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.
Any significant changes will be shared in an email to all Scouters and our Facebook group. Please contact your Relationship Manager if you have any questions.
Voyageur Groups in Quebec
All Groups in the Outaouais/Gatineau region (QC) may operate under Stage 5 Scouting.
- In-person, indoor and outdoor gatherings are permitted with no capacity limit. We encourage you to speak with your indoor meeting location to ensure that you are in compliance with their restrictions.
- We highly encourage the use of Patrols. Patrols are preferred (where possible) to have 8 youth but, if the Section size and ratio complement is needed, Patrols can expand to account for additional youth. For example, if your Section has 20 youth, you can have 2 Patrols of 10 if you only have enough Scouters to support two Patrols.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory for all members 10-years-old and older and strongly recommended for those younger when indoors or in partially closed spaces. When outdoors, members should wear a mask or face covering if they cannot be physically distanced (two metres apart).
- Camping is permitted for all Sections. COVID protocols and venue capacity guidelines must be followed. Please keep in mind the following:
- All beds should be spaced a minimum of 2 metres apart and alternating bunk beds are permitted. For example, one top, then one bottom. For side-by-side beds or in a large enclosed space (such as a gym), position people head-to-toe, 2 metres apart.
- Limit of 10 people or 3 households per small accommodation (i.e. cabin) is strongly suggested. Use of individual tents is encouraged.
- All Scouters, youth, and their families should be comfortable with the camping arrangements.
- MAAF must be completed for your adventures and must be approved by the Group Commissioner. If the adventure is camping at a Scouts Canada property, the approved MAAF must also be submitted to the Scouts Canada property camp committee or staff member on site (Warden, Ranger, Camp Director).
- Our Scouts Canada Properties team is currently working through the approval process from each local Public Health Unit (PHU) in Quebec in order to allow camping. Please understand that this process will take some time.
Voyageur Groups in Ontario
All Groups under all Ontario Public Health Units may operate under Stage 5 Scouting. Effective March 21, 2022, the following restrictions apply to all public health units in Voyageur Council:
- In-person, indoor and outdoor gatherings are permitted with no capacity limits. We encourage you to speak with your meeting location to ensure that you are in compliance with their restrictions and capacity limits.
- Masking is no longer required outdoors or indoors (unless required by your indoor meeting space). As a Group or Section, we encourage you to discuss what would make the Scouters and youth most comfortable and communicate that to parents.
- We highly encourage the use of Patrols. Patrols are preferred (where possible) to have 8 youth but, if the Section size and ratio complement is needed, Patrols can expand to account for additional youth. For example, if your Section has 20 youth, you can have 2 Patrols of 10 if you only have enough Scouters to support two Patrols.
- Camping is permitted. We anticipate receiving update guidance from the Ministry of Health on March 21, 2022, and will share that with Scouters once available. Please speak with your Relationship Manager or a member of the CK3 to ensure all restrictions are being followed. Please keep in mind the following:
- It is an activity that will work for all intended to attend. All Scouters, youth, and their families should be comfortable with the camping arrangements.
- MAAF must be completed for your adventures and must be approved by the Group Commissioner. If the adventure is camping at a Scouts Canada property, the approved MAAF must also be submitted to the Scouts Canada property camp committee or staff member on site (Warden, Ranger, Camp Director).
- Our Scouts Canada Properties team is currently working through the approval process from each local Public Health Unit (PHU) and Public Health Ontario (PHO) in order to allow camping. Please understand that this process will take some time.
Please note that any local limitations enacted by your Public Health Unit, including orders limited to specific towns, must be followed at all times.
For more information about current provincial restrictions from the government, you can access the Ontario COVID-19 website or the Quebec COVID-19 website. Scouting Stage 5 details can be found at scouts.ca.
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.
