The Scouting Stuff Podcast

Youth between the ages of 14 and 17 can also volunteer as Scouters, at least in Scouts Canada.

Podcast Topics

In their first in-person sit-down session of the year, Scouter Ken and Scouter Colin discuss Youth Scouters. This is an extension of the volunteer apparatus within Scouts Canada that allows minors (between the ages of 14 and 17) to go through the training and interview process that adult volunteers must complete to become Scouters.

Youth Scouters count toward ratio requirements as long as at least two adult Scouters are also registered with the section (apologies: Ken said one Scouter in the episode; it should be two). Importantly, however, Youth Scouters do not count on the “youth” side of a section’s ratio; they count as Scouters, and so do not have to be interacted with according to the Two-Scouter Rule.

Youth Scouters can be a great way for Venturers to give back to their groups, accruing volunteer hours as they do. And for groups who are strapped for volunteers, Youth Scouters might just be what’s needed to allow a section to run its program for the year.

Shout-Outs

A shout-out to Emily who wrote in regarding Episode 88, which concerned orienteering:

"Just listened to Episode 88, Orienteering (2019). You mentioned don’t get your compass near a big, powerful magnet — guess what? I absent-mindedly put my compass into a zipped breast pocket during a break at land navigation training, RIGHT ON TOP OF MY SMARTPHONE. When I went back out on the course, I was totally baffled: suddenly, I couldn’t orient myself. I’d been doing so well!!! I couldn’t find the objectives or identify drainages, and I couldn’t pass the field exam. Embarrassing!

I was mystified. It took a couple of days for it to dawn on me that I had demagnetized my compass by putting it in my pocket lying atop my smartphone. It was completely useless, and pointed in random directions!! Live and learn."

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Scouts Canada has partnered with Busy Minds and Little Yogis Academy to help bring mindfulness into program content.

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken and Scouter Mike are joined by Michelle Faber, the founder of Busy Minds, for a live discussion mindfulness, its importance to mental health, and the ways in which Scouts Canada is partnering with Busy Minds (and Little Yogis) to add mindfulness exercises into group programming.

Learn more:

Mindfulness apps discussed in the episode:

And again: this episode is a recording of a live event that was done on the Scouts Canada Discussion Group on Facebook, and on Workspace/The Network.

Shout-Outs

A big thank you to Scouts Canada and Mike Eybel for facilitating this episode, and to Kate Larkin for being the inaugural guest!

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

The first ever LIVE episode of Scouting Stuff, and an introduction to Scouts Canada’s “Sasquatch Seekers” event.

Podcast Topics

In the first of what will become a series of LIVE episodes, Scouter Ken is joined by Kate Larkin - the Director of Program & Volunteer Services for Scouts Canada - to discuss the Sasquatch Seekers challenge. This is a series of four weekly challenges for Scout Groups across Canada to complete, exploring a variety of activities and skills all themed around the hunt for Canada’s most elusive megafauna.

(There’s also a leaderboard, by the way. With prizes.)

Mike Eybel - the Associate Director of Communications for Scouts Canada, and an occasional guest of the podcast - also makes an appearance or two.

And again: this episode is a recording of a live event that was done on the Scouts Canada Discussion Group on Facebook.

Shout-Outs

A big thank you to Scouts Canada and Mike Eybel for facilitating this episode, and to Kate Larkin for being the inaugural guest!

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Beaver Scouts (at least in Canada) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken and Scouter Colin - finally, only two months into 2024! - sit down (virtually) to discuss Beaver Scouts. Despite a popular Canadian legend that the program for “younger than Cub Scout” youth was developed in Canada and exported to the world, the actual history of it goes back a bit further...to Northern Ireland, in fact.

But half a century ago, Scouts Canada officially launched its Beaver Scouts section, and is planning on celebrating that this summer. Is your group ready? Is your council?

By the way, if you want to see what different Scouting NSOs call their sections, here’s a lengthy list.

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Two brothers - twins, at that! - discuss their introduction to Scouts Canada and the roles they’ve served in therewith.

Podcast Topics

Scouter Shayne and Scouter Sheldon rejoin the podcast for another episode, this time to discuss their respective Scouting journeys with Scouter Ken. Though they came to the organization in different ways (and at different times), they both ended up serving as Group Commissioners for two different Ontario Scout Groups at the same time.

Also: camp cooking. We talk about camp cooking.

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

What is the rangemaster role within Scouting, and how do you become one?

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Scouter Sheldon, the program director for Camp Everton in Ontario (and, coincidentally, the brother of Scouter Shayne from Episode 144).

Much of the discussion in this episode focuses on the role of the rangemaster, which within Scouts Canada is a specifically-trained person who can run archery, pelletry, and even axe/tomahawk-throwing.

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Where can youth find leadership opportunities? Funny you should ask!

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Scouter Shayne from Ontario for this episode. Among many other roles, Scouter Shayne has served as a Group Commissioner, a Section Scouter, and a Contact Scouter, and has also been with the Canadian Forces for three decades.

The discussion ranges over a few topics, including the similarities and differences between Scouting and the military, why girls being part of Scouting is still a surprise to some people to this day, and the leadership opportunities that Scouting affords young people.

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Scouts across Africa help the vulnerable, Scouts in Canada sell trees...and Scouts were even at COP28.

News Stories

Advancing Gender Equality through Scouting in Ethiopia

Reintegrating Vulnerable Young People through Ticket to Life Initiative in Africa

4th World Scout Education Congress Shaping the Future of Education in Scouting

Congress Roadmap sets direction for education in Scouting to be more transformative, inclusive and innovative

World Scouting Brings Youth Voices to COP28 Climate Talks

Transcona Scouts Hall receives funding for renos

Scouts tree lot is now open in Okotoks

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

TV News Logo, by moodmode

Scouts help with hurricane relief, JOTA-JOTI breaks records...and Hungarian Scouts camp on a river.

News Stories

Scouts de Mexico Extend a Helping Hand in Hurricane Aftermath

A Record JOTA-JOTI! Digital Meets In Person for an Epic Jamboree

No need to fear… the Boy Scouts are here!

River Scout Camp: A Journey Through Time with Hungarian Scouts

Scouts fees rise to fund new safeguarding team

Swindon Gang Show returns: Scouts and Guides light up stage

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Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Two of the three French Scouters who traveled by bicycle to WSJ 2023 tell us all about their adventure!

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Florian and Antonin – two of the three French Scouters who comprise La CyclOdyssée, who we mentioned briefly in the January 16 episode of Scouting Five – to discuss their 7-month journey to the World Scout Jamboree in Korea.

Because rather than fly from France to get there, they opted instead to ride their bicycles, covering over 15,000 kilometers in 7 months.

You can find links to all of La CyclOdyssée’s social media profiles at their LinkTree. In particular, their Instagram page is well worth a look.

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl