Willingdon Scouting: Fall Leaders Meeting

When will we meet?

In order to use the secret garden space, we need 2 Willingdon staff members present.
Willingdon closes at 4:00 on Saturdays and they prefer Saturdays to Sundays
We will be meeting at Willingdon on Saturdays from 2:00-3:30 pm
We almost certainly will need 2 beaver/cub groups (too many for a single group)
Troop will meet every second week, the other two groups will alternate on the other weeks

What does a safe meeting look like?

No one attends who is sick

In order to attend, every parent must present a signed, printed Willingdon Church waiver form and attest to the person collecting attendance that they can answer "No" to the three pertinent questions

If just the youth is staying, Name should be the name of the youth
If the parent is staying, then we will need 2 waiver forms - one where Name is the parent, the other will be the name of the youth

If a youth gets sick mid-meeting, there is a procedure as per safe-scouting - parent MUST pick them up

Maximum of 16 youth, less is better - this is our cohort - we'll call it an adventure team
Total maximum of 50 people as per provincial guidelines, including youth, scouters, and any parents that stick around
The youth who are present are organized into between 1 and 3 lodges/lairs/patrols (I'll call them patrols)

The patrol is the bubble
While we will strive to ensure that social distancing happens, youth within the patrol will likely have some interaction
No sharing of equipment between patrols (that would break the bubble), and limited sharing within a patrol
Scouters strive to maintain social distance from youth (don't break the bubble) except in emergencies

The standard says this:

As an adult Scouter with the need to maintain physical distancing, what do we do if we need to help tie the shoelaces of a Beaver Scout or similar challenge?

As with all safety and risk controls, they work as a system, no one barrier or control is designed to be used alone. If we design program as much as practical, screen for symptoms, use good hygiene practices, we will reduce the risk to acceptable levels within risk tolerance. Support the youth with what they need, if you feel uncomfortable wear a mask, gloves or ask someone else to help.

From <https://www.scouts.ca/news-and-events/covid-19/covid-19-faq.html>

No games that require one patrol to work with another - that would potentially break the bubble

Masks are optional

Having a mask is highly recommended for scouters, in case they need to assist a youth
Please note, if masks are worn THEY DO NOT ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING!!!
Social Distancing, Social Isolation, Testing and Contact Tracing are the gold standard of protection and have worked everywhere that they've been applied, masks are not a substitute for these measures

Before joining the meeting, there will be an identified Pre-Screening individual and location

Line up, socially distanced
Parents must hand in their Willingdon Church waivers for their youth - one per youth
Parents must also affirm to the attendance taker that they can answer No to all 3 key questions on the Waiver
Then, youth will wash or hand sanitize and join the meeting
If no one is there to do this, then only scouters can enter the secret garden (for setup)

Hand washing:

When they arrive at meeting and before they go home
Before eating and drinking
After using the toilet
After sneezing or coughing into hands or tissue
Whenever hands are visibly dirty
Each Adventure Team will have their own hand sanitizer pump
I'm trying to get wipes

What will we NOT do:

Overnight camping

Under Scouts Canada Stage 2:

Beavers not allowed at all
Cubs only in exceptional circumstances
Scouts under very stringent rules
1 person per tent
No more than 2 cooking together
etc…

Under Provincial Health Authority Rules:

Currently does not allow it

Scout handshake is out - we can use the cub or scout salute or sign instead
No snacks - youth will need to bring their own snacks - water bottle will be mandatory
We will skip dues to avoid handling of cash
Campfire time will be skipped - our health officers have noted that singing and prolonged shouting can create aerosolized droplets so Scouts Canada has recommended we not sing at this time
Grand howl or any other opening/closing: No running together. Suggested that the circle or horseshoe or riverbanks be setup with hula-hoops - the group has purchased 16 hula-hoops

These will be sanitized that the beginning and end of each meeting

Youth Showing Symptoms

Note that lots of kids get runny noses in cold weather
I have seen some adults get runny noses in cold weather
Scouts Canada has pointed out that some youth have allergies and asthma

Here is what the standard says:

If a child shows symptoms of illness, for example a runny nose or sneezing, but the parent informs us that it’s normal and an allergic reaction or related to cold weather? What should we do?

We should assume the parent has no ill meaning and take them at their word carry on as normal, maintain good hand hygiene, cleaning and physical distancing.

From <https://www.scouts.ca/news-and-events/covid-19/covid-19-faq.html>

In short, common sense will need to be applied
We will require two phone numbers for each youth, and both numbers must be available to their best ability to pick up a youth in case they start to develop symptoms
Parents will be told "If in doubt, keep your youth home"

Things to bring:

Mandatory:

Water bottle
Backpack
Rain-gear if bad weather - if it's bad enough we may fall back to a virtual meeting and do some planning

Optional:

Mask
Snack
Folding chair (not for a hike or bike ramble)
Rope

Note: In order to have ANY in-person meetings, whether youth are present or not, they must be OUTDOORS, and this form MUST BE FILLED OUT by the scouter in charge and submitted to me for approval:

https://www.scouts.ca/resources/bpp/consultation/pandemic-program-and-activity-modifications.html
No such requirement for a virtual meeting - I can help set up any required meetings

Sanitation Supervisor - the role of Parent Volunteers:

Ask pre-screening questions
Take attendance (includes scouters and any parents who choose to stick around and not just answer the questions and leave)
Give attendance sheet to scouter-in-charge at end of meeting
Ensure everyone uses hand sanitizer or washes at the wash station
Clean the hula-hoops or any other group equipment
Make sure someone sanitizes high-touch locations (port-a-potty door handle, lid and seat, wash station)

You can deputize a scouter or scout-aged youth
Supplies will be made available

Don't allow anyone into the area until at least 2 scouters are present - 2 deep rule

Swimming up, going up - we will be moving white tails to pack, and howlers to troop and will have an appropriate ceremony to recognize their progression

What does each section need to do:

Before the first meeting - determine who is in which Adventure group (if more than one) and divide patrols
At first meeting, recognize youth coming up into the section
Determine sign-up mechanism if only one Adventure group but more than 16 members
Regular section leadership meetings - virtual or in-person outdoors
Clarity about roles

Supporting information from Scouts Canada:

SAFE SCOUTING DURING COVID-19 TOOLS

It takes a lot of planning to create fun and safe meetings, with a little extra during these unprecedented times. These additional resources have been developed for Scouters by Scouts Canada to help you prepare safe meetings that meet our current Standards.

Cleaning and Disinfecting for Meetings

Hand Hygiene for Meetings

Adventure Application Form

Scouting Activity Attendance Log

Self-Assessment Screening Checklist

Scouter Communication Template

From <https://www.scouts.ca/news-and-events/covid-19/welcome-back-resources.html?fbclid=IwAR3gmF4cUM6DuY8fTKimTEGmNRlLU2McVwdR3yqvJlwEHFWDyHbnAuznzXY>