| HAPPY CAMPERS |
| New environmental program brings joy to youth at Camp Samac |
| In collaboration with Lewis Williams, Camp Samac’s SCENES Committee Lead. Lewis is a seasoned outdoor adventure youth leader, Camp Samac’s SCENES Committee Lead, and a dedicated grandfather who knows how to bring joy to kids. He’ll take them to collect seeds and rocks, show them bugs or animal tracks in the snow or mud, and introduce them to the beauty of a campfire, prioritizing safety as all Scouts Canada does. Camp Samac is a great example of a property that is continuously innovating. This time, the team is developing an environmental program, aligned with The Canadian Path and Nature Centre Resources, that is designed to inspire youth with meaningful actions they can take to protect our natural environment. “We now also have program elements consistent with the objectives of the SCENES accreditation. We want to help youth members progress through them (…). We are creating environmental activities for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to help them earn personal achievement badges. We think this will be a huge support for our Scouters and Scouting youth on their Canadian Path. The cool thing is that all of these will be online and easily accessible by everyone.” – Lewis Williams |
| For eager badge and crest collectors Going to any jamboree is among the most exciting Scouting experiences and one of the highlights is the badge and crest trading tent. However, youth sometimes find it difficult to work towards Personal Achievement Badges. That’s why the new environmental program at Camp Samac provides Scouters with resources that ease the process of obtaining badges. Scouters can choose from many fantastic and engaging activities adapted to each section and badge, e.g.: Classifying Clouds (Beavers)Map Orienteering (Cubs) Stars in the Nighttime Sky (Scouts) |
| Furthermore, Groups participating in this initiative cultivate tree seedlings and vegetables at the Nature and Tree Centre and greenhouse. The vegetables are donated to a food bank which helps reduce food insecurity in the area. Youth can also contribute to environmental sustainability, while learning about composting and waste reduction. Looking for community and business partners? Camp Samac teams up with other Canadian SCENES Scout Camps, aligned organizations and local community groups including: The Indigenous Metis community The local Conservation Authority Ontario Tech University Durham College Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Local food banks A local arborist school and community schools Ontario Power Generation The Trumpeter Swan Society Fisheries and Oceans Canada Oshawa City Council Have a look at similar organizations in your area and dive into new programming that can help boost your Camp’s revenue. |