While they won’t earn any badges like the members of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, the four-and-five-year-olds who take part in a Chipmunks pilot program launching this September will work towards filling out a sticker book.
Katherine Trueman, group commissioner of the 6th Roberts Creek Scout Group, said the Sunshine Coast was one of just 12 locations across Canada to be chosen for the year-long, trial run.
“I'm really quite excited about it,” said Trueman. “I helped the Beavers when they started 52 years ago, and I could see what it was going to do for Scouting and it has done exactly that. And there's a lot of Beaver leaders that move up to Cubs and so on, which is very helpful.”
She noted the Chipmunks pilot will be nature-inspired and play-based with a focus on curiosity, creativity, connection and exploration. Trueman said while the outline of the program isn’t yet complete, activities will likely include arts and crafts, outdoor games, campfires, cooking, music, stories, scavenger hunts and more. She adds local field trips, including camping (for the day), will also likely be included.
“The program will be based on the story Wind and the Willows. I haven't seen the syllabus yet, they're still finishing up with it, but we will get that through the summer and then we'll meet and start focusing with the program,” said Trueman. “And the idea is for them to get a good grounding and then move up to Beavers. And we're hoping that parents will move with them and become leaders.”
Chipmunks is scheduled to take place Tuesdays in Robers Creek from 4 to 5 p.m., and while there will be leaders in place, parents are expected to stay for meetings. Trueman explains there are two pilots taking place across Canada, one leader-based and the other parent-based. The Roberts Creek program is leader-based with parent participation.
It’s planned that there will be one leader for every six children for inside activities and a four-to-one ratio for outdoors. The pilot program can accommodate 16 children aged four and five. Like Beavers and Scouts, Chipmunks will include a uniform but, in this case, Trueman said that will likely include a T-shirt.
Trueman said during COVID-19, the number of kids and youth taking part in Scouts Canada dropped considerably. As well, she noted, with so many other programs available for children on the Sunshine Coast, it’s hard to compete. So, an introduction to Chipmunks at such a young age is an opportunity to, hopefully, encourage a years-long relationship with the organization. She added, the Beaver program still has room for new members.
There are two Scouting programs on the Coast, including the 6th Roberts Creek Scout Group, which will include Chipmunks starting in September, and the 1st Gibsons Scout Group. Registration for all levels starts in September.
For more information or to add your child’s name to the Chipmunks’ pre-registration list, visit 6robertscreekscouts.ca.
