Sent to: All Scouters and Rovers and Venturers in Voyageur Council
Voyageur Council
Voyageur Council Trail Guide
March 1, 2024
Hello Scouters, Rovers and Venturers: Welcome to your latest Trail Guide.

What's new? YouthCon, Group Hosted Events, Scouters Sharing Sessions, Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Show, Beavers' 50th
Cut off for this issue was February 28. Deadline for the next issue is March 13, 2024. If you have something you would like included in an upcoming Trail Guide, click here to provide the information. Questions? Comments? Contact dave.stremes@scouts.ca.

Looking for previous Trail Guides? Click here!

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!
Ottawa 67's Pre-Game Scout Adventure - March 24



The Ottawa 67s are having a Scout Adventure afternoon that's just three weeks away! They play the Brantford Bulldogs at 2:00. Contact Kieran at kward@oseg.ca for tickets and take part in a special pre-game adventure.
Beavers' 50th

You've been saving the date... so we're excited to announce that registration opened up this month! Come join us on Saturday June 1st for this amazing celebration filled with fun, friendship, and celebrate with Beavers from across Voyageur, and Canada. 

Oh, and did we say swag? A Beaver 50th bucket hat, t-shirt, badge, and all kinds of goodies?! Even for adults? Oh yeah!

Registration will be $50 per attendee (note that DoubleKnot will add on $3.50 in fees per attendee, if you want to build that in), and must be submitted as a Colony by Friday March 15th. Plan now, as we know that's during March Break - it's a hard deadline set by our suppliers.

Check out our website for more details:  https://www.beaver50th.ca/  

We're also looking for help with the event team to plan the event, and OOS to help run it on June 1st!
OPE Summer Camp Registration is now open!
Head to Summer Camps to check out the details of all the Summer Camps planned for this summer! This is a great opportunity for youth in your section to try new Outdoor Activity Skills (OAS) & continue their scouting journey through the summer months. The Program Guide is available here. An Early Bird Discount is available until the end of March only!
OPE is searching for Key Summer Staff
Ope is still looking for staff interested in working in the kitchen (Head chef in particular) and being lifeguards. Details on the position are available here
Work Weekend 2024 at Camp Opemikon
Camp Opemikon is preparing for the annual Spring clean-up and work weekend this April 26-28th. This is a chance for Scouting groups to give back to their camp by helping prepare it for the Summer season. We'll be cleaning up the lawns, raking, painting, and doing some minor repairs.

The weekend will be similar to past years. Groups will have Friday, Saturday evening and Sunday to enjoy the Camp as they please. The work day is Saturday from 8:30 until about 4pm.

There will be a free hot dog / hamburger lunch for participants on Saturday.

The invitation is open to all groups of Scouts, Venturers, and Rovers and their Leaders. Leaders will be responsible for their work party, with help of the Warden.

Weekend accommodations and camping will be free, and reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Reserve by emailing Warden Aaron at aaron.lidstone@scouts.ca to request the jobs list and accommodation availability.

Thanks for supporting Camp Opemikon!
Keep Calm and Camp On
The Voyageur Program Support Team are hosting a fun overnight for any Colony, Pack & Troop Scouters that wishes to explore how to facilitate great camping adventures for their section! Camping with 20 or so youth is a rewarding one. Together, we will be learning the art of flexible programming, embracing whatever Mother Nature throws at us, and ensuring our camp exceeds what our youth have been dreaming to experience!

Join us on April 12th and 13th, at Camp Sheldrick, Friday 19:00 to Saturday 16:00.
Cost is $45.
Scouting Essentials! (Sunday 9:30 - 15:00)
This day filled session is great for all starting their journey in Scouting, this course will provide you with essential tools to make a positive impact on our Scouts' lives. A fantastic opportunity to refine your skills and knowledge to support great adventures for your section. Discover how to build great meetings, games, work a solid Youth-led program and what resources are available for you to make it all happen!

Join us on April 14th, at Camp Sheldrick, from 09:30 to 15:30
Cost is $15

Want to do BOTH!? (Friday 19:00 through Sunday 15:00)
Yes, you can also sign up for both!
Cost is $55.

Come and connect with your fellow Scouters! Sign up here:
YouthCON (OutCon)
Calling ALL 3rd and 4th year Scouts, Venturers and Rovers! 

Registration is open for our second ever YouthCon event!! April 19 - 21.

This will be a Friday night to Sunday morning event for all senior youth to network with other youth and discover how to bring bigger adventures to your section! Our Saturday morning will be about sharing what makes your section rock, sharing your favourite adventures, how to attract new members, and get the most out of your youth leadership team.  Our afternoon has been named “Adventure World!”  You will get to explore workshops dedicated to building your next adventure, preparing for your next adventure, and how to take your adventures to the next level. All of this tied together with a handful of special guests to speak about some amazing opportunities and great adventures!

