Voyageur Scout

The Voyageur Scout Award is the first opportunity that a Scout will set goals, plan, and accomplish a combination of skills and tasks to earn a difficult award.

By earning the Voyageur level of all four Activity Badges, one level of the Year Round Camping Award, and a number of Challenge Badges, Scouts develop and demonstrate a broad base of knowledge and skills in Citizenship, Leadership, Personal Development and Outdoor Skills areas.

Voyageur Scout Award

Requirements to qualify as a Voyageur Scout:

1. Successfully complete the Pioneer Scout requirements and be invested as a Scout.
2. Complete the requirements in each of the following Activity Areas, Citizenship, Leadership, Personal Development and Outdoor Skills at the Voyageur level.
3. Earn four (4) Challenge Badges of your choice from at least 2 different Challenge Badge categories.
4. Earn either the Spring/Fall section of the Year Round Camping Award.

Voyageur Citizenship Award

To earn the Voyageur Citizenship Award, complete the following requirements:

1. Contribute a total of five hours to your community by actively participating in three different community projects (e.g. Terry Fox run, community food banks, Remembrance Day Ceremony).
2. Describe what to do at the scene of an emergency, including how to report fires, accidents or crimes using the "911" service or other emergency service used in your community.
3. Demonstrate a knowledge of your community by being able to give simple directions (e.g. how to get to major features of the community such as a police station, a hospital, a shopping centre, or a sports facilities).
4. Meet with a representative of a local public service (fire department, police service, ambulance service, engineering department) to learn its function and role within the community.
5. Describe the Canadian flag, as well as your provincial or territorial flag, flower and bird using visual aids to assist.
6. Demonstrate the correct care and use of the Canadian Flag while participating in a flag ceremony.
7. Research the Nationl War Memorial located in Ottawa and explain its significance to your Patrol/Troop. Identify any contributions made by your relatives toward Canada's protection of peace and freedom in the world.
8. Creatively demonstrate your knowledge of the history of Scouting as described in the Canadian Scout Handbook.

Voyageur Leadership Award

To earn the Voyageur Leadership Award, complete the following requirements:

1. Show your ability to be a contributing member of a group by planning and participating in a patrol/troop activity which meets a requirements of the Voyageur level - OUTDOOR SKILLS.
2. Discuss the difference between a "boss" and a "leader" with your Court of Honour or Patrol in Council. Provide examples of each style through role play with your Patrol members.
3. Select a person who has a leadership role in your community and discuss and evaluate their methods. In your own words, explain what makes this person a good leader. Examples of this person might include coaches, Scout leaders, teachers, and service club members.
4. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the patrol leader, assistanct patrol leader, activity leader and Scout leader.
5. Help plan a skills or activity session for the troop, and evaluate how the session went.
6. Discuss the function and purpose of the Court of Honour and patrol meeting.
7. Develop and practice a home fire plan with your family. Discuss the successes and identify the shortcomings of your plan

Voyageur Outdoors Skills Award

With members of your patrol and/or Troop participate in the following outdoor activities:

