Policies, Standards and Procedures Changelog
Scouts Canada has recently endeavoured to make our Policies, Standards and Procedures more accessible for our members. Following extensive consultation, we launched a revitalized online format. Importantly, we also took this opportunity to update many or our Policies and Procedures to make the content as clear and relevant as possible.
Our Policies, Standards and Procedures continue to evolve in light of valuable feedback from members and lessons learned from our collective Scouting experience. On this page you will find a list of recent changes and additions to our Policies, Standards and Procedures.
Date | Policy | Change | Effective |
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October 24, 2023 | Prohibited Activities Standards | Updated to reflect towing an individual behind a vehicle. | September 2023 |
October 24, 2023 | Event Standards | Update to reflect the Event Assessment and Approval Procedure. | September 2023 |
October 24, 2023 | Group Financial Responsibilities and Reporting Procedure | Updated to reflect reporting requirements. | June 2023 |
October 24, 2023 | Event Assessment & Approval Procedure | Update to process in reviewing events. | June 2023 |
October 24, 2023 | Emergency Management Standards | Updated terms and including Event Standards. | June 2023 |
October 24, 2023 | Shooting Sports Standards | Updated to reflect the use of compound bows. | March 2023 |
October 24, 2023 | Transportation Standards | Updated to reflect Towing Behind and Vehicle and Exceptions. | March 2023 |
June 15, 2023 | Scouts Canada Code of Conduct Standards | Updated to reflect several points to improve clarity, understanding of expectations and youth safety trends that Scouts Canada has experienced. | June 2023 |
March 21, 2022 | International Travel Standards | Update to process, including new International Activity Application form, update to Adventure Application Form and update to approval timeline. | Mar. 17, 2022 |
November 3, 2021 | No One Left Behind (NOLB) Participation Procedure | Updated process so that parent/guardian applies for subsidy online through MyScouts. | Nov. 5, 2021 |
June 3, 2021 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards for STAGE 2 | Updated to reflect size limits and physical distancing requirements to encompass all provincial regulations. | June 2021 |
June 3, 2021 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards for STAGE 3 | Updated with indoor meeting guidelines. | June 2021 |
May 31, 2021 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards for STAGE 4 | Mass gathering restrictions defined in Pandemic Stage 4 Standard have been updated to reflect Provincial Guidance. The use of masks was also updated. | May 2021 |
March 1, 2021 | Risk Management Standards | New Standard - Created a new Standard for managing risk. | Mar. 1, 2021 |
March 1, 2021 | Risk Management Guideline | New Guideline - Created a new Guideline on how a consistent Risk Management procedure can deliver value, how it can be done both effectively and efficiently. This guideline is not intended for groups, sections or Scouting individuals. | Mar. 1, 2021 |
October 22, 2020 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards for STAGE 4 | New Standard - Created a new Standard for running in-person indoor & outdoor Scouts Canada activities safely during COVID-19. (ONLY APPLICABLE FOR: PEI Council and Yukon Groups) | Oct. 20, 2020 |
October 20, 2020 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards for STAGE 3 | New Standard - Created a new Standard for running in-person outdoor Scouts Canada activities safely during COVID-19. (ONLY APPLICABLE FOR: Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Councils and Groups) | Oct. 20, 2020 |
September 15, 2020 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards | Updated camping section to prohibit camping for the duration of Scouts Canada STAGE 2. More information on this revision is provided in the FAQ. | Sept. 15, 2020 |
July 13, 2020 | Pandemic Program Modification Standards | New Standard — Following extensive consultation with our membership, namely parents and Scouters, this Standard was developed to guide a safe return to in-person Scouts Canada activity during COVID-19. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Sept. 1, 2020 |
July 2, 2020 | Public Appointment Procedure | Deleted references to Areas and deleted references to the Volunteer and Employee Screening Procedure. Clarified shared National Key 3 authority for public appointments. | July 2, 2020 |
June 5, 2020 | Volunteer Screening Procedure | Updated to include the requirement for provincial based Child Abuse Registry checks (CAR) for the residents of Manitoba and Nova Scotia. | June 5, 2020 |
June 5, 2020 | Police Record Check Exception Procedure | Updated to include the requirement for provincial based Child Abuse Registry checks (CAR) for the residents of Manitoba and Nova Scotia. | June 5, 2020 |
April 14, 2020 | Event Standards |
New Standards - Following extensive consultation with Scouters, these Standards have been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. |
Jan. 1, 2021 |
April 14, 2020 | Event Assessment & Approval Procedure |
New Procedure – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Procedure has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. |
Jan. 1, 2021 |
January 16, 2020 | Volunteer Screening Procedure |
Replaces the Volunteer and Employee Screening Procedure — updated training requirements, removed inconsistencies, defined a clean Police Record Check and updated language for greater clarity. |
Jan. 16, 2020 |
October 4, 2019 | Adventure Standard |
New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. The Adventure Standard replaces the Camping and Outdoor Adventures Standards. |
Oct. 4, 2019 |
October 4, 2019 | Adventure Application Form |
New Form – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Form has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. The Adventure Application Form replaces the Camping and Outdoor Activity Application; however, the Camping and Outdoor Activity Application will be accepted for the remainder of 2019. |
Oct. 4, 2019 |
October 4, 2019 | Parent/Guardian Consent Form | The Parent/Guardian Consent Form has been updated to align with the new Adventure Standard. | Oct. 4, 2019 |
October 1, 2019 | Planning Standard | Group Planning Guideline added as a resource. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
October 1, 2019 | Group Safety Leadership Guideline | New Guideline — Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Guideline has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
October 1, 2019 | Third Party Waivers, Indemnification and Hold-Harmless Agreements Procedure | Comprehensive updates throughout. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
October 1, 2019 | Transfer Rover Scout and Scouter Procedure | The Procedure has been updated to ensure robust screening. Pending or Inactive Rover Scouts or Scouters cannot transfer from one Group to another without completing all screening requirements.