For Scouters, we will be hosting a special networking and development area for part of the day. This will create a great space for volunteers to expand on some opportunities for the section/group they are supporting.

This event will require some help, we are looking for a handful of facilitators and support team members to help run some of the workshops and make this event a memorable one. If you are interested in helping to facilitate, please contact cadence.james@scouts.ca

The cost for YouthCon will be $25. This includes 2 nights of camping, all meals and all programming for the weekend! Hosted at Camp Sheldrick, 12489 Nesbitt Rd, North Dundas ON K0C 2K0, Canada. 

Register your section here: https://youthcon2024.square.site/

CONTACT E-MAIL: cadence.james@scouts.ca

COST: $25.00 per Youth/Scouter
Voyageur Council Food Drive - save the date
The last successful Council Food Drive was in 2019, having been put on hiatus due to COVID. Plans are underway to hold a Food Drive this year on March 23. The Scouts Canada Food Drive is the only local drive that has all food sorted and the monetary contributions counted on the day of the drive so that both are able to be presented to the recipients on the first business day following the drive. As in past years, Groups are encouraged to include the date in their planning. Venturers and Rovers (minimum age of 14) will assist in sorting at the Ottawa Food Bank, and younger sections would attend a neighbourhood Metro store. Volunteers are needed for the organizing committee. Please refer to this document for more details and how to volunteer.
Adirondack Adventure 2024
Once again Groups can go hiking in the mountains in Adirondack State Park. We ask for a fee of $5 to cover storage, transportation of the equipment to the Brookside hotel, and maintenance. Snowshoes are available at the Brookside for $3 payable to Dave Skinner. Microspikes are also available for a $2 fee for the trip. Groups are responsible for their own ERPs, transportation, parental consent forms and accommodations. You are also responsible for your own meals and passports.

There is suggested accommodations in the Event Description which is also posted on the Google Drive along with maps of the high peaks and lower peaks. Email Dave Skinner for more information at dskinner18m@gmail.com

To sign up and for more information, click here
Scouter Synergy

Sessions updates


Come and be a part of our next Scouters Club series, where we collaborate with fellow Scouters to explore exciting themes and create fantastic new seasonal adventures for your section.

March 2nd, 2024, 13:00 - 15:30 (NEW TIME) @ Scouts Canada HQ

Explore Spring and Summer Scouting by Section, we will discover fun ways to up our game as the snow melts! From program ideas, to linking, taking full advantage of that warm sun! Don’t miss out! 

Also included:
  • Getting ready for the Beaver 50th Bonanza!
  • Tips and tricks with ScoutsTracker
  • Behaviour management 

We are also expanding the Scouter Synergies to some evenings.  

March 7th, 2024 - 19:00 - 21:00 (EVENING EDITION) @Scouts Canada HQ
We are also adding a evening event. From 19h00-21h00, exploring only the following:
  • Getting ready for the Beaver 50th Bonanza!
  • Tips and tricks with ScoutsTracker
  • Behaviour management 

Sign up here for either or.. Both! : 
Scoutcraft 3
Scoutcraft 3 is being piloted this spring in Voyageur Council. This training is specifically geared to Lightweight Backpacking skills and strategies. It will be conducted in two parts.
- Part 1 will be a classroom session at Scout HQ, April 6, 1:00PM - 3:30PM. Here various adaptations for backpacking, tips and strategies will be presented as well as planning for Part 2.
- Part 2 is the practical phase to occur at Frontenac Provincial Park May 11-12, 2024. This is for adult Scouters. There is a cap due to restrictions with provincial park backcountry sites, so registration is complete with the training application form and fee of $30,00 paid.

See the information brochure for further details or contact Chuck Fraser at fraserchk@rogers.com.  Previous outdoor skills training would be an asset for participants as would previous backcountry backpacking experience.

Registration has been amazing and this course is now full. Look for a repeat offering later this year, to be confirmed.
March Break Badge Trading Event
Come to Scouts Canada Headquarters on Friday March 8 from 6 to 9 PM, and Saturday March 9 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Visit the National Scout Museum at the same time!

