Canadian Path

Overview

The Canadian Path program is the way Scouting is done in Canada. Developed by Scouts Canada, this well-rounded program offers youth aged 5 to 26 an opportunity to experience new things, have more adventures and develop into confident and capable individuals, better prepared for success in the world.

From Beaver Scouts to Rover Scouts, youth take the lead in deciding what program areas they will pursue. Taking charge, the youth will organize ways to achieve these goals, and will collectively reflect on their experience after the goal is met. With support from adult Scouters, this “Plan-Do-Review” method is one of the many ways that the Canadian Path can help youth develop into critical thinkers, extend their personal progression, and encourage active participation in an inclusive team dynamic.

The Canadian Path brings Scouting back to its roots by using the Scout Method as its basis, which was first introduced by Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout Movement.

Components of The Path

The Canadian Path is comprised of several components

A non-formal approach to learning

The seven components of the Scout Method

A personal journey of growth

Six balanced Program Areas

Environment & Outdoors, Leadership, Active & Healthy Living, Citizenship, Creative Expression, and Beliefs & Values

The Four Elements

Youth-led, Plan-Do-Review, Adventure, and SPICES (the six attributes Scouting aims to foster: Social, Physical, Intellectual, Character, Emotional, and Spiritual)

The Four Elements

Youth-led

The program is directed by its youth members - not the Scouters

Plan-Do-Review

A three-step process informs all activities in the Canadian Path program

Adventure

Scouts explore new things, share new ideas, learn new skills, and create new paths

SPICES

Social, Physical, Intellectual, Character, Emotional, Spiritual are the six dimensions of personal development for the Canadian Path program

Program Areas

The Canadian Path is divided into six Program Areas—categories of the different opportunities that Scouting offers.

Each Section explores all of the Program Areas through age-appropriate activities. As your Section plans its adventures, you may discover that your plans include more than one Program Area.

Including features from multiple Program Areas makes the adventure more challenging and encourages development in all of the SPICES. Remember, the Canadian Path is Youth-led, so the youth will decide on adventures for every Program Area. The ideas below give a sense of the fantastic possibilities the six Program Areas can provide.

  • Environment & Outdoors

    Adventures in this Program Area involve exploring, hiking, camping, paddling and other ways of enjoying the outdoors, even as youth learn new skills to live in, and take care of, their environment and Leave No Trace.

  • Leadership

    During adventures in this Program Area, youth learn about and practise the skills of being good leaders in their Section, local community and Canada.

  • Active & Healthy Living

    During adventures in this Program Area, youth are involved in playing, having fun and being active while they develop good mental and physical habits for happy and healthy living.

  • Citizenship

    During adventures in this Program Area, youth are involved in learning about being good citizens in their community, Canada and world.

  • Creative Expression

    During adventures in this Program Area, youth are involved in sharing and exploring their own creative expression and trying out the creative expression engaged by others.

  • Beliefs & Values

    During adventures in this Program Area, youth explore personal values and beliefs as well as the diversity of cultures and faiths that make up our communities, our nation and our world.

Badges

The focus of the Scouting program is on personal progression. Badges help youth recognize and celebrate their personal progression and encourage them to set new goals. Venturer Scouts have the opportunity to work towards a variety of badges, including:The focus of the Scouting program is on personal progression. Badges help youth recognize and celebrate their personal progression and encourage them to set new goals. Venturer Scouts have the opportunity to work towards a variety of badges, including:

Outdoor Adventure Skills: Outdoor Adventure Skills are learned in the completion of adventures. Nine areas of skills are part of every Scouting Section, from Beaver Scouts to Rover Scouts. Each of the nine skills is defined in nine progressive stages.

King’s Venturer Award: The King’s Venturer Scout Award is the top award of a youth’s personal journey through Venturer Scouts.

Venturers may also choose to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, an award program that any youth, in or outside of scouting, between the ages 14 – 25 can join.

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