Internet Guidelines

Article I - Member / Youth Protection

Last name, first name and scouting position/rank about youth/adult members may be published on the web.

Pictures of youth/adult may appear on the web.

Under no circumstances shall the address or personal phone number of any youth/adult be published on the web.

Adult E-mail addresses may be published, with the permission of the holder.

Be Prepared by Being Aware, Let's Keep Our Kids Safe!

Article II - Commercialism on the Web

There is no National Policy on Commercialism at this time, and this does not condone or exclude it. Basically though, sections, groups, areas/districts, regions or councils should not be involved in any type of relationship of commercial nature nor should sections, groups, areas/districts, regions or councils give endorsement to any business, corporation, commercial agency, or individual, unless duly authorized by the National Council, Boy Scouts of Canada.

The Scouting Logo may not be used on any product, flier, or advertisement in any way as to resemble that Boy Scouts of Canada is sponsoring any commercial product or company.

No Commercial Logos or Commercial Links should be allowed on any Official Web Pages (i.e. Provincial, Regional, Area/District) unless approved by the National Council, Boy Scouts of Canada.

Article III - Linking to Other Sites

The ability to use a hypertext link to connect your site to other sites is what makes it the "Web." You have no control over who places links to your Web page. A person in any country can place a link right to your section/group/area/district front door for anyone who reads their page. You could do the same, pointing electronically, anywhere. On the other hand, your placement of links "downstream" could cause you embarrassment - since you never know what files you may be linked to from that point on. Scouting in Canada's concern is that your scout group's web page may be just 2 clicks away from in-appropriate web sites or adult XXX material. Scouting in Canada's guidelines are that your section/group/area/district/region website link to sites that meet the ideals and principles as expressed in the Scout Promise and Scout Law.

I do feel that a "Thank You" to the Internet Provider that donates "Free Web Space" to a Scout group or any others that have made it possible for you to put your web site together, is in order, and that it can be done in such a manner that it is still effective, without endorsing their businesses.

Article IV - Political Concerns

Boy Scouts of Canada should not, through its governing body or through any of its officers, the chartered councils, or members, involve the Scouting movement in any question of a political character. However, this shall not be interpreted to prevent the teaching of the ideals of nationalism and good citizenship as required to fulfill the Boy Scouts of Canada's purpose. This policy shall also not limit the freedom of thought or action of any official or member as an individual.

Basically this means leave our political opinion off of our websites, let's only teach our children about the facts of our government. Make your political stands out of the Scouting arena. No political stands should be permitted in Canadian Scouting web sites.

Article V - Who can do a Scouting Web Site?

The proper route to becoming a Section, Group or Area/District Webmaster should be to contact the Group or Area/District Committee chairman about your offer. Just offer your services to build their web site and don't forget to get input from all committee members in your Section, Group or Area/District. The site should not just be one person's opinion, it should be a reflection of the section, group or area/district.

Site building for a Scouting Site should remain simple and contain good information. Our job is to make current correct information available to our Scouting Public, no matter what browser they are using. Not so many bells and whistles, but just good page construction.

The home page for the program or section/group/area/district should contain a hyperlink to the National Council's homepage (http://www.scouts.ca) prominently displayed. There is only one official National home page.

All section/group/area/district/region home pages must clearly identify the section/group/area/district/region that it represents and a contact person with e-mail address for comments.

Web sites should not have 'Secured Areas' or 'Password Required Areas', unless they contain subject matter that is unsuitable for youth members, such as discussions on issues in Scouting.

These guidelines should be followed for the section/group/area/district/region to have a link established from the National Council's Web Page to the section/group/area/district/region's home page.

The Scouting in Canada (www.scoutscan.com) link to any section/group/area/district/region web page may be withdrawn without notice for failure to comply with these rules.

Article VI - Liability

Scouting Members operating Internet sites are responsible for their content. The National Council (and Scouting in Canada - www.scoutscan.com) shall not be held liable for the contents of any web site whether or not such web site has obtained National Council approved status.

Helpful Hints

Leave Frames, Java, Active X, Visual Basic alone for now.

Be careful and monitor how you use sarcasm or humor on your page because your message may not be received in the spirit that it was meant.

Check your spelling. A misspelled word can change the mood of the message. For example, observe grammar and rules of punctuation to the best of your ability. Use of non-standard writing will hamper the ability and desire of others to receive the information you are sharing. Be careful when using 'local' terminology, it could be misinterpreted, unless the viewer is aware of it.

Keep paragraphs short and succinct. Focus on one subject per message area. Separate subjects by lines or spaces. Just make sure the themes do not run together and confuse the viewer and convey incorrect information.

Make sure calendars have correct information. If you are not sure... don't post. It would be better to have no information and keep looking for it than the wrong information and miss the event.

Date the page with the revision.

Thanks For Your Support,
Kevin D. Nickson - Webmaster
Scouting in Canada - www.scoutscan.com