Free admission.
Calling all Campers!
The Voyageur Program Support Team are planning a fun overnight for any Colony, Pack & Troop Scouters that wish to explore how to facilitate great camping adventures for their section! Camping with 20 or so youth is a rewarding one. Together, we will be learning the art of flexible programming, embracing whatever Mother Nature throws at us, and ensuring our camp exceeds what our youth have been dreaming of a safe way! The event will have the following:
  • Campsite setup⛺️ by Section
  • Creative Menu Planning 🥞
  • Camp Kitchen 🍳 How to get all the youth to Cook!
  • What to pack 🎒
  • Theme activities 🏴‍☠️
  • Setting up routines ⏰
  • The secret of Program Boxes 📦
  • Weather ⛅️ Prep
  • Safety chickens! 🐔
  • Avoiding Home 🏠 😕 sickness.
**Including a time machine jump activity.**
“What to do 3 months before camp / 1 month before camp / 1 week before camp.”

Come and connect with your fellow scouters! Join us on April 12th & 13th, at Camp Sheldrick
Cost is $45. Register at:
AHSR Adventure Camp
Apple Hill Scout Reserve is holding the "AHSR Adventure Camp" this coming June 7-9, 2024!  The theme for this camp will be 'Exploring AHSR'. Come out and see all the various activities/programs that AHSR has to offer. 

This is a full weekend camp, with programming provided by your AHSR Ranger team, and will be an all-section camp (Colony, Pack, Troop, Company, Crew). 

Groups attending will need to be self-sufficient for all meals, with the exception of Saturday lunch. Lunch will be provided to all participants attending. 

Full details are coming soon, but if you have any questions, contact either our Event Chair, Ranger Roxeanne (AHSRSecretary@gmail.com) or our Camp Warden, Ranger Patrick (AHSRWarden@gmail.com).
The Scouts Canada Network

All active Scouters in Voyageur Council are invited to join "The Network!"  This is a place that brings together Scouters from across the country who are eager to connect, collaborate and make our program even more impactful. This Network is housed on the Workplace platform from Meta.  By joining the Network, you will have unique opportunities to: 
  • Connect: Any active Scouter is welcome to join! The Network will expand your community with access to thousands of Scouters from different parts of Canada, with broad skillsets and perspectives.  
  • Collaborate: You will have access to unique opportunities to co-design ways to improve the Scouting program, reach Canadians in new ways, and engage diverse communities.  
  • Innovate: You will be involved in finding innovative and creative solutions to the challenges Scouting in Canada faces and help pursue emerging opportunities.  
  • Take Action: Your ideas will be uplifted, and you will be empowered and supported to try new things in your Sections.  
JOINING is easy!
  1. Please register by filling out the form here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/406c9ffa96fc4b3b9f23857e5b8a79aa 
  2. Once you have completed your registration, you will receive an invitation to join the Workplace platform within 5 business days.  
  3. When you receive your invitation link, please click it to complete your profile!  You will be greeted by a Welcome Bot, that will guide you to some key spots within the Workplace for you to check out. 
  4. As soon as your profile is completed, you can start checking out the content and engaging with Scouters across the country!
Once you're in The Network, be sure to join the Voyageur Council group!
Join the Voyageur Council support team!
As a very large Council within Scouts Canada, we want to add some additional roles to our Support Team. We're looking for both adults and youth members who want an opportunity to make a difference across the entire Voyageur Council.

Event Support: Do you love bigger Scouting events? Help us create unforgettable experiences to achieve event excellence by providing guidance and support to event organizers through the Events Management Playbook.

Social Media Team: Digital natives and seasoned communicators alike, we need your creativity to amplify our voice online! Help drive engaging social media strategies, mentor youth in digital communications and help local Groups to learn how to manage their own online presence.

DEIR Team: Join our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Reconciliation team to champion a welcoming environment for all.  We're on a mission to ensure Scouting is a place for everyone, and we need your voice!

Please contact any member of the CK3 if you're interested in joining the Voyageur Council support team, or if you want to recommend someone that might be interested.
Leather Crafting

Are you looking for something new and different to do with your youth? Have you considered leather crafting? Scouter Doug has the tools and equipment to run a session for up to 25 youth. For more information, consult the flyer by clicking here.
BP Guild
The 7th BP Guild (Bytown) is growing and accepting new members. It’s ideal for Scouters who want to stay involved, but don’t have the time or energy to be active with the youth. If you have left Scouting, but would like to enjoy the fellowship in a relaxed environment, you are welcome to join us as well. We do welcome active leaders as well. 

The Guild meets monthly from September to June at Scout HQ in Ottawa. We help out the Scouts Canada National Museum, and are looking to plan new activities for the future. We have members with ages ranging from 26 to 90; you must be 18 or older to join.

If you want to know more, head over to https://7thbpguildbytown.ca/
You can send us a message there, or via email at 7thcanadianbpguild@gmail.com 
Voyageur Council Key 3 (CK3)
Council Youth Commissioner – Cadence James
Council Commissioner – Leo Caisse
Council Relationship Manager – Brittiny Catalano

Please do not reply to this email. This email address is not regularly monitored.