Communications and Presentations and Virtual Resources | Edmonton, Northern Alberta, Northwest Territories - Northern Lights Council

Scouting builds resiliency and if we can help our kids find resiliency, we know they’ll be prepared for future success in the world. So we called in an expert.

Did you miss the "Raising Resilient Children Webinar" with Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe? Don't worry — we recorded the webinar and live Q&A so that you can catch Robyne's interactive session! Watch the webinar to gain an understanding of the principles of building resiliency and discover some steps you can take to better support youth amidst these changing times — and also in daily life.

Watch the recorded webinar in the David Huestis Learning Centre, or download the free Guide to Resilient Children to explore more.

Click here for the Guide to Resilient Children PDF

Presentations

Mark Little Presentation June 24, 2019

COVID 19 Messaging - Archive

NOV 1 2021 Front page, superseded Feb 11, 2022

Scouters,

In light of the pandemic, Scouts Canada is taking further steps to ensure the health and safety of our membership. With that in mind, we are implementing a new mandate regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. This mandate represents a single national position for Scouts Canada and will be effective in all Councils. As such:

All individuals participating in in-person Scouts Canada activities who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021.

More detailed information will be released on September 15 and will be found here.

As safety leaders in our community, Scouts Canada is ensuring the health and safety of our membership. We believe the health and safety of our youth and adult members is priority #1, and a responsibility for all to share. Considering the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19, requiring mandatory vaccination will help to keep our communities safe and contribute to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. We are asking our Scouts Canada members to play an essential role in keeping themselves, their friends, their Scouters, and our community healthy. Any individual who cannot be vaccinated based on medical or religious reasons can request an exemption. Those who remain unvaccinated will be able to participate in virtual activities.

In Northern Lights Council, we will still operate under the Stage 4 Pandemic Standard, which requires your group to follow all municipal, provincial and federal guidelines as it relates to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We also strongly encourage you to work with all members of your Scouting community to ensure a safe, fun and fulfilling experience for all involved.

Below is a link to the FAQ document that should answer some of your questions.

If you have any more questions on this, please reach out to your Relationship Manager.

We look forward to working with you to get our youth outside and having adventures.

Stage 5 - AUGUST updated on Aug 16 2021, superseded by post on main page, September 1, 2021

Return to Scouting Stage 5

All groups in NLC (Alberta and NWT) are at a Scouts Canada Pandemic Stage 5!

*All BC groups that are supported by NLC are at Pandemic Stage 4

In this final transition stage, while still operating in a formally declared pandemic, Scouts Canada continues to maintain a position of safety leadership and social responsibility. In alignment with our Safety-First Policy, Scouts Canada’s priority will be ensuring that activities are modified to ensure the safety of our members and to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

The Stage 5 Pandemic Standards effectively lift all internal restrictions for all Scouting activities while deferring to all municipal and provincial public health restrictions. Scouts Canada COVID map

The Alberta provincial government has provided reopening guidance documents for overnight camps Reopening Guidance July 2021. They recommend:

That we plan activities and schedules that allows camp participants to spread out in their groups and to have distance between groups. This can include:
- Expanding the number of accommodation options available.
- Setting up staggered meal and activity times for groups of youth.
- Limiting the number of youth who can participate in an activity at a time (use patrols)
- Moving activities outdoors or into larger venues.
Consider increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of equipment, toys or other materials that are shared by multiple campers or groups of campers.
Encourage youth to perform hand hygiene before and after handling shared equipment.
Assign each patrol its own equipment or materials, where possible.
Volunteers and youth should self-screen or be screened for COVID-19 symptoms by a Scouter, parent, or guardian each day that they attend the camp, at the start of the day, using the applicable checklist for their age group
Scouters are encouraged to collect the names and contact information for all attendees and visitors (e.g., participant caregivers) to assist in contacting close contacts, if an attendee tests positive or an outbreak is identified.
Scouters should assess the risk and adopt mask-wearing, if appropriate, to reduce the risk of transmission in indoor spaces.
- Use of masks by Scouters can be considered based on a Scouter’s personal assessment of their risk of contracting COVID-19.
- Children attending a childcare program are not required to wear a mask while participating in programming but should be supported to wear one if their parent prefers.
- If masks are worn, Alberta Health mask guidance should be followed and can be found here: www.alberta.ca/masks
  - Once a mask has been removed, it should be thrown in a lined trash bin (disposable masks) or placed in a sealed container to be laundered (reusable masks).

