Leaders aren’t born, they’re created. For the past 100 years, Scouts Canada has been actively engaging children and youth in programs that build character, teamwork, and leadership skills. In 2017, Niverville saw its first troop in many years. They’re called the 1st Niverville Scouts Troop.
While the national organization’s mission is to help youth develop into confident, well-rounded, successful adults, they also provide a strong push towards teaching youth that they can make meaningful and positive contributions which will help create a better world for everyone to live in.
Since its inception, Niverville Scouts has been developing a strong program. Early on, they created their own unique badge to identify their new troop using symbols which represent the community, including a grain elevator, train tracks, and a fox.
The troop now includes 32 children and youth led by a pair of local administrators and eight volunteer leaders. But their numbers haven’t nearly reached capacity and they are encouraging more adults to get involved in a leadership role and more parents to enroll their kids.
“All volunteers complete a criminal records check and are supported with ongoing leadership development courses through Scouts Canada,” says Denise Poettcker, Commissioner for the Niverville troop. “Ensuring that children are allowed to grow in their own leadership journey in a safe environment is important to Scouts Canada.”
The program caters to youth between the ages of five and 24 and is open to boys and girls alike. The children are divided into age-relevant categories called Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts and each group participates in activities unique to their maturity levels.
“The children involved will discover adventures like camping and hiking and learn skills like cooking at camp and how to build a fire,” says Poettcker. “They will develop great friendships and together learn… skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We are wanting to [teach] environmental stewardship, healthy, active living, and leadership development.”
One of the techniques used to foster these values is referred to as “learning by doing,” which allows children to learn at their own pace, not at a pace set out for them as is normal in so many of society’s overly structured programs. In this setting, children are encouraged to lead the group while the adult leaders oversee the process. The kids determine the age-appropriate activities they participate in, help in the preparation for each activity, and are actively involved in carrying it out.
“Leaders [are there to] help youth achieve goals, build confidence, and discover their limits and embrace new adventures,” Poettcker adds. “We focus on trying to do as much as we can outside. For example, learning to camp. [The children] set up a tent, plan meals, and budget for the meal. [They learn] how to pack for camping, what to bring camping, what to wear, and how to plan for the weather… how to tie knots and first aid.”
This past year, Niverville Scouts built their own wooden race cars to compete in local and provincially held events. They’ve already competed in the Klondike Derby, which gave them an opportunity to put their teamwork and communications skills to good use. This year, the troop is involved in planning an event called Kub Kar Races to be held at Steinbach’s Clearspring Mall in the spring. Scouts and cubs from all over southern Manitoba are expected to participate.
Poettcker says that Scouts are also encouraged to invest in their local community, which she believes fosters a desire in them to become the champions and leaders of their own hometowns.
“Scouts helped wrap packages for the Christmas hampers with Helping Hands for the past couple of years,” Poettcker says. “We received a wonderful tour of the Helping Hands facility. We had the children help with the Remembrance Day service this fall. The children also baked for people in our community and delivered the baked goods to show appreciation for what they do for us.”
The Niverville Scouts program runs from September to May but might also include a few summertime camping and canoe trips. The annual cost for enrollment is $240 per child, although Poettcker says kids can enroll anytime throughout the year and the fees will be determined based on the number of months left in the annual program at the time of registration. To register right now, parents can expect a cost of $190, which will see them through until the end of the season.
Scouts Canada also provides a program called No Child Left Behind, which offers membership subsidies to lower-income families. Poettcker believes that every child should have the opportunity to be involved in a Scouts program. As a mother of Scouters herself, she says there are few events that they get more excited about.
