The Canadian Scouts' Oath And Law: A Promise And Guide

what is the scout oath and law in canada

The Scout Oath and Law are a set of codes in the Scout movement, which form the foundation of Scouting and are the cornerstones of a Scout's character. The Scout Oath is a declaration made by a person joining the Scout movement. The Scout Law has 12 points, each a goal for every Scout to strive towards every day. The wording of the Scout Oath and Law has varied over time and among Scouting organizations, including Scouts Canada, which has its own Code of Conduct Standards.

Characteristics Values
Trustworthy Tell the truth, keep promises, and be dependable
Loyal Show care and commitment to family, friends, community, and country
Helpful Volunteer to help others without expecting anything in return
Friendly Be inclusive, kind, and accepting of everyone
Courteous Be polite and respectful to everyone, especially those who are vulnerable
Kind Treat others as you want to be treated and avoid harming any living being without a good reason
Obedient Follow the laws of your community and country
Cheerful Look on the bright side of life and help others do the same
Thrifty Be mindful of your use of time, food, supplies, and natural resources
Brave Face your fears and stand up for what you believe in
Clean Keep yourself and your surroundings clean and maintain a pure mindset
Reverent Respect the beliefs of others and be faithful to your own religious duties

lawshun

The Scout Oath

In its original form, the Scout Oath stated:

> "On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and the King (or to God and my country); to help other people at all times; and to obey the Scout Law."

The reference to "God and the King" has been updated in some versions to "God and my country," and "God" may refer to a higher power rather than a specific deity, to accommodate different religions within Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America, for example, uses the word "oath" instead of "promise" and includes a reference to God and country.

In Canada, Scouts Canada has a Code of Conduct that aligns with the Scout Oath and Law, emphasizing values such as safety, well-being, respect, fairness, and the protection of personal information. Scouts Canada members are expected to follow youth protection policies, encourage open communication about safety concerns, and refrain from bullying, abuse, harassment, discrimination, and the use of inappropriate language. The Code of Conduct applies to all members aged 18 and older, employees, and parents or guardians who participate in Scouting activities.

Buying a Home: With My Father-in-Law?

You may want to see also

lawshun

The Scout Law

The 12 points of the Scout Law are:

  • Trustworthy: Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you.
  • Loyal: Show that you care about your family, friends, Scout leaders, and country.
  • Helpful: Volunteer to help others without expecting a reward.
  • Friendly: Be a friend to everyone, regardless of their background.
  • Courteous: Be polite to everyone, especially the vulnerable, and always use good manners.
  • Kind: Treat others as you want to be treated and do not harm or kill any living thing without good reason.
  • Obedient: Obey the laws of your community and country.
  • Cheerful: Look for the bright side of life and try to help others be happy.
  • Thrifty: Work hard and use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely.
  • Brave: Face your fears and do what you think is right, regardless of what others may be doing or saying.
  • Clean: Keep your body and mind fit and help keep your community clean.
  • Reverent: Be reverent towards God or a higher power and respect the beliefs of others.

Scouts Canada has a Code of Conduct that aligns with the Scout Law and Scout Promise, emphasizing values such as respect, fairness, safety, and well-being for all members and individuals they interact with.

lawshun

Scout Promise

The Scout Promise, also known as the Scout Oath, is a declaration made by individuals joining the Scout movement. It was first introduced in Robert Baden-Powell's 1908 book, "Scouting for Boys". Since then, Scouts and Guides around the world have taken this promise or oath, pledging to uphold the values and ideals of the Scout movement and to abide by the Scout Law. The wording of the Scout Promise has evolved over time and varies across different countries to reflect cultural and religious differences, but it typically includes a commitment to duty, helping others, and obeying the Scout Law.

In Canada, Scouts Canada has its own version of the Scout Promise, which aligns with the values and principles of the organization. While the specific wording of the Canadian Scout Promise is not publicly available, it likely includes elements of the traditional Scout Promise and is adapted to the Canadian context.

The traditional Scout Promise, as outlined by Baden-Powell, includes the following commitments:

  • Duty to God and the King (or, alternatively, duty to God and one's country)
  • Helping other people at all times
  • Obeying the Scout Law
  • Being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, and obedient
  • Keeping physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight

The Scout Law, which is referenced in the Scout Promise, consists of 12 points that serve as goals for Scouts to strive towards in their daily lives. These points include values such as trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, bravery, cleanliness, and reverence.