As well, The Scouter-in-Charge must complete a Modified Adventure Application Form (“MAAF”) for all activities away from the usual meeting place. This includes Category 1 outdoor activities.

While we can ease most restrictions, we must ensure we are following the provincial guidelines and doing our best to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Please discuss options for meetings with your Relationship Manager.

Meeting in-person and overnight camping is still at the group’s discretion as approved by the Group Commissioner and is not mandated by Council. A modified-AAF form will be required.

Our request to Scouters, families, and youth is to please keep Scouting open and accessible. While how we Scout is changing, why we Scout has stayed the same; you are still making a positive impact on the lives of our youth even when the delivery method is different.

Scouting is essential to the well-being of youth—now more than ever. Let's keep the Scouting spirit alive and continue to show our youth and the world why we Scout!

For all questions about this, please contact your Relationship Manager or NLC Key 3.

Return to Scouting Stage 4 updated on June 12th, 2021--for Groups in ALBERTA. SUPERSEDED BY POST ON MAIN PAGE MADE AUGUST 16 2021

All Groups in BC, NWT, and Saskatchewan that are supported by NLC MUST follow their respective provincial guidelines. Please contact your Relationship Manager for more details.

Newest Alberta Public Health Order (PHO): CMOH Order 31
Alberta Stage 2 Reopening Plan: Enhanced Public Health Measures

Under a Scouts Canada Return to Scouting Stage 4, planned and Group Commissioner approved in-person meetings both indoors and outdoors are permitted, as long as both the provincial and Scouts Canada guidelines are followed. These include, but are not limited to:

Meeting in-person outside, with members of different households always maintaining two-meter distancing.
- Maximum size for organized outdoor event is permitted with up to 150 people
Meeting in-person inside at maximum of 1/3 of fire code occupancy, with members of different households always maintaining two-meter distancing. Masks must be worn when not engaging in high-intensity physical activities
Overnight camping is allowed with restrictions. Please contact your Relationship Manager PRIOR to initiating planning process

Full description of Scouts Canada’s Return to Scouting Stage 4 Standards: Pandemic Standards

We strongly recommend that all planning of activities continues to be done using technology and practices that do not involve meeting in person. While we can ease some restrictions, we must ensure we are following the provincial guidelines and doing our best to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Please discuss options for meetings with your Relationship Manager.

Meeting in-person and overnight camping is still at the group’s discretion as approved by the Group Commissioner and is not mandated by Council. A modified-AAF form will be required.

Our request to Scouters, families, and youth is to please keep Scouting open and accessible. While how we Scout is changing, why we Scout has stayed the same; you are still making a positive impact on the lives of our youth even when the delivery method is different.

Scouting is essential to the well-being of youth—now more than ever. Let's keep the Scouting spirit alive and continue to show our youth and the world why we Scout!

For all questions about this, please contact your Relationship Manager.

Have a great weekend!

Council Key 3

POSTED MAY 11 2021. SUPERSEDED BY POST ON MAIN PAGE MADE JUNE 14 2021

Update on our Return to Scouting Stage

On May 10th, 2021 new restrictions in the province of Alberta will take effect and they will have an impact on our Scout groups.

Starting May 10th, all Alberta Scout Groups in NLC will be back to Virtual Scouting (Stage 1); these changes do NOT affect groups in NWT or BC.

If you are looking for ideas for virtual programming, we encourage you to check out the Great 8 Challenge: https://www.scouts.ca/great8.../the-great-8-challenge.html It is not too late to join in the fun that is happening across the country!

Our request to Scouters, families, and youth is to please keep Scouting open and accessible. While how we Scout is changing, why we Scout has stayed the same; you continue to make a positive impact on the lives of our youth even when the delivery method changes.

Scouting is essential to the well-being of youth—now more than ever. Let's keep the Scouting spirit alive and continue to show our youth and the world why we Scout!

