Guidelines on Water Actvities Policy
The Provincial Council's Water Activities Policy has been revised as of February 1997 by the Provincial Executive Board. The policy was revised to support the National policy and to give guidance in the support of safe water activities.
Under the revised policy, Group Committees are to be the approving authority, as per the By-Law, Policies and Procedures regulations on Water Activities. The approval of the Group Committee may be based on any one of the following:
- Personal knowledge of leader's skill and knowledge of activity planned.
- Proof of outside agency standard (such as O.R.C.A.).
- Proof of Scouts Canada Provincial Training Standard.
A new Leader Training Program is being developed. It will be a module format and it is expected to be completed by June 1997. Current Charge Certificates will be accepted in lieu of new proposed leader training certificates.
Group Committees may give approval for a water activity upon the completion of the approved documentation including a float plan and qualifications (a, b, or c above). A float plan is a completed standard form known as Application For Canoe/Boat Trip.
Each Area Commissioner has been instructed to appoint an area Water Activities Advisor who will be available to answer questions and to offer assistance as necessary to a Group Committee.
Points to Remember:
- All participants in a water activity must wear an approved personal flotation devise.
- There are no charge certificates for swimming activities.
- Activities on shore and on commercial water crafts (such as ferries) do not require charge certificates.
- At Haliburton Scout Reserve, float plans will not be required for water activities within the boundaries of the camp. Leaders will be given instruction and temporary qualifications as necessary. Out trips from HSR to such places as Algonquin Park, will require approved documentation including a float plan for the water activity.
SCOUTS CANADA
Provincial Council for Ontario
To support a revision of the Water Activities Policy Statement (ONT-004), the following points will guide the completion of the procedures which will be the operating system for the Water Activities Policy Statement.
- Conform to By-Law, Policies and Procedures regulations on Water Activities.
- Conform to Provincial definitions of By-Law, Policies and Procedures regulations on Water Activities.
- Current Charge Certificates be accepted in lieu of new proposed leader training certificates.
- Group Committees are to be the approving authority, as per B.P.&P., based on any one of the following:
- Personal knowledge of leader's skill and knowledge of activity planned.
- Proof of outside agency standard.
- Proof of Scouts Canada Provincial Training Standard.
A copy of the approved documentation (float plan and qualifications) would be forwarded to the supervising council.
- Use of a standard activity (float) plan for use by the sections and Group Committees.
- Regional Water Activity Co-Ordinators are to provide a Leader Training Program. Verification of leader training in specific skills to be provided in each region as demand requires.
- The training modules and the activity (float) plan to be completed by the Provincial Training and Activity Task Force by June 1997.
The issue of the use of personal floatation devises, as per the motion passed during the November Provincial Executive Board Meeting, will be dealt with in the training modules. Where deemed prudent, all procedures and training modules will be vetted by knowledgeable authorities.
As procedures and training modules are developed, they will be shared with the Regional Commissioners and Regional Water Activities Co-Ordinators for review.
SCOUTS CANADA
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL FOR ONTARIO
POLICY STATEMENT
| Subject: | Water Activities |
| Date Adopted: | January, 1984 - Provincial Executive Committee
Reaffirmed: November 6, 1993 - Provincial Executive Board
Revision Approved: |
| Reference: | By-Law, Policies and Procedures, Section IV, Policies and
Relevant Procedures: Camping and Outdoor Activities; Water
Safety Regulations. Water Activities Procedures, Ontario Council. |
| Rational/Preamble: | The Provincial Council has developed this policy as an addition to the National Policy for all water activities within the province of Ontario to give guidence in the support of safe water activities. |
| Policy Statement: | All groups who are operating watercraft and swimming activities will conform to the Water Safety Regulations as stated in By-Law, Policies and Procedures, and use the Ontario procedures to base their approval and management of all watercraft and swimming activities.
This policy and the supporting procedures will be recognized and used in all regions as the standard for water activities. |
| Contact: | Provincial Commissioner
Provincial Executive Director |
| Distribution: | Privincial Officials
Regional Officials
Area/District Officials
Executive Staff |
| Policy Number: | ONT-004
|
Application For Canoe/Boat Trip
-Hopefully this will be included here soon.