Scouting and Guiding in Quebec
Scouting in Quebec 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.
Anglophone Scouting in Quebec
Quebec is administered by the Quebec Council of Scouts Canada, which includes the Quebec Rover Round Table.
Areas
Abenaki Area, Eastern (Montreal) Area, Ohiyo Area, Stoney Point Area, Laval Larentians Area, Chavalla Area, St. Lawrence Cartierville Area, Kebec Area, St. Lawrence Appalachians Area, Saguenay Lac St-Jean Area, North Shore Area, Gaspé Area.
Local Groups and sections
Among Quebec's varied Scouting groups are Scouts, Sea Scouts, Beavers, Cubs, Rovers and Venturers.
Tamaracouta Scout Reserve
Tamaracouta Scout Reserve is a Scout camp located near Mille Isles, Quebec. The camp, which claims to be the oldest continuously-operating Scout camp in the world, is situated on 1000 acres (4 km²) of forest in the Laurentian Mountains. It is owned and operated by Scouts Canada, Quebec Council. The camp is open year-round and offers a staff summer camp program.
The camp opened in 1912 with funds provided by a group of generous citizens led by Colonel E.A. Whitehead. Originally a farm, the property formerly belonged to the Dawson family of Mille Isles. The name Tamaracouta comes from two sources. There are a large number of Tamarack trees located on the property. The word couta meaning body of water in a First Nations language.
After World War I, the camp decided to adopt a Hudson's Bay Company theme. Since that time, campsites have been named after the HBC Trading Posts. Staff positions also take HBC names, such as Camp Factor instead of Camp Director.
The Tamaracouta Scout Reserve will host the 11th Canadian Scout Jamboree, in July of 2007, with 8,000 campers expected.
Knights of Tamara
The Knights of Tamara are an honour camping society formed in 1933. The Knights recognize outstanding campers at summer camp. As of 2005, over 3500 campers have become Knights. To become a Knight, a camper must meet certain requirements, such as having camped at TSR for a certain amount of time, and be nominated by their peers. If their nomination is approved, they become a squire at a ceremony near the beginning of their week of camp. During the week, they must complete certain tasks, including sleeping out alone one night in the woods. At the end of the week, they are knighted in a special public ceremony followed by the "Second Ceremony", which is for Knights only. Knights wear a bracelet with a large bead around one wrist.
The Knights of Tamara was founded to institutionalize and control informal hazing traditions which were a concern to camp leadership.
National issues
Members of Scouts Canada are upset with the national organization's governance structure which no longer includes locally-elected councils[1]. In response, Scouter Mike Reid from Montreal, Quebec founded in August, 2004 an organization called SCOUT eh! which is a group of "registered Scouts Canada members from across Canada dedicated to transforming Scouts Canada into a democratic association".
Francophone Scouting in Quebec
WOSM member association
UIGSE member association
Independent associations
There are also a number of independent Scouting associations active in Quebec. Among them are
- Association de Scoutisme d'Actions
- Association Québécoise des Aventuriers de Brownsea
- Association Evangélique du Scoutisme au Québec inc.,about 300 members
Girl Guiding in Quebec
Guides are served by the Guiding in Canada - Québec Council.