Newest Public Health Order: https://open.alberta.ca/.../health-cmoh-record-of...

Northern Lights Key 3

Posted May 1st, NOW SUPERSEDED BY POST ON MAIN PAGE MADE MAY 8, 2021

On May 3rd, 2021, new restrictions in the province of Alberta will take effect and they will have an impact on some Scouting groups.

The newest restrictions are targeted to areas deemed to be "Hot Spots." If your group is located in one of these "Hot Spot" locations, indoor meetings are NOT allowed. It is important to note, that given the fluid nature of the COVID situation in Alberta, the list of communities impacted by these new restrictions can change rapidly, so please check the provincial guidelines or contact your Relationship Manager BEFORE your group plans to meet inside.

Under these new restrictions, groups that are located in Hot Spots will still be able to:

Meet in-person outside in groups of 10 people or less (maximum of 8 youth to meet the 2 Scouter ratio), with members of different households maintaining two metre distancing at all times.
Scouters may volunteer with more than one Scouting cohort provided they are meeting on different days OR at different times

eg. A Scouter cannot be part of two separate Scouting cohorts that are meeting at the same time

Example 1: Scouter Sally and Scouter Rob work together to support two different patrols in the Cub Section. To meet the provincial guideliens, they decided that Patrol A will meet Tuesdays at 6 PM while Patrol B will meet on Wednesdays at 6 PM. The GC reviewed and approved their plan
Example 2: Scouter Kris and Scouter Andrea work together to support two different patrols in the Troop Section. To meet the provincial guidleiens, they decided that Patrol A will meet on Saturdays from 10 AM until noon while Patrol B will also meet on Saturdays, but their start time will be at 12:30 PM. By staggering these start times, the Scouters are able to santize the equipment AND ensure there is no crossover between Patrols. Their GC reviewed and approved their plan

Please discuss options with your Relationship Manager so our volunteers are not in violation of the PHO and subject to fines

Masks are highly encouraged for outdoor meetings (please follow all provincial guidelines on this)
All other guidelines of Stage 2 would need to be adhered to, including submission of a M-AAF to Group Commissioner

Newest Public Health Order (PHO): https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/health-cmoh-record-of-decision-cmoh-order-17-2021.pdf

For groups NOT impacted by the new provincial restrictions:

Meeting in-person inside in groups of 10 people or less (maximum of 8 youth to meet the 2 Scouter ratio), with members of different households maintaining three metre distancing at all times--provided your group is NOT in a "Hot Spot"

We strongly recommend that all planning of activities continues to be done using technology and practices that do not involve meeting in person. While we can ease some restrictions, we must ensure we are following the provincial guidelines and doing our best to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by limiting our face-to-face social interactions. Please discuss options for meetings with your Relationship Manager.

Meeting in-person is at the group’s discretion as approved by the Group Commissioner and is not mandated by Council. A modified-AAF form will be required for all in-person meetings.

Our request to Scouters, families, and youth is to please keep Scouting open and accessible. While how we Scout is changing, why we Scout has stayed the same; you are still making a positive impact on the lives of our youth even when the delivery method is different.

Scouting is essential to the well-being of youth—now more than ever. Let's keep the Scouting spirit alive and continue to show our youth and the world why we Scout!

NLC Council Key 3

Tryton Harper--Council Youth Commissioner

Norm Kerr--Council Commissioner

Tonille Mallette--Council Relationship Manager

Posted March, NOW SUPERSEDED BY POST ON MAIN PAGE MADE MAY 2, 2021

We have recently received clarification from Alberta Health Services about provincial health restrictions and how they apply to Scouts Canada. These clarifications will allow us to remain in a Scouts Canda modified Stage 2, with some restrictions loosened.