In addition to the Scout Promise and Scout Law, Scouts Canada has a Code of Conduct that applies to members aged 18 and older, employees, and participating parents or guardians. This code emphasizes the importance of treating everyone with fairness, respect, and dignity, as well as protecting the safety and well-being of all Scouts Canada members and individuals they interact with through Scouting activities. It also includes guidelines for behaviour, such as refraining from smoking or discussing substance use in front of youth members.

lawshun

Scout Salute

The Scout Sign and Salute are performed differently depending on the type of Scout involved. Cub Scouts, for example, use the two-finger Scout sign and salute. This is performed with the right arm straight up, with the index and middle fingers separated, like a peace sign. Baden-Powell intended for Scouts to use this salute to greet each other when they first met, regardless of whether they knew each other or not. The two fingers represent the two rules of the original Cub Scout/Wolf Cub law, and the sharp ears of a wolf.

In Scouts Canada, the salute is rendered vertically, with the palm out, similar to British Army/Commonwealth salutes. An exception to this is Sea Scouts, who salute with their palm in/angled down, to hide any 'dirty hands' from the ship's captain. Beaver Scouts in Canada use a variant of the two-fingered sign with the fingers bent forward to form 'teeth'.

The Scout salute is the same but is held to the forehead rather than vertically and is used to salute the Union Flag, section/group colours, or at funerals or during the national anthem. The Scout salute is a form of greeting that also shows respect. It is performed with the upper arm parallel to the ground and the forearm vertical, forming a right angle at the elbow. The salute is finished by bringing the hand up, palm down, until the forefinger touches the brim of the hat or the tip of the eyebrow.

Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts use the three-finger sign and salute. The three fingers stand for the three parts of the Scout Oath: duty to God and country, duty to others, and duty to self.

lawshun

Scouts Canada Code of Conduct

The Scouts Canada Code of Conduct applies to all members aged 18 or older, employees, and parents or guardians who participate in Scouting activities. The code aims to protect young people and ensure that adults can work safely and productively with them and each other.

The code applies to all interactions, both in-person and virtual, while carrying out the role of a Scouter. It may also apply to behavior outside of the role of a Scouter if it goes against Scouts Canada's mission, values, and policies, or if it affects the ability to volunteer with Scouts Canada.

Scouts Canada members are expected to:

  • Protect the safety and well-being of all Scouts Canada members and other people they interact with as a member of Scouting.
  • Set an example for others to follow, including following youth protection policies and procedures when planning and conducting Scouting activities.
  • Ensure that everyone they interact with is safe from Bullying, Abuse, Harassment, and Discrimination, and report any such behaviors to the appropriate local authorities and Scouts Canada.
  • Immediately report any concern for the welfare of youth or allegations of abuse to the police, social services, and Scouts Canada.
  • Treat everyone with fairness, respect, and dignity, and obtain a youth's permission before touching them, ensuring any physical contact is respectful, safe, and appropriate.
  • Respectfully challenge behavior or attitudes that are inconsistent with Scouting values.
  • Protect the personal information of others, keeping it secure and using it only for Scouting purposes.
  • Think and act safely, remembering that their influence and power over others should not be taken advantage of.
  • Follow the Two-Scouter Rule, Scouter-to-Youth ratios, and other activity rules, encouraging people to speak up about safety concerns.
  • Not exploit others, show favoritism, engage in relationships, or flirt with the youth they supervise.
  • Refrain from using inappropriate language or substance use, and not smoke or refer to tobacco, drugs, or alcohol in front of youth.

The Scouts Canada Code of Conduct is based on the Scout Oath and Law, which was first introduced in 1908 with the publication of "Scouting for Boys" by Robert Baden-Powell. Since then, the wording has varied slightly over time and from country to country, but the core values of Scouting remain consistent, emphasizing duty to God and country, helping others, and living up to the ideals of the Scout Law.

Canada's ADA Law: What's the Deal?

You may want to see also

Frequently asked questions

The Scout Oath is a declaration made by a person joining the Scout movement. The oath is: "On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

The Scout Law is a set of codes in the Scout movement. The original Scout Law, written in 1908, includes: "A Scout's honour is to be trusted", "A Scout is loyal", and "A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout". The exact laws have varied over time and between Scouting organizations.

Scouts Canada has a Code of Conduct that applies to all members who are 18 or older, as well as employees and parents or guardians who participate in Scouting activities. The Code of Conduct outlines expectations for behavior, both in person and online, to ensure the safety and well-being of all Scouts Canada members. Members are expected to follow youth protection policies, treat others with respect and dignity, and protect personal information.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

The Oath

$14.99

The Oath

$3.99

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment