The Scouting Stuff Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Popcorn 2026 Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Scouts Canada’s annual popcorn campaign has kicked off again. It’s a huge fundraiser for many Scout groups in Canada!

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Rachel Kent, Fundraising Support Coordinator for Scouts Canada, to talk about the 2026 Scout Popcorn fundraiser that began on September 1st and runs through to November 3rd.

As was the case last year, groups should make sure that they are set up on My Scout Group Shop, and should register for this year’s popcorn campaign. Groups can also find information about the campaign, including brochures and order forms, on the Scouts Canada brand site. And if you have any questions, the popcorn FAQ page is available online, and the Scouts Canada support center is available to help out.

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Accommodations That Don't Cost a Dime Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Everyone is welcome at Scouts Canada’s campfire. And sometimes, that means Scouters need to put in some extra effort to make sure that youth can take part in Scouting as they are.

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Stephanie Youngdale, Associate Director, Relationships & Dispute Resolution with Scouts Canada, to discuss accommodations. Not in the sense of places to stay, but in the sense of accommodating each youth member’s needs and challenges in the Scouting program we offer. Because whether a youth comes to a Scout group with economic challenges, sensory challenges, mental or physical health challenges, or anything else...everyone is welcome at the Scouts Canada campfire, and there are some quick and cost-free ways Scouters can meet youth in their needs.

In fact, Scouts Canada has a complete Member Accommodation Procedure, as well as several other helpful resources:

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Scouts Canada Summer Camps Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Learn a bit more about Scouts Canada’s Summer Camps program, open now to Scouting and non-Scouting youth!

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Ryan Osborne and Kelly Middaugh to discuss Scouts Canada’s long-running Summer Camps program, which is offered at a number of Scouts Canada properties in British Columbia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island.

Under this program, a “Summer Camp can be either a week of day camp fun where campers go home each night or a week of adventure where campers stay at camp in tents or cabins for the whole week. Either way, summer camp offers a chance for kids to be outdoors, make memories & friends, try new things and have an amazing adventure!”

Spaces are becoming ever-more limited; if you want to secure a spot, sign up today!

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Scoutrees Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Learn all about Scoutrees, Scouts Canada’s fundraising partnership with Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation to plant the Scouts Smart Forest in Ontario.

Podcast Topics

Scouter Ken is joined by Kashmira Bulsara, Scouts Canada’s Deputy National Youth Commissioner for Marketing and Communications. Kashmira was invited to come on the podcast to discuss Scoutrees, a national fundraiser that sees Scouts Canada partner with Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation (CFTC) to plant trees in the Scouts Smart Forest in Ontario.

The Scoutrees initiative allows groups to raise funds by way of selling tree sponsorships; donors don’t receive a little sapling directly, but instead contribute to planting even more trees in the Smart Forest; they’ll gain access to a dashboard that allows them to track the growth of the tree and learn about its contribution to the environment.

Learn more about Scoutrees here!

And learn more about the CFTC here!

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Mattresses and Makeshift Compasses Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Scouts around the world help out their communities in different ways. And which is better: a foam mattress, or an air mattress?

Podcast Topics

Gear Recommendation: Should you use a foam mattress or an air mattress beneath your sleeping bag? There are pros and cons to each...but please use one or the other if you want to enjoy a warm night’s rest.

News Stories

Discussion

Not much discussion this week. Scouter Ken might have some big news to share later this month, but for now has to keep it under wraps.

There is the matter of the Scouting Stuff neckerchiefs. Those should have hit the podcast website for sale at some point last year, and didn’t. Once a viable means of adding a storefront to the site can be found, they’ll hopefully be available this year!

Survival Tip: Did you know that you can improvise a makeshift compass using a metal needle, a container of water, a leaf, and a magnet or some silk, fur, or hair?

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Back to September Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Scouts Canada returns to academic year registrations, Mafeking Rover Camp burns down...and Princess Kate partners with Scouts. Again.

Podcast Topics

Gear Recommendation: The Swedish Fire Knife, by LightMyFire, is a handy combination of a basic Morakniv knife and a firesteel rod.

News Stories:

Discussion: This week, Scouter Ken is rejoined by Scouter Corey to discuss Scouts Canada’s changes to its registration timelines.

In response to the COVID pandemic, Scouts Canada shifted away from an “academic year” registration model (membership and programming would run from September through to August, with many groups opting to wind down in May or June to leave the summer months open) and adopted a “calendar year” model (membership and programming would run from January to December).

