Scouts are boys and girls aged 11, 12, 13, and 14. (Typically in Grade 6, 7, 8 and 9)
Our Scout Troop is closed. Currently seeking Adult Volunteers to train as leaders for this section - see How to Volunteer tab
We meet at Bowmore Public School Monday evenings from 6:45-8:45pm
Join Us
We welcome boys and girls who are 11-14 yrs old who are willing to have fun, safe adventures in the Coxwell and Gerrard area of the Upper Beaches in Toronto.
New Scouts typically join in September ready for a fun Scouting year, however if there is space available Scouts are welcome to join any time during the year. The Scouting Year runs from September until August. We generally meet weekly from the middle of September until May/June (similar to the school schedule). We take a break over Christmas holidays and March Break.
Blaze your Trail
The Scout program takes adventure to the next level - planning becomes more hands-on as the Troop blazes their own trail. The possibilities before Scouts are vast, which is why some of Canada's greatest trails are used to help guide Scouts on the Canadian Path. It provides a sense of outdoor adventure and trailblazing that encourages Scouts to try new things and experience grand adventures while gaining valuable leadership skills and self-confidence.
Scouts enjoy outdoor adventures of hikes, water activities and lots of camping while working together with other young people to accomplish thrilling challenges.
Scouts have the opportunity to be a leader. It might involve running an activity, organizing a camp, or participating with other young people across Ontario or Canada in events and activities.
This is expressed in the Scout Promise, Law and Motto.
Promise
On my honour
I promise that I will do my best,
To do my duty to God and the King,
To help other people at all times;
and to carry out the spirit of the Scout Law.
OR
On my honour;
I promise that I will do my best,
To respect my country and my beliefs,
To help other people at all times;
and to carry out the spirit of the Scout Law.
Law
A Scout is helpful and trustworthy,
kind and cheerful,
considerate and clean,
wise in the use of all resources.
Motto
Be Prepared.
Scout Uniform
Scouting is a uniformed organization. All members are expected to wear the appropriate uniform for their role. The Scout uniform is green and consists of:
- Scout green long sleeve uniform shirt (available at the Scout Shop)
- Scout green tech t-shirt (optional, available at the Scout Shop)
- Scout green tech ball cap (optional, available at the Scout Shop)
- Group Neckerchief (presented by the Troop during the Investiture Ceremony)
- Scout Woggle (presented by the Troop during the Investiture Ceremony)
The Group Neckerchief and Scout woggle are presented by the Troop at no cost, however there is a fee for replacements.
The items required can be purchased from the Online Shop.
At the Investiture Ceremony Scouts will be given the main badges that identify which group they belong with:
- a Group badge (91st Toronto Scout Group), worn on the right sleeve at the top
- a Council badge (Greater Toronto Council), worn on the left sleeve above the sleeve pocket
- a Patrol insignia (varies depending on the patrol), worn on the right sleeve below the Area badge
These badges are provided at no cost, however there will be a fee for any replacements.
Scout Badges
In addition to the identifying badges there are a number of badges that Scouts can earn during their time in Trail Blazing.
- Personal Progression Badges are a set of 4 badges (one for each year of Scouts) that are presented near the end of the year after a personal review to show that the Scout has successfully complete a year of adventures and progressed in their skills and abilities.
- Outdoor Adventure Skills (OAS) are a set of 9 pathways that recognize the skills, knowledge and experiences of youth in Scouting. OAS start in Beaver Scouts and continue all the way through to Rover Scouts (18-26 yr olds). Each pathway has 9 stages, each stage having a numbered badge. Scouts who were previously Cub Scouts and/or Beaver Scouts will likely have started earning OAS stages and continue to wear the highest stage that they have earned.
- Personal Achievement Badges (PAB) are a set of 16 badges that Scouts can choose to complete during Scout adventures or at home during family adventures. To complete a PAB, Scouts will set 5 goals to be completed over a number of different adventures that are personally challenging.
- Chief Scout's Award is the Top Section Award for Scouts. This award can be earned in the final year of Scouts prior to moving on to Venturer Scouts. The Chief Scout's Award requires Scouts to complete a personal progression review, a set number of volunteer hours, a set number of OAS stages and a Scout capstone Project. Any Scout who previously earned the North Star Award (Top Section Award for Beaver Scouts) and the Seeonee Award (Top Section Award for Cub Scouts) may wear the highest earned until the Chief Scout's Award is earned. If both have previously been earned, a mini version of the North Star Award is worn on the pocket flap and the full sized Seeonee Award is worn on the pocket.
- Religion in Life and Spirituality Awards are available for Scouts who would like to to further explore their faith group or spirituality.
- World Scout Environment Award helps demonstrate a Scout's concern for, and active stewardship of, the environment. This is an international award, which means that Scouts in other countries are also working to earn it, even though they may be working on slightly different requirements. All Scouts around the world who have achieved the badge will wear it on the uniform.
- Language Strips are worn by youth if they are sufficiently fluent at an age-appropriate level to carry on a simple Scouting conversation in that language.
- Canadian Path Scout Link Badge is presented to Scouts when they move up to Venturer Scouts. Any Scout who was previously a Beaver Scout can wear the Canadian Path Beaver Scout Link Badge and any Scout who was previously a Cub Scouts can wear the Canadian Path Cub Scout Link Badge on their Scout uniform.
Pioneer, Voyageur, Pathfinder, Trailblazer
The Scouts journey on the Canadian Path is individual. Each Scout will have a personal review to help mark their checkpoints along the Canadian Path. Each Scout will start with Pioneer and progress through the Voyageur, Pathfinder and Trailblazer checkpoints. Most Scouts will take a year to travel between checkpoints. Those Scouts who start Scouting at an older age may travel multiple checkpoints in a Scouting Year as determined by the Troop Leadership Team based on their personal progression reviews.
Ceremonies
There are many ceremonies that Scouts participate in to help symbolize their passage through the Scout program.
At every meeting, Scouts will participate in Opening and Closing ceremonies. Shortly after joining, new Scouts make their Scout promise and are invested into the Troop at the Investiture Ceremony. Finally the year ends with the Moving up Ceremony, where 14 yr old Scouts say a final goodbye to the Troop before leaving the Trails to join the Venturer Scouts for new adventures with the Venturer Scout Company.