Canadian Traditional Scouting Association

CTSA Ontario Winter Camp 2026

Register Now!!

The CTS Ontario Winter Camp will be held at Camp Heidelberg (Waterloo) on February 6, 7, and 8, 2026.
Indoor accommodations for Otters and Timber Wolves, as well as Outdoor sleeping for Explorers or Sr. Explorers.
Registration is mandatory and must be completed and paid no later than January 26, 2026.

Link: Camp Registration

2025/2026 Online Registration is now available!!

Ongoing registration!
We are into the second half of the Scouting year. New or returning registrations received after February 1 will be subject to reduced fees. Group fees above and beyond the Council fees are at the discretion of the individual group.
Find your local group by clicking the link to our Groups page

Registration Forms

CTSA Wood Beads Training 2026

Every young person deserves a safe, fun, and high‑quality program. To make that happen, Scouters need the right knowledge, skills, and confidence. Training isn’t about checking boxes — it’s about helping leaders feel prepared, supported, and capable in their roles.
This section outlines how we identify training needs across all program areas and how we support Scouters in their ongoing development.

🔍 Identifying Training NeedsWe use a simple, supportive approach to understand what training each leader may benefit from. This includes:
1. Role RequirementsEach Scouting role has core training expectations. These help ensure leaders have the essentials for safety, program quality, and youth engagement.
Examples include:

Scouter Development Cards / Wood Badge I modules
Program‑specific training (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, Rovers)
Mandatory safety and policy training

2. Experience & Comfort LevelLeaders come with different backgrounds. Some are brand‑new; others have years of experience. We check in regularly to understand:

What skills they feel confident in
What areas they’d like more support or practice
What tasks or responsibilities they want to grow into

3. Section NeedsTraining needs can shift depending on the youth in the section. We look at:

Program planning and youth‑led practices
Behaviour support and group dynamics
Outdoor skills and adventure readiness
Communication and parent engagement
Team collaboration within the Scouter team

4. Feedback & ObservationWe encourage open, judgment‑free conversations about:

What’s working well
Where challenges are showing up
What training or mentoring could help
This can happen during meetings, debriefs, or annual reviews.

🎒 Types of Training & SupportOnce training needs are identified, leaders can access a variety of development options:

Online learning modules
In‑person workshops and skill sessions
Mentorship from experienced Scouters
Outdoor skills weekends
Program‑specific coaching
Self‑directed learning resources

We aim to match each Scouter with the right training at the right time — not overwhelm them with everything at once.

🌱 Ongoing GrowthTraining isn’t a one‑time event. As youth grow, programs evolve, and leaders take on new responsibilities, we revisit training needs regularly. Our goal is to build confident, capable Scouters who feel supported and ready for adventure.

If you want, I can also help you:

Rewrite this in a shorter or more formal tone
Add graphics or icons
Create a matching section for “How We Support New Scouters”
Build a version tailored to CTSA’s “Discover Adventure” tone

Just tell me the style you want and I’ll shape it to fit your site perfectly.

Ontario Scouter's Retreat 2025! September 12-13-14 - a Great Success!

Next year we will again return to Pootcorners Alpacas for Scouters' Retreat weekend. The date has been set as September 18, 19 and 20th 2026. This opportunity is open to all Rovers and adult volunteers of the Association, regardless of their training. Also in accordance with the Explorer 4th Law, outside organizations that wish to attend can do so under the brotherhood and sisterhood of scouting.

Quartermaster News

POLICY CHANGE

Uniform Ordering Policy Update
The CTSA Quartermaster does not keep a large stock of uniform shirts in all sizes. This is to reduce our inventory and ensure that we can work efficiently with our suppliers to deliver your items. Over the last year, the direct ordering of uniform items, with shipments being held and consolidated, has caused several issues where items were not received correctly, as the Group does not have exact knowledge of what was ordered.
To help streamline the uniform ordering process and reduce overall shipping costs, we kindly ask that families do not place orders directly through the CTSA Store. Instead, please coordinate all uniform orders through your Group Commissioner.
This approach ensures:
✅ Orders are grouped together for more efficient shipping
✅ Leaders receive the items directly and can distribute them accurately
✅ Everyone knows who gets what—no mix-ups or missing pieces
Thank you for your cooperation and support in making this process smoother for everyone!

Council Fundraiser for the Robert Anderson Memorial Fund

Robert Anderson "Akela-Bob" Was one of the founding members of CTSA. In his memory we renamed our fund to support Scouting families in need.
The Mabel's Labels fundraiser provides custom labels for labelling all of your Otter, Timber Wolf, or Explorer's gear and belongings for camp or for school.
This is an on-going fundraiser of the council.
http://campaigns.mableslabels.com

2025 Environmental Focus

Youth involvement in environmental stewardship is paramount in safeguarding the planet's future.

As the custodians of tomorrow, young people possess the passion, creativity, and energy needed to address pressing environmental challenges. Engaging youth in stewardship activities instills a sense of responsibility and connection to nature and fosters critical thinking skills and leadership abilities.

By empowering youth to act, we cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious individuals equipped to tackle complex issues such as climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction.

Read more by downloading the file below.