Health Officer in your PHU, please share this information with your Relationship Manager or directly with the CK3 so that other Groups in that Public Health Unit can be informed.
Please note that any local limitations enacted by your Public Health Unit, including orders limited to specific towns, must be followed at all times.
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As a reminder to all Scouters, for your own safety and the safety of our youth and communities, you must follow public health guidelines at all times.
Remember, when in doubt, follow the most restrictive guideline.
COVID-19 vaccine policies from Scouts Canada, as well as the Ontario and Quebec provincial governments, are outlined at the bottom of this email.
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Claim the Flame Winter Challenge
The Claim the Flame challenge enters Week 3 on Monday! This challenge will be taking place over 4 weeks and is timed to occur at the same time as the Olympic Games.
The Scouter’s Guide is now available to download here (in English and French!).
NEW! Claim the Flame crests are now available on ScoutShop.ca!
The Claim the Flame Challenge focuses on Winter Skills development for levels 1–3 and into level 4 for the Senior Sections. At the end of the Challenge, if one Challenge Activity is completed each week, youth will be well on their way to achieving Winter Skills OAS Level 1, with a number of competencies from Level 2, 3 and 4 also potentially earned.
Additionally, this Challenge is a ‘choose your own adventure’ style format; youth will decide which option they want to undertake and how they want to approach each activity. Scouters will facilitate and support their youth-led ideas.
Like the previous two Challenges, each Monday a new video will kick-off that week’s Challenge and Sections will need to log their participation online.
Missed the Info Sessions? Click here to watched a recorded session!
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Camp Opemikon Work Weekend BBQ 2022 |
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Live Different Circles
Youth are facing more challenges than ever, often with a common thread: a lack of connection and purpose. Scouts Canada has partnered with LiveDifferent to implement their Circles program for Scouts and Venturers across Canada. We will be creating virtual Circles so that youth can link with other members across the country and work together to create connections and do projects with a purpose. This six-week program will allow youth to meet new people, form new bonds and find more purpose in this ever-changing world. We are currently recruiting facilitators (Venturer-aged youth) and will soon open registration for participants (Troops/Patrols, Venturer Companies or solo Venturers). Check out Scouts.ca for more information.
Please share this with your Troops and Companies. If you know of any Company- or Crew-aged youth (including youth registered only as Scouters) who may be interested in being facilitators, please share this with them. Facilitators will be asked to complete two virtual training sessions (two hours each, March 16th and 23rd) and lead a Circle for six weeks.
We also ask that you share this with your Troops and Companies that may be interested in participating. We are inviting Troops to participate as whole Troops or Patrols, and Venturers are welcome to participate as a whole Company or sign up as individuals. This can be done in addition to regular Scouting meetings, either as a portion of a weekly meeting or in addition to it – this does not need to replace your regular program!
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Update on Blended First Aid Course
The Voyageur Council Standard First Aid CPR-C & AED (Blended) course, scheduled to take place on February 19, 2022, is now full. We look forward to offering more courses in the future. Keep an eye out for additional dates, which will be shared on the Voyageur website and this newsletter.
If you have any questions about first aid, please contact Alex Gazaleh, Voyageur Council First Aid Training Coordinator.
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Basic Wilderness First Aid Course
1st Carp Scouts is offering some Basic Wilderness First Aid courses through Canadian Wilderness Medical Training and Scouts Canada volunteers. Each course is 1 weekend, and includes Standard First Aid certification as well as meeting the Wilderness Medical Association's requirements for Wilderness First Aid.
The course is currently being offered:
- February 26 & 27 @ Huntley Mess Hall, 2240 Craig Sd. Rd. (Carp) - $175
- April 2-3 @ 5 Star Camps, 2013 Old Carp Rd. (Kanata/Carp) - $170
- At some future date (you may register for our contact list, and receive priority) - free
Hours are 9am-6pm each day. Participants are to bring their own lunch.
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Several Groups are currently participating in this City of Ottawa initiative, which encourages citizens to be a Hydrant Hero this winter and keep local hydrants clear of snow. Clearing 1.5 metres around a hydrant maintains access for our firefighters and helps them keep our community safe. It's also a terrific activity for Groups who are looking for activities to do outdoors!
Electronic Hydrant Hero certificates are also available by completing this form.
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2022 Fundraising Update
Scout Seeds - It's Almost Thyme!
Scouts Canada has once again partnered with our 100% Canadian supplier, Make it Sow, to offer an excellent variety of seed kits, allowing customers to have fun learning more about growing their own garden all the while supporting local Scout Groups and helping our planet! We will have new kits selection this year, including a community garden kit for your Groups. The Scout Seed web page and the Fundraising Trello Board is now updated with all the resources needed for you to run a successful campaign.
Ready to register your Group or Section? Click here!
Groups will receive 40% of the retail price as profit and more than 5% will be allocated to the No One Left Behind (NOLB) program. Scout Seeds is a great fundraiser as well as a great opportunity to tie in some of the SDGs (from our Scouts for Sustainability program) into your own programming with a very fun and educational project.
Good Coffee for a Good Cause
Back by popular demand, Scout Coffee has returned as a year-round campaign! Follow this link to register your Group now and get started on some more great fall fundraising. Please note that there is a new URL this year: https://www.scout-coffee.ca.
As a reminder, Groups will collect 35% of the retail price of each allocated purchase as profit. In addition, over 5% will go to the No One Left Behind campaign. Every two months, Groups will receive an income statement detailing their sales thus far followed by a profit disbursement, deposited into their Group bank account. The first deposit will be made be in the first two weeks of January, followed by the next deposit at the beginning of March and so on.
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Member Services Update
We've been advised by the National Communications Team that some of the GCs and Scouters in our Council did not receive an email intended for them. The email contains important updates on a number of items including Police Record Checks, Group Financials, and Certificates of Insurance.
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Property Update - February 2022 |
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Staffing Changes
- Scouter Gerry Umbach has been appointed the Chair of the Camp Opemikon Property Committee
- Scouter Angela Field has been appointed the Chair of the Camp Legewade Property Committee
- Heather Erven is now the Property Operations Manager for all Camps except Camp Opemikon
- Kalie McKenna, Director of Property Operations, is supporting Camp Opemikon
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Current Camp Status
Please note that all bookings must be made at least 72 hours in advance
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- Camp Sheldrick:
- Open but not yet available to book (coming soon)
- Camp Legewade:
- Currently closed
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Voyageur Council, Scouts Canada 1345 Baseline Road, Ottawa, ON, Canada K2C 0A7
© Scouts Canada
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