Scouting in Quebec has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
Scouting in Quebec has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
Quebec is administered by the Quebec Council of Scouts Canada, which includes the Quebec Rover Round Table.
Areas were eliminated as part of the Scouts Canada organizational structure in 2019, but they former Areas were:
Among Quebec's varied Scouting groups are Scouts, Sea Scouts, Beavers, Cubs, Rovers and Venturers.
Tamaracouta Scout Reserve is a Scout camp located near Mille Isles, Quebec. The camp, which claims to be the oldest continuously-operating Scout camp in the world, is situated on 1000 acres (4 km²) of forest in the Laurentian Mountains. It is owned and operated by Scouts Canada, Quebec Council. The camp is open year-round and offers a staff summer camp program.
The camp opened in 1912 with funds provided by a group of generous citizens led by Colonel E.A. Whitehead. Originally a farm, the property formerly belonged to the Dawson family of Mille Isles. The name Tamaracouta comes from two sources. There are a large number of Tamarack trees located on the property. The word couta meaning body of water in a First Nations language.
After World War I, the camp decided to adopt a Hudson's Bay Company theme. Since that time, campsites have been named after the HBC Trading Posts. Staff positions also take HBC names, such as Camp factor instead of Camp Director.
The Tamaracouta Scout Reserve hosted the 11th Canadian Scout Jamboree, in July 2007, with 10,000 campers.
In 2018, camp was temporarily closed and put up for sell in 2023. [1]
The Knights of Tamara is an honour camping society formed in 1933. The Knights recognize outstanding campers who have shown devotion to Camp Tamarcouta during summer camp. As of 2005, over 3500 campers have become Knights. To become a Knight, a camper must meet certain requirements, such as having camped at TSR for a certain amount of time, being at least 14 years old by the end of the calendar year in which they are being knighted and be nominated by their peers. If their nomination is approved, they become a squire at a ceremony near the beginning of their week of camp. During the week, they must complete a work vigil, and an overnight vigil which consists of sleeping out alone one night in the woods, and also learning the words to "Hail Tamaracouta", a traditional song among other tasks. Squires are easily recognized by the purple ring of indelible mystery ink (referred to as squire juice) painted on the face in a circle passing between the eyes and the hairline, between ears and eyes, and circling through the uppermost part of the chin. Squires must present themselves for "ringing" each morning at a very specific time; being late one day earns the squire a purple dot on the nose and two days earns them a purple chinstrap followed by one of many other decorations such as a second inner ring, a fully purple nose or any design of the ringer's discretion. If a squire misses a "ringing" for a poor reason, break camp rules, or act in a fashion unbecoming of a squire, they may be stripped of their squire status.
Originally, at the end of the week, squires were presented for the last time in a special public ceremony which included a Joust by pairs of squires on a canvas tarp using first lard and then coco, the winner being the least covered in coco. The lard and coco jousts were stopped after females were invited to become Knights and to conform with Scouts Canada strict anti hazing policy. Initially, this style of jousting was replaced by a joust involving padded staffs used by 2 squires on a log, however, recently, around 2014, the joust was once again changed to 3 rounds of combat with padded longsword, padded shortsword and shield, and the option of either padded sword with shield or 2 padded swords. Following the joust, there are other steps, including the final "Second Ceremony", which is for Knights only. Knights wear a bracelet with a large black bead tied with a piece of leather string around the right wrist. After twelve years, the knight is entitled to wear a silver bead. Only a silver bead knight can become a Grand Knight (master of ceremonies). At founding in 1933, and for several decades thereafter, knights were given a colored bead reflecting the season in which they had become knighted. [2]
There are also a number of independent Scouting associations active in Quebec. Among them are:
Guides are served by the Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada.
Girl Guide Camp WaThikAne (pronounced wahtickani)[ needs IPA ] is situated on Lac Bouchette, 96 kilometres north of Montreal, near the town of Morin Heights, Quebec. In operation since 1926, WaThikAne has 6 fully equipped campsites, 2 equipped pioneer campsites and a fully equipped (partially heated) lodge. The main camp area is suitable for day or overnight for any age group. All camp users have access to the large activity room in the lodge.
Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a bivy or tarp, or no shelter at all. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors, in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment or in a form of educational experience. Spending the night away from home distinguishes camping from day-tripping, picnicking, and other outdoor activities.
Campsite, campground, and camping pitch are all related terms regarding a place used for camping. The usage differs between British English and American English.
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership programme and the related award for adult leaders in the programmes of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement. Courses generally have a combined classroom and practical outdoors-based phase followed by a Wood Badge ticket, also known as the project phase. By "working the ticket", participants put their newly gained experience into practice to attain ticket goals aiding the Scouting movement. The first Wood Badge training was organized by Francis "Skipper" Gidney and lectured at by Robert Baden-Powell and others at Gilwell Park in September 1919. Wood Badge training has since spread across the world with international variations.
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association providing programs for young people, between the ages of 5 and 26, with the stated aim "To help develop well-rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world". Scouts Canada, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 2021–22, youth membership stood at 33,899, a 48% decline from 64,693 in 2014–15. Over the same period, volunteer numbers also declined 43%, from 20,717 in 2015 to 11,765 in 2022. Scouts Canada has declined significantly in size since its peak: youth membership is down 82% from 288,084 in 1965 and volunteer numbers are down 50% from 33,524 in 1965.
The Scout movement in France consists of about 80 different associations and federations with about 180,000 Scouts and Girl Guides. Next to Germany, France is the country with the most fragmented Scout movement.
Scouting exists in Western Sahara both as part of the Fédération Nationale du Scoutisme Marocain as well as independent groups.
Scouting in French Polynesia is represented by the Conseil du Scoutisme polynésien, founded in 1986. The first Scout unit in French Polynesia was founded in 1947. French Polynesia became an Associate Member of the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 2001. Membership in 2001 stood at 793.
The Scout and Guide movement in Canada is served by many separate organizations, some with various national and international affiliations.
Scouting and Guiding in Alberta has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
The Brownsea Island Scout camp was the site of a boys' camping event on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, southern England, organised by Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell to test his ideas for the book Scouting for Boys. Boys from different social backgrounds participated from 1 to 8 August 1907 in activities around camping, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, lifesaving and patriotism. The event is regarded as the origin of the worldwide Scout movement.
Throughout the world there are many museums related to Scouting dedicated to preserving, communicating, and exhibiting the heritage of the Scouting movement for purposes of study, education, and enjoyment of society. A downloadable world directory of Scouting museums is available from the US Scouting Service Project.
The Pee Dee Area Council was a Boy Scouts organization located in northeastern South Carolina. The Indian Waters Council headquartered in Columbia, SC absorbed the council on August 1, 2022. The combined council, Indian Waters Council #553 continues to operate Camp Coker, and maintain an office in Florence, SC.
The Canadian Scout Jamboree or CJ is a jamboree run by Scouts Canada for members of the Scout and Venturer sections. The Jamboree also includes groups from other countries attending, most notable from the United States.
The Virginia Headwaters Council (VAHC) is the local council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) that serves Scouts in areas of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and West Virginia and areas of central Virginia.
The International Catholic Conference of Scouting (ICCS) is an autonomous, international body committed to promoting and supporting Catholic Scout associations and to be a link between the Scout movement and the Catholic Church. Its headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.
Scouting in Yorkshire and the Humber is largely represented by the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
The Éclaireuses et Éclaireurs israélites de France is a Jewish Scouting and Guiding organization in France. It was founded in 1923 and serves about 4,000 members. The EEIF is a member of the Fédération du Scoutisme Français and of the International Forum of Jewish Scouts.
The European Scout Jamboree is an international Scouting jamboree, which is organized at irregular times by the European Scout Region of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).
Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa, also known as CBB of Ottawa, is a Jewish summer camp north-west of Ottawa, near Quyon, Quebec. The camp draws campers and staff from across Canada, the United States, Europe and Israel.
There are hundreds of scout camps around the world. Some of these are historically notable Scout camps. Each Scouting association runs its own camp. For example, in the United States, a number of national camps are run by the Boy Scouts of America, and the local councils run the greatest number of camps. The two most important factors in establishing notability are the age of the camp, and its impact on the local community or country where it is located.