On paper, this made sense; it centered the summer months - prime camping weather - in the middle of the program year, and should have encouraged more Scout groups to do more during the warmest part of the Canadian year. Sadly, this idea never took off, and the most recent Scouts Canada AGM saw a vote take place that supported moving back to “academic year” registrations starting with the 2026-2027 Scouting year.

Survival Tip: Did you know that, in the Northern Hemisphere at least, you can use your hand to measure roughly how many hours are left until sunset?

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Closing One Year and Opening Another Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Lots of international Scouting events happened to close out 2025!

Podcast Topics

Gear Recommendation: Always have a good sleeping bag for your overnight adventures, taking into account factors such as the weight and size of the bag, its temperature rating, and the weather you’ll be facing outdoors.

News Stories

Discussion

With no guests this week, Scouter Ken offers some thoughts on a three-meeting plan that will challenge youth to design a game. This can work with Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, and older youth as well.

All you’ll need for supplies is some large pieces (or rolls) of paper, pencils, erasers, and pencil crayons or markers.

First meeting: Just let the kids play games, and challenge them to keep playing games over the rest of the week until the next meeting.
Second meeting: Start with a discussion about the elements of a game; keep it to fifteen minutes at an absolute maximum. If possible, recall some of the games played in the previous meeting and show how these break up into the elements. Then, tell the youth to pick a game they already know, and to start changing elements bit by bit until they come up with a totally new game...and turn them loose with the supplies.
Third meeting: Bring back the games the youth designed in the second meeting, and have them try and play through to the end. Encourage them to make any changes they need to in order to improve the flow (and the fun) of the games.

Survival Tip: Hug a tree to survive!

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

New Direction Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

The Interamerican Scout Conference encourages diversity...while Scouting America comes under fire for same. And Scouting Stuff is changing!

Podcast Topics

Gear Recommendation: Luci Solar Lanterns

News Stories

Inclusive leadership and future horizons at the 29th Interamerican Scout Conference

Bringing voices together for gender-balanced leadership in Scouting

U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking ‘boy-friendly spaces’

Discussion

With no guests this week, Scouter Ken offers some thoughts on just how boys (and men) are faring today, in terms of things such as high school marks and completion times, college and university admissions, and suicide/deaths of despair rates. None of these are trending in positive ways. And while Ken would be the first person to agree that Scouting should indeed be co-ed, he does wonder about what the long-term impact will be of non-sporting “boys only” activities (especially ones offering mentorship from older men) functionally disappearing.

Survival Tip: When going for a hike, especially in the mountains, always check the weather ahead of time. Dress for the weather, and bring extra clothing and food.

Basically, don’t be the hikers these Cub Scouts had to help out.

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Scouting Five - Week of October 27, 2025 Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

JOTA-JOTI wraps up, as does the Asia-Pacific RSC...and Scouts in the US put out a church fire.

News Stories

Scouts worldwide connect for largest digital Scouting event

Asia-Pacific kicks off 28th Regional Scout Conference in Kaohsiung

Hong Kong to host the 29th Asia-Pacific Scout Conference in 2028

Thailand selected to host the 34th APR Scout Jamboree in 2029

Scouts dominate at schools rifle championships

Girl Scouts of Connecticut sells headquarters building to Hartford HealthCare

Boy Scouts were at the right place at the right time to put out church fire in Cleveland Co.

Scouts Can Now Earn AI and Cybersecurity Badges

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell

Experiences Canada Sep 27, 2025

Show notes

Ever wanted to set up an exchange visit with another Scout group somewhere else in Canada?

Podcast Topics

In this episode, Scouter Ken is joined by Kira Berger from Scouts Canada and Kellen Turner from Experiences Canada to talk about the exciting partnership that’s helping Scouts explore new communities, build lifelong friendships, and grow as leaders. Learn how Scout groups can take part in reciprocal exchanges with other Scouts or Indigenous communities across the country to foster cultural awareness, personal development, and a deeper understanding of Canada’s diversity.

Thanks to this continued partnership, the $250 membership (application) fee is waived for exchanges between Scout groups or between a Scout group and an Indigenous group. This offer applies to the first 100 youth participants, so we encourage groups to apply early to take advantage of this opportunity!

Applications are accepted year-round. Tune in to hear how your group can get involved, what to expect, and how to make the most of this incredible opportunity.

Learn more: Scouts Canada FAQ | Experiences Canada Youth Exchanges

Questions? Reach out to info@experiencescanada.ca

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Music

Upbeat Rock (Good News), by Alex Grohl

Pack Light, Dream Big, by Jamboree Powell