Scouting in Alberta
Encyclopedia
Scouting and Guiding in Alberta has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
: Northern Lights Council in the north (also responsible for the Northwest Territories
), and Chinook Council in the south. In general, each council's territory is divided into Areas, and each Area contains sponsored Scouting Groups.
Francophone Scouting groups exist in Calgary and in Edmonton. They are part of the Association des Scouts du Canada
.
In 1983, the 15th World Scout Jamboree
was held at Kananaskis Country, an area of Provincial Park 4,000 feet in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 80 miles west of Calgary
, Alberta
. The Spirit Lives On was the theme of the World Jamboree, with a total attendance of over 15,000 Scouts from nearly 100 countries. In 2010 Northern Lights Council introduced a centennial badge commemorating 100 years of scouting in the area.
Among Alberta's varied Scouting groups and sections are Adventure Scouting Groups, Ismaili
Scouts, and Rover Crews with romantic names like Knights of Dionysus and Knights of the Crimson Cross. In 2009 a Special Needs group, the 88th Polaris, was formed in the Northern Lights Council serving youth with neurological impairments.
In 1993, the 8th Canadian Scout Jamboree was held at Kananaskis, Alberta, with 12,000 in attendance.
In 2005, Northern Lights Council hosted a jamboree at Camp Woods. Chinook Council hosted a joint Alberta-Saskatchewan
Brotherhood Jamboree at Camp Impeesa, celebrating the common centennial of the two provinces.
On June 19, 2010 it was announced at the Northern Lights Council annual Honours and Awards ceremonies, that Camp Woods, near Sylan Lake, Alberta, would be the location for the 12th Canadian Scout Jamboree to be held in the summer of 2013. Plans currently call for an attendance of 6,000.
camping program run by the Chinook Council of Scouts Canada
operated at Camp Impeesa in Alberta
's Crowsnest Pass
. The program was founded in 2003 in response to a need to keep older youth in Scouting.
The program consists of adventures like caving
, mountain biking
, trekking high mountain ranges, rappelling down cliffs and fly fishing crystal clear streams. The program sends one of their expert Trail Scouters with each group to help them learn about the local ecology and the techniques for their adventures while promoting learning by doing.
Camp Impeesa was first founded during the late 1960s with the idea of having a base camp from Scouts
to take backpacking trips in the southern Canadian rockies. This idea was abandoned by the camp committee during the 1970s and the camp became a residential program for Cubs and Scouts.
In 2001, Mike Bingley and other interested Scouters began the process of developing a high adventure camping program at Camp Impeesa. With the help of a dedicated team from around the world, this program became Impeesa Extreme. The program was launched in 2003 with six patrols from as far away as New York City and Chicago. The first summer included the additional challenges of forest fires, including the Okanagan Mountain Fire and Lost Creek Fire which forced the program to move five times.
2004 saw the program triple in size, partially due to word of mouth advertising and the cancellation of the 2004 Saskatchewan Jamboree. 2004 was the last year that Mike Bingley was involved with the program.
The program has not run since 2005.
, which is geographically made up of the Canadian provinces and territories
of Alberta
, Northwest Territories
and Yukon
. The provincial council's headquarters is located in Edmonton, AB
Scouting
Alberta Scouting is administered by two Councils within Scouts CanadaScouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
: Northern Lights Council in the north (also responsible for the Northwest Territories
Scouting in the Northwest Territories
Scouting in the Northwest Territories did not develop until 1970, due to the sparse population of the Northwest Territories.-Anglophone Scouting in the Northwest Territories:...
), and Chinook Council in the south. In general, each council's territory is divided into Areas, and each Area contains sponsored Scouting Groups.
Francophone Scouting groups exist in Calgary and in Edmonton. They are part of the Association des Scouts du Canada
Association des Scouts du Canada
L'Association des Scouts du Canada is a World Organization of the Scout Movement "affiliated organization" through affiliation with Scouts Canada in Canada. The biggest difference between the two associations is the language spoken and the religion behind it...
.
In 1983, the 15th World Scout Jamboree
15th World Scout Jamboree
The 15th World Scout Jamboree was held in 1983 and was hosted by Canada at Kananaskis, Alberta, an area of Provincial Park 4,000 feet in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 80 miles west of Calgary, Alberta...
was held at Kananaskis Country, an area of Provincial Park 4,000 feet in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 80 miles west of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. The Spirit Lives On was the theme of the World Jamboree, with a total attendance of over 15,000 Scouts from nearly 100 countries. In 2010 Northern Lights Council introduced a centennial badge commemorating 100 years of scouting in the area.
Local Groups and sections
Scouting Groups are usually community-based, but may be based on something else they have in common, such as an LDS Group. Each Group has a cardinal or ordinal number attached to its name. For example, "Dalhousie 141", "1st Yellowknife". In the past, this number would be assigned by the local council and was generally incremented each time a new group formed in the council. Now however, whenever a new group is created, that group has the choice of selecting their own ordinal number provided it isn't already in use within the council. Previously used ordinal numbers, from now defunct groups, can be re-used. Each Group comprises one or more Sections (Beaver section, Cub section, Scout section, Venturer section, and/or Rover section), all managed by a Group Committee.Among Alberta's varied Scouting groups and sections are Adventure Scouting Groups, Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Scouts, and Rover Crews with romantic names like Knights of Dionysus and Knights of the Crimson Cross. In 2009 a Special Needs group, the 88th Polaris, was formed in the Northern Lights Council serving youth with neurological impairments.
