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Program Quality

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. Our program, called The Canadian Path, offers youth aged 5 to 26 an opportunity to experience new things and to develop into confident, capable and well-rounded individuals better prepared for success in the world.

Shared leadership between youth and Scouters enables a high-quality Scouting program and effective Group operations. This means that the Group Commissioner, Group Committee Scouters, Section Scouters and Section Leadership Teams take on tasks according to their ability, availability and interest; respect other team members’ perspectives when making decisions; and demonstrate behaviour consistent with the Scout Promise and Law.

  • Supporting the Canadian Path
  • Scouts Canada's Program: The Canadian Path

    Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. Developed by Scouts Canada, this well-rounded program offers youth aged 5 to 26 an opportunity to experience new things, to have more adventures, and to develop into confident and capable individuals better prepared for success in the world. Scouts Canada’s program is titled ‘The Canadian Path’.

    Commissioners and Section Scouters shall ensure the following minimum requirements of the (Canadian Path) program are included in annual Section plans and implemented in regular Section meetings:

    1. The Four Elements (Youth-Led, Plan-Do-Review, Adventure & SPICES)
    2. The Scout Method
    3. A balanced program that explores all six Program Areas

    Program Implementation and Management

    As Sections implement The Canadian Path, they will progress through different stages of maturity identified by the degree of youth involvement and alignment with the Four Elements.

    1. Basic Programming: Programs offer fun and safe activities for youth with limited use of the Four Elements.
    2. Scouter-led Programming: Programs align with the Four Elements. Youth involvement is limited.
    3. Facilitated Programming: Scouter-facilitated programs actively involve youth and align with the Four Elements.
    4. Youth-led Programming: Youth take active leadership roles in all aspects of the program with Scouters providing situationally appropriate support.

    A Section that has successfully implemented The Canadian Path will be demonstrating and sustaining the observable behaviours of stage 3 in all Four Elements and will be demonstrating continuous improvement through seasonal Program Quality Assessments.

    Canadian Path Navigator

      1. Basic Programming 2.Scouter-led Programming 3.Facilitated Programming 4.Youth-led Programming
    Youth-led  Youth teams not utilised on a regular basis.  Small teams (Patrols) are regularly used in meetings, but not program design.  Most meetings and day-events primarily happen in small teams (Patrols).  All adventures and planning happen in youth-led small teams (Patrols). 
    Youth have little input in programing.  Leadership roles for youth are in place, but largely symbolic.  Section Leadership Teams are in place and regularly utilized.  Sections are actively led by Section Leadership Teams. 
    Plan-Do-Review  Scouters develop short-term plans.  Scouters develop short-term, seasonal and long-term plans with some youth input.  Scouters facilitate program quality reviews each program cycle with youth input.  Youth develop short-term, seasonal and long-term plans with Scouter support. 
    Activities are rarely reviewed for youth feedback and improvement.  Scouter teams regularly review activities with some youth input.  Scouters facilitate reviews with youth after each adventure.  Youth-led reviews happen after every adventure with Scouter support. 
    SPICES  Goal-setting and review of personal progression for youth is limited.  Scouters reflect on youth goal-setting and personal progression.  Goal-setting and personal progression reviews occur at the team level facilitated by Scouters.  Youth-led goal-setting and personal progression reviews occur at the individual level. 
    Parental engagement and feedback is limited.  Scouters showcase personal progression and skill development to parents.  Scouters and youth showcase personal progression and skill development to parents.  Youth showcase personal progression and skill development to parents. 
    Adventure  Activities are often repeated month after month, year after year; plans (e.g. camps) are set without youth involvement.  Youth are offered a selection of adventures with a high degree of repetition year over year.  Scouters facilitate planning of new adventures with some repetition year over year.  Youth-led adventures are consistently fresh, new experiences—supported by Scouters. 
    Activities are used to fill time have limited context; Program Areas are not utilized.  Adventures are planned considering the six Program Areas.  Adventures for each year are balanced across all six Program Areas.  Adventures for each program cycle are balanced across all six Program Areas. 
    Continuous Improvement Program quality is rarely reviewed—typically without Group Commissioner involvement.  Scouters assess program quality each cycle with limited youth input and some Group Commissioner involvement.  Scouters facilitate program quality reviews each program cycle with youth input and Group Commissioner involvement.  Youth-led program quality reviews happen each program cycle with Group Commissioner involvement. 
  • Shared Leadership
  • Policies, Procedures and Standards

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    Program Quality Assessments

    Program Quality Assessments are based on how youth experience and feel about their adventures with respect to the Four Elements: Adventure, Youth-led, Plan-Do-Review and SPICES. The process for facilitating a Program Quality Assessment is covered in depth in the Program Quality guide, but here is a quick summary:

    • Our Scouting program can be divided into four cycles, which align with the four seasons.
    • Sections conduct seasonal reviews using the Program Quality guide.
    • Sections communicate the results of their Program Quality Assessments to the Group Committee.

    Success is measured by ensuring that all Sections review the success of their program with youth at least three times annually. Through this simple Plan-Do-Review process, program quality will continuously improve season over season. Sections who complete at least three seasonal assessments will receive the ‘Quality Section’ designation.

    Program Quality Guide

    The Group’s Role in Program Quality

    There are many things that Group Committees can do to support Sections, but in general they should try to remove any barriers that Sections face in facilitating a great program. Section Scouters should focus on program and each youth’s personal progression, while the Group Committee should try to support Sections by ensuring that administrative and Volunteer-support tasks are completed in a timely manner: finances, fundraising, meeting location bookings, Volunteer recruitment and screening, Group events, etc. Group Committees should not, however, lose sight of why these activities are undertaken: to provide the youth of their community with a great, safe Scouting experience.

  • Group Health Navigator
  •   1. Passive Management 2. Thoughtful Management 3. Proactive Management 4. Management Excellence
    Program Quality Programs offer fun and safe activities for youth with limited use of the Four Elements. Programs align with the Four Elements. Youth involvement is limited. Scouter-facilitated programs actively involve youth and align with the Four Elements. Youth take active leadership roles in all aspects of the program with Scouters providing situationally appropriate support.