Please read below to get the updated details of a modified Stage 2 in NLC (current as of April 8th, 2021):

Under a Modified Stage 2, planned and Group Commissioner approved in-person meetings of up to a maximum of 10 people are permitted, as long as both the provincial and Scouts Canada guidelines are followed. These include, but are not limited to:

Meeting in-person outside in groups of 10 people or less (maximum of 8 youth to meet the 2 Scouter ratio), with members of different households maintaining two metre distancing at all times.
Meeting in-person inside in groups of 10 people or less (maximum of 8 youth to meet the 2 Scouter ratio), with members of different households maintaining three metre distancing at all times.
Scouters may volunteer with more than one Scouting cohort provided they are meeting on different days OR at different times
- > eg. A Scouter cannot be part of two separate Scouting cohorts that are meeting at the same time
  - Example 1: Scouter Sally and Scouter Rob work together to support two different patrols in the Cub Section. To meet the provincial guideliens, they decided that Patrol A will meet Tuesdays at 6 PM while Patrol B will meet on Wednesdays at 6 PM. The GC reviewed and approved their plan
  - Example 2: Scouter Kris and Scouter Andrea work together to support two different patrols in the Troop Section. To meet the provincial guidleiens, they decided that Patrol A will meet on Saturdays from 10 AM until noon while Patrol B will also meet on Saturdays, but their start time will be at 12:30 PM. By staggering these start times, the Scouters are able to santize the equipment AND ensure there is no crossover between Patrols. Their GC reviewed and approved their plan
- Please discuss options with your Relationship Manager so our volunteers are not in violation of the PHO and subject to fines
Masks are mandatory for indoor meetings and highly encouraged for outdoor meetings (please follow all provincial guidelines on this)
All other guidelines of Stage 2 would need to be adhered to, including submission of a Modified-Adventure Application Form (M-AAF) to Group Commissioner

We strongly recommend that all planning of activities continues to be done using technology and practices that do not involve meeting in person. While we can ease some restrictions, we must ensure we are following the provincial guidelines and doing our best to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by limiting our face-to-face social interactions. Please discuss options for meetings with your Relationship Manager.

Meeting in person is at the group’s discretion as approved by the Group Commissioner and is not mandated by Council. A modified-AAF form will be required.

Our request to Scouters, families, and youth is to please keep Scouting open and accessible. While how we Scout is changing, why we Scout has stayed the same; you are still making a positive impact on the lives of our youth even when the delivery method is different.

Scouting is essential to the well-being of youth—now more than ever. Let's keep the Scouting spirit alive and continue to show our youth and the world why we Scout!

Posted January 1, NOW SUPERSEDED BY POST ON MAIN PAGE

Good Morning Families and Scouters!

While NLC will be starting the 2021 Scouting year off at Stage 1 (virtual) following the province's update on Jan 7th, that doesn’t mean we can’t have awesome adventures.

By leaning on and leaning from our Scouting community, we will come out of the pandemic stronger and wiser. Here's to a new year filled with new adventures and new friendships! Where will Scouts take you in 2021?

Our team has been working hard to produce more solutions for our members to be able to deliver exciting virtual programming. Take advantage of the resources on scouts.caand the additional program resources that have been developed by the Program Support Team and your local Councils. These include the Personal Achievement Badge portal and our Scouts for Sustainability program.

Remember, Virtual Scouting is more than just Zoom meetings; it is an opportunity to provide a unique way to explore all 6 program areas--including the Environment & Outdoors. Instead of experiencing these activities at an in-person meeting, our youth and Scouters will be doing them within their family units and virtually sharing those experiences with their Scouting friends. Our youth can still earn badges for the activities they complete with their families and develop those important skills. These are all great options to keep our youth and Scouters engaged and Scouting--even when we are apart.

Our request to Scouters, families and youth is to please keep Scouting open and accessible. Our program is more than a weekly in-person meeting; it is about helping youth develop social, physical, intellectual, characterful, emotional, and spiritual skills to help them be successful today and in their future endeavours. If the pandemic has taught us anything it is that Scouting can be done anywhere and in any format. Let's keep the Scouting spirit alive and we encourage everyone to stay connected through social media.

This is an opportunity for us to share best practices and demonstrate the resiliency and importance of Scouting.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your, Group Commissioner.

Have a great day and stay safe!

NLC Council Key 3

Tryton Harper--Council Youth Commissioner

Norm Kerr--Council Commissioner

Tonille Mallette--Council Relationship Manager