Scouting Glossary

Common words and phases used in Scouting in Canada

Compiled by Scouter Liam Morland, 2000

This is a glossary of terms used in Scouting in Canada. Please email about any terms that you feel should be added or any definitions that you believe are incomplete.

Achievement Badge: Any three level badge in the 1968-1998 Scouts Canada Scout badge system.
action song: A song which has associated body motions.
Activity Leader: A person 14 or 15 years of age who is a member of the Leadership Team of a Colony or Pack (Scouts Canada).
Adviser: A Scouter associated with a Venturer Company or Rover Crew. A resource for the members of the section and the person with responsibility for the actions of the section.
Akela: The chief wolf of the Seeonee wolf pack in The Jungle Book.; A nick name for one of the Pack Scouters, usually the Cubmaster.
Area: A support division of a council in Scouts Canada.
Assistant Patrol Leader: A Scout who helps the Patrol Leader and takes over in their absence.
Baden-Powell: Lord Robert Stevenson Smyth Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting.
Baden-Powell Scouts: A Scouting association which aims to follow the Scouting program exactly as written in Scouting for Boys by Baden-Powell.
Badge: A cloth emblem representative of a person's development.; Anything representative of such.
Badge scheme: The system of badges which recognize progressive development of Scouts.
Baloo: The bear in The Jungle Book.; A nick name for one of the Pack Scouters.
Be prepared: The Scout Motto.
Beads: Wood Badge Beads.
Beaver: A youth member of the Beaver section, usually 5-7 years of age (Scouts Canada).
Beaveree: A large gathering of Beavers.
Beavers' Own: A Scouts' Own for Beavers.
Blue Tail: The tail worn by six-year-old Beavers (Scouts Canada).; Any Beaver wearing a Blue Tail (Scouts Canada).
Boat Crew: A Patrol of Sea Scouts.
B-P: Baden-Powell.
B-P Guild: An organization of adults dedicated to Scouting's Principles.
B-P Scouts: Baden-Powell Scouts
breaking the flag: Causing a flag to fly free from the bundle in which it was tied. Normally done with the national flag at the opening of an event or every morning at camp.
Brown Tail: The tail worn by five-year-old Beavers (Scouts Canada).; Any Beaver wearing a Brown Tail (Scouts Canada).
campfire: A gathering of Scouts, usually around a fire, to have fun by singing, acting, telling jokes, and hearing stories. Campfires usually end with a Scouter's Five.
campfire blanket: A blanket worn or wrapped around oneself at campfires. Most Scouts sew event crests on their campfire blanket. Many blankets are designed to be worn as robes.
Camporee: A large gathering of Scouts, normally for the purpose of campetition.
Challenge Badge: Any of the circular badges that a Scout may earn (Scouts Canada).
Chief Scout's Award: The highest award/rank in the Scouts Canada Scout section.
Chief Scout of Canada: The ceremonial head of Scouting in Canada. Usually the Governor General.
Chief Scout of the World: The ceremonial head of the World Scout Movement. The position remains filled by Lord Baden-Powell, the late founder of Scouting.
Church Parade: A Church Service designed for Scouts. Usually involves the Scouts parading into the church with their flags.
colony: The name for a section of Beavers. A Beaver Colony (Scouts Canada).
Colony Scouter: A Scouter associated with a Beaver Colony.
commissioner: The Scouter with overall responsibility for the operation of a council.
company: The name for a section of Venturers. A Venturer Company (Scouts Canada).
Contact Beaver Leader: The Colony Scouter with primary responsibility for the section; the contact person (Scouts Canada).
Core Badge: Any of four two-level badges in the 1998 Scout badge system in Scouts Canada.
core program: A part of a Scout program that is used every year.; A requirement for one of the core badges in the Scouts Canada Scout badge system.
Council: An organizational unit of Scouts Canada. These are divided into Areas.
Court of Honour: A gathering of Patrols Leaders and possibly Assistant Patrol Leaders to decide issues of importance to the troop. Also used by other sections. Sometimes called Patrol Leaders' Council or Sixers' Council.; In the Boy Scouts of America, the ceremony during which ranks are granted.
crest: A cloth emblem representative of an event, place, or person.
crew: The name for a section of Rovers. A Rover Crew.
Cub: Wolf Cub
Cubmaster: The Pack Scouter with primary responsibility for the section; the contact person.
Cuboree: A large gathering of Wolf Cubs.