1. Camp outdoors for a minimum of six (6) nights. (2 nights must be consecutive)
2. Participate in two (2) hikes/outings of approximately 6 hours duration each - one may be included in the camps detailed above. One hike or outing must involve an overnight stay in the outdoors.
3. Demonstrate your knowledge of weather conditions and the hazards that can be encountered including knowledge of the causes, symptoms, signs, prevention and treatment of the following:
   1. hypothermia;
   2. hyperthermia;
   3. frostbite;
   4. sunburn/sunstroke; and
   5. dehydration.
4. Prepare a list of basic personal equipment you require for an overnight camp. Know about its uses and maintenance.
5. Discuss the rules and procedures your troop uses to prevent getting lost or separated from the group. Describe what you would do should you become lost or separated from your patrol.
6. Prepare a personal emergency kit. Describe the contents and purpose of each item.
7. Demonstrate your knowledge of environmental conditions and the hazards that can be encountered when in the outdoors by:
   1. Describing the dangers of severe storms and how to protect yourself during a lightning or hail storm or tornado, etc;
   2. Describing how to deal with biting and stinging insects when outdoors (e.g. What colours attract insects? What clothing should you wear? How to handle allergic reactions?);
   3. Describing what dangers can be encountered from wild animals when outdoors. Give examples of how you can minimize dangerous encounters (e.g. How you would react in the presence of a mother bear and her cub); and
   4. Researching what poisonous wild plants may be encountered in areas where your patrol camps. Describe the first aid treatment for one of them.
8. Demonstrate the safe use of your troop equipment (e.g. knives, axes, saws, stoves and lanterns).
9. Demonstrate your knowledge of maps, both road and topographical, and compass:
   1. Know the 16 points of a compass and their corresponding degrees;
   2. Know basic map symbols; and
   3. know how to take and follow compass bearings.
10. After exploring the potential impact of outdoor activities on the environment, develop your own "Environmental Code". Share your ideas with your patrol/troop.
11. Participate for at least a day in an environmental project of your choosing.
12. Demonstrate the ability to lay, light and safely extinguish a fire leaving no trace.
13. Cook a simple outdoor meal.
14. Demonstrate how to ensure safe drinking water.
15. Demonstrate safe campsite layout paying particular interest to fuel, equipment and food storage and fire safety.
16. Demonstrate the ability to use 5 common knots and describe their correct use. (Knots to consider include: reef knot, locking bowline, clove hitch, sheetbend, round turn and 2 half hitches, and woven figure 8 bend.)
17. Demonstrate knowledge of Leave No Trace philosophies.

Voyageur Personal Development Award

To earn the Voyageur Personal Development Award, complete the following requirements:

Spiritual

1. Lead an opening or closing spiritual activity in a troop setting, e.g. readings, prayer, grace...
2. Participate in the planning and conducting of a Scout's Own.
3. Attend the faith service of your choice and/or participate in Troop Scout's Own.

Social

1. Record ways that you have used the Scout Promise and Law in your daily living, THEN
2. Discuss with your Troop Scouter and members of your patrol what you have done over a one week period.
3. Demonstrate the effects of peer pressure. Describe how peer pressure effects you.
4. participate in a discussion about the effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Intellectual

1. Explain the importance of goal setting.
2. Demonstrate setting personal goals including the steps that will be required in order to achieve your goal.
3. Discuss your goals with your Scout leader and family.

Physical

1. Show that you understand the following aspects of personal health and hygiene, as they pertain to a camping environment: i) care of skin, hair and nails ii) care of eyes, ears and teeth iii) proper amount of sleep iv) function of the main organs of the body v) care of allergies.
2. Understand general public health measures which include water treatment and immunization.
3. Explain the value of exercise.
4. Participate in and show ability in an individual or team sport.
5. Demonstrate basic fitness level in five different exercise areas:
   1. push-ups (5)
   2. shuttle run (14 sec.)
   3. partial curl-ups (17)
   4. standing long jump (1.35 m)
   5. 50m run (10 sec.)
   6. endurance run (1600 m 10 min, 15 sec)
6. Show successful participation in an appropriate Physical Fitness program.

Year Round Camping Award (FALL or SPRING)

Purpose: To encourage the Scout to get camping experience in the Fall or Spring.

These requirements can be completed either during the fall or spring season:

1. You must spend at least two nights in tents or other temporary shelter.
2. As a patrol, for each camp you must:
   1. Obtain written parental permission to camp;
   2. Select the campsite and obtain permission to use it;
   3. Arrange transportation. If you use a vehicle, you must travel the last kilometre on foot and carry in all your gear with your patrol members;
   4. Develop a menu and buy the food you need;
   5. Prepare the patrol camping equipment suitable for the season; and
   6. Plan the program activities for the camp.
3. Get the approval of your Troop Scouter or Patrol Counsellor for all of your actions related to the items in #2.
4. Evaluate each camp with a Scouter within two weeks of the camp. Discuss your preparations, camp outcomes and Leave No Trace actions.