Major Scouting events held in Alberta
In 1981, the 5th Canadian Scout Jamboree was held at Kananaskis, Alberta, with 19,000 in attendance.In 1993, the 8th Canadian Scout Jamboree was held at Kananaskis, Alberta, with 12,000 in attendance.
In 2005, Northern Lights Council hosted a jamboree at Camp Woods. Chinook Council hosted a joint Alberta-Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
Brotherhood Jamboree at Camp Impeesa, celebrating the common centennial of the two provinces.
On June 19, 2010 it was announced at the Northern Lights Council annual Honours and Awards ceremonies, that Camp Woods, near Sylan Lake, Alberta, would be the location for the 12th Canadian Scout Jamboree to be held in the summer of 2013. Plans currently call for an attendance of 6,000.
Impeesa Extreme
Impeesa Extreme is a high adventureHigh adventure
High adventure is a type of outdoor experience. It typically is meant to include activities like backpacking, hiking, kayaking or canoeing. It may also include mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, orienteering, hang gliding, paragliding and hot air ballooning.-High adventure in...
camping program run by the Chinook Council of Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
operated at Camp Impeesa in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
's Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass
Crowsnest Pass is a high mountain pass across the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies on the Alberta/British Columbia border.-Geography:...
. The program was founded in 2003 in response to a need to keep older youth in Scouting.
The program consists of adventures like caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, trekking high mountain ranges, rappelling down cliffs and fly fishing crystal clear streams. The program sends one of their expert Trail Scouters with each group to help them learn about the local ecology and the techniques for their adventures while promoting learning by doing.
Camp Impeesa was first founded during the late 1960s with the idea of having a base camp from Scouts
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
to take backpacking trips in the southern Canadian rockies. This idea was abandoned by the camp committee during the 1970s and the camp became a residential program for Cubs and Scouts.
In 2001, Mike Bingley and other interested Scouters began the process of developing a high adventure camping program at Camp Impeesa. With the help of a dedicated team from around the world, this program became Impeesa Extreme. The program was launched in 2003 with six patrols from as far away as New York City and Chicago. The first summer included the additional challenges of forest fires, including the Okanagan Mountain Fire and Lost Creek Fire which forced the program to move five times.
2004 saw the program triple in size, partially due to word of mouth advertising and the cancellation of the 2004 Saskatchewan Jamboree. 2004 was the last year that Mike Bingley was involved with the program.
The program has not run since 2005.
Girl Guiding
Alberta Provincial Council - Guides of Canada is the provincal council of Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du CanadaGirl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of Canada - Guides du Canada is the national Guiding association of Canada. Guiding in Canada started in 1910 and was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1928. As of 2006, the association had 116,206 members.-History:Mary Malcolmson...
, which is geographically made up of the Canadian provinces and territories
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
and Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
. The provincial council's headquarters is located in Edmonton, AB
Areas
Alberta Council is divided into the following twelve areas:- Calgary Area (CalgaryCalgaryCalgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and vicinity)) - Chinook Area (the south eastern part of Alberta covering area from the Rocky Mountain to Grassy Lake on the east and from the US to Claresholm on the north)
- Cypress Hills Area (Medicine HatMedicine Hat, AlbertaMedicine Hat, known to locals as "The Hat", is a city of 61,097 people located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is enclaved within Cypress County along with the nearby Town of Redcliff, although neither is part of the county....
and vicinity) - Edmonton Area (central EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and the former Guiding areas of Arrowhead Area and Northern Lights Area) - Michener Area
- Parkland Area (Red DeerRed Deer, AlbertaRed Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
and vicinity) - Peace River Area
- Prairie Rose Area
- Tamarac Area (north of EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
) - Woodsmoke Area
- Yukon Area (WhitehorseWhitehorse, YukonWhitehorse is Yukon's capital and largest city . It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1476 on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas occupy both shores of the Yukon River, which originates in British Columbia and meets the Bering Sea in...
and Watson LakeWatson Lake, YukonWatson Lake is a town at historical mile 635 on the Alaska Highway in the southeastern Yukon close to the British Columbia border. Population in December 2004 was 1,547 ....
) - NT Area (Fort SimpsonFort Simpson, Northwest TerritoriesFort Simpson is a village in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers...
, Hay RiverHay River, Northwest TerritoriesHay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
, InuvikInuvik, Northwest TerritoriesInuvik is a town in the Northwest Territories of Canada and is the administrative centre for the Inuvik Region.The population as of the 2006 Census was 3,484, but the two previous census counts show wide fluctuations due to economic conditions: 2,894 in 2001 and 3,296 in 1996...
, Norman WellsNorman Wells, Northwest TerritoriesNorman Wells is the regional centre for the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada...
, and YellowknifeYellowknife, Northwest TerritoriesYellowknife is the capital and largest city of the Northwest Territories , Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, approximately south of the Arctic Circle, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River...
)
Camps
- Camp Jubilee in the Calgary Area
- Westover in the Calgary Area
- Batuk in the Calgary Area
- IASG in the Calgary Area
- Camp Mockingbird in the Calgary Area
- Guide/Scout Hall in Banff
- Camp Okeekun in Chinook Area
- Elkwater Camp in Cypress Hills Area
- Sandy Lake Beach in Edmonton Area is located on Sandy Lake 60 km northwest of Edmonton
- Tangletrees in Edmonton Area is located on Pigeon Lake some 85 km southwest of Edmonton. It was acquired in 1943.
- Williams Wilderness in Edmonton Area is a zero impact campsite donated in 1969.