Cubs' Own: A Scouts' Own for Wolf Cubs.
Duty to God: One of Scouting's three Principles: Adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them, and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom.
Duty to Others: One of Scouting's three Principles: Loyalty to one's country in harmony with the promotion of local, national, and international peace, understanding, and cooperation. Participation in the development of society, with recognition and respect for the dignity of one's fellow-man and the natural world.
Duty to Self: One of Scouting's three Principles: Responsibility for the development of oneself.
Executive Director: The paid staff member responsible for administering the affairs of a Scout council.
Five Star Award: An unofficial award given to Wolf Cubs who completed all five stars of the 1968 to 1995 badge program.
flag: A piece of cloth which is representative of a country, section, or other jurisdiction or entity.
Formal campfire: A carefully planned campfire with a marked beginning and end.
Fundamental: Fundamental Principle
Fundamental Principle: The basic elements upon which the unity of the Scout Movements rests, its purpose, principles, and method.
Gilwell: Wood Badge.; Gilwell Park.; A Gilwell Reunion.
Gilwell Park: The international training centre in England where the first Wood Badge courses were held.
Gilwell Reunion: An annual social gathering of Gilwellians, normally held in September.
Gilwellian: A Scouter who has completed Wood Badge training.
God: Any spiritual figure around which one centres one's spirituality.; All conceptions of God.; The summation of one's spiritual principles.
Group Committee: The group of people responsible for the administration of a Scout Group.
Guild: B-P Guild.
home hospitality: The staying in the home of a Scout from the host country of an international Jamboree.
horizontal patrol: A patrol comprising Scouts who are of similar age, school grade, and year in program. Sometimes called a peer-patrol. These are contrary to the Scout Method.
hullabaloo: A gathering of Scouting members from multiple program sections. In comparison, a camporee, moot, venturee, cuboree, or beaveree are aimed at one program section.
Jamboree: A large gathering of Scouts, normally at national or international scale.
Keeo: A Wolf Cub who is on the Leadership Team of a Beaver Colony. This person assists in linking the Colony with the Pack (Scouts Canada).
Keeper of the Purse: The Rover responsible for keeping track of a Crew's money. The treasurer.
Kim: A Scout who is on the Leadership Team of a Wolf Cub Pack. This person assists in linking the Pack with the Troop (Scouts Canada).
knife: A tool used by Scouts to cut things. Many knives also have other tools such as a can opener.
Leader: A Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Sixer, Second, Activity Leader, or other person who provides leadership to others.; A Scouter.
Leadership Team: The group of people directly responsible for running a unit. This includes the section Scouters and youth leadership, such as a Senior Patrol Leader.
Linking: The process by which members of one section become members of the next.
Lodge: A small group of Beavers of mixed ages.
log: A symbol of Gilwell consisting of an axe set in a log.
lowering the flag: Lowering the flag from its pole to mark the end of an event or day.
Mafeking: The town that B-P defended during a famous siege in the Boer War. B-P's fame was largely a result of this defence.
Magic Light: A yellow or silver strip that is worn on the White Tail to indicate that the Beaver is soon to move to Wolf Cubs.
Mate: The Rover responsible for a Rover Crew. The president or chair.
meeting: A gathering of people to conduct business.
Moot: A large gathering of Rovers.
National Scout Organization: A Scout association that represents the Scout Movement of a country to the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
necker: Abbr. neckerchief
neckerchief: A triangular piece of cloth that is rolled and worn around the neck, either with a woggle or tied. Every Scout Group has their own colour.
night hike: A hike which happens during the night.
overnight hike: A hike which is punctuated by overnight sleeping.
pack: The name for a section of Wolf Cubs. A Wolf Cub Pack.
Pack Scouter: A Scouter associated with a Wolf Cub Pack.
Part I: Wood Badge Part I
Part II: Wood Badge Part II
Part III: Wood Badge Part III
Pathfinder Scout: The third of four ranks of a Scout in the Scouts Canada program.
Patrol: A small group of Scouts of mixed ages. A Scout Troop is made up of several patrols.
Patrol Leader: The member of a Patrol who is responsible for leading the patrol.
Patrol Leaders' Council: See Court of Honour.
Pioneer Scout: The first of four ranks of a Scout in the Scouts Canada program. Accorded to a Scout upon investiture.
Principle: Duty to God, Duty to Others, Duty to Self.; The moral precepts of Scouting.