The “Scouts Canada Interview Guide for Transferring Scouters and Rover Scouts” has been added as a resource. |
Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Communication Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Goals & Targets Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Incident Management Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Learning & Development Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Planning Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Program Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Winter Sports Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 18, 2019 | Emergency Management Standard | New Standard – Following extensive consultation with Scouters, this Standard has been updated and finalized. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. | Oct. 1, 2019 |
September 11, 2019 | Politics and Public Appearances Standard | Added to BP&P website – previously approved. No significant changes from previous BP&P versions. | Sept. 11, 2019 |
August 28, 2019 | Swimming Standard | To accommodate shallow-water wading, water-play and exploring a line has been added to the Swimming standard.
6. Standing, exploring or playing in shallow water where the water level is approximately below mid-calf on all participants and safety of the swimming area has previously been established (e.g. slow-moving river, lake edge, wading pool, etc.) is permitted for all Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers without additional personal flotation device (PFD) or life-jacket.
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Sept. 1, 2019 |
August 27, 2019 | Watercraft Standard | 3 f. Added a line to provide clarification that swimming standards apply for all watercraft activities. | Aug. 27, 2019 |
August 26, 2019 | Prohibited Activities Standard | Trampolining added to list of prohibited activities. | Aug. 26, 2019 |
August 1, 2019 | Firearms and Weapons Standard |
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Aug. 1, 2019 |
June 26, 2019 | Policy 33 – Swimming Standards | 4 (2) a. As long as all participants wear PFDs, youth may go swimming under the right conditions — no additional training for Scouters is required. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
June 26, 2019 | Policy 33 – Swimming Standards | 4 (2) b. The youth-to-Scouter ratio for swimming without qualified aquatic activity supervisors has been clarified. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
June 26, 2019 | Policy 33 – Swimming Standards | 4 (1) f. The swim test has been clarified. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
June 26, 2019 | Policy 33 – Swimming Standards | 4 (1) a. The ratio of qualified aquatic activity supervisors to swimmers has changed. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
June 26, 2019 | Policy 33 – Swimming Standards | 4 (1) c (i). A qualified aquatic activity supervisor can be a youth. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
June 26, 2019 | Policy 33 – Swimming Standards | 4 (1) b and 4 (1) d (i). The terms “Lookout Scouter” and “Aquatic Activity Supervisor” have been defined. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
May 22, 2019 | Policy 30 – First Aid Standards | 4. A minimum of one qualified first aider must be present at every activity, including the normal meeting place, where there are fewer than 25 participants. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
May 22, 2019 | Policy 30 – First Aid Standards | 5. A minimum of two qualified first aiders must be present at every activity, including the normal meeting place, where there are over 25 participants. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
May 22, 2019 | Policy 30 – First Aid Standards | 9. When an activity does not take place at the normal meeting place and is more three hours’ travelling time from a medical care facility or access route that can take an ordinary road-going ambulance, there shall be at least one designated first aider holding a current wilderness first aid certification. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
May 22, 2019 | Policy 30 – First Aid Standards | 7. Emphasis has been placed on the Scouter in Charge to ensure all activities and meetings have the first aid equipment appropriate for the activity. | Sept. 1, 2019 |
May 22, 2019 | Policy 30 – First Aid Standards | 13. Those who work in professions that have a first aid element (such as nurses, police officers and others as referenced in the standards) can be exempted with Group Commissioner approval. | Sept. 1, 2019 |