Proficiency badge: Any of the triangular badges that a Wolf Cub may earn (Scouts Canada).
Program: The entirety of activities undertaken by a section.
Promise: A series of words said by a member to affirm dedication to the Principles of Scouting. Must be said at an investiture.
Provincial Council: The council responsible for Scouting in a province.
Purpose of Scouting: To contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual potentials as individuals, responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national, and international communities.
Region: The councils into which a province is divided. These are further divided into either districts or areas.
Round Table: A meeting of Rovers from many crews to discuss matters of universal concern.
Rover: A youth member of the Rover section, usually 18-26 years of age.
Rovers' Own: A Scouts' Own for Rovers.
sash: A cloth sash worn over the right shoulder to which badges are sewn.
scarf: Neckerchief
Scout: Any member of the Scout Movement.; A youth member of the Scout section, usually 11-14 years of age.; Any person who is dedicated to Scouting's Principles.; Any person skilled in tracking, obeervation, and woodcraft.
Scout Group: Several associated sections. Groups should have one of each section.
Scout Method: The means used or the steps followed to fulfil the purpose of Scouting.
Scout Movement: All individuals and associations who direct their actions towards fulfilling the purpose and principles of Scouting, or who live the principles of Scouting.
Scout Staff: A stick, usually of wood, which helps one walk or hike. Many are adorned with carving, plaques, or thongs. Many are only used ceremonially.
Scout-Guide Week: The week in February when Scouts and Guides remember the founder, B-P.
Scouter: Adult members of Scouting who operate a Scouting program or support other Scouters.
Scouter's Five: A short story or metaphor with a spiritual message.
Scouter-in-Training: A person 16 or 17 years of age associated with a Colony, Pack, or Troop who is in training to become a Scouter (Scouts Canada).
Scouteree: A large gathering of Scouters.
Scouters' Own: A Scouts' Own for Scouters.
Scouting: A voluntary non-political educational movement for young people, open to all without distinction of origin, race, class, or creed, in accordance with the purpose, principles, and method conceived by Lord Baden Powell.
Scoutmaster: The Troop Scouter with primary responsibility for the section; the contact person.
Scouts' Own: A gathering of Scouts held to help them develop their spirituality and a fuller understanding of the Scout Law.; A Scouts' Own for Scouts.
Scribe: The Rover responsible for a Crew's record keeping. The secretary.
Sea Rover: A Rover who is a member of a Sea Rover Crew.
Sea Rover Crew: A Rover Crew that uses nautical ceremonies and focuses its activities on the water.
Sea Scout: A Scout who is a member of a Sea Scout Troop.
Sea Scout Troop: A Scout Troop that uses nautical ceremonies and focuses its activities on the water.
Sea Venturer: A Venturer who is a member of a Sea Venturer Company.
Sea Venturer Company: A Venturer Company that uses nautical ceremonies and focuses its activities on the water.
Second: A Wolf Cub who helps the Sixer and takes over in their absence.
Section: The group of youth members and their Scouters which meets together on a regular basis: A Beaver Colony, Wolf Cub Pack, Scout Troop, Venturer Company, or Rover Crew.
Section Committee: A Group Committee in a Scout Group that has only one section.
section Scouter: A Scouter who works directly with a section.
Senior Sixer: An older Wolf Cub who provides leadership to the Sixers. Usually one who has been a Sixer before.
Service Strips: Small cloth strips worn to indicate how many years one has been a member of the Scout Movement. Silver indicates one year; gold five (Scouts Canada).
Service Team: Support Team.
shoulder tab: An embroidered cloth tube worn around the epaulet of one's shirt to indicate what section one is part of.
Six: A small group of Wolf Cubs of mixed ages.
Sixer: The member of a Six who is responsible for leading the Six.
Sixers' Council: See: Court of Honour.
Skip: A nickname for a Scouter, particularly a Sea Scoutmaster.
small group: A group of about five to eight youth members. Colonies, Packs, and Troops are divided into small groups as Lodges, Sixes, and Patrols, respectively. Scouting activities are centred around small groups.
spiritual principle: An element around which one lives one's life or develops their spiritual side.
staff: Scout Staff.
Star: One of six Wolf Cub badges. There is one star for each activity area (Scouts Canada).
Support Team: A group of Scouters, usually operating at the area level, who help section Scouters do their job (Scouts Canada).
Swiss Army Knife: A knife which includes tools besides the blade made by one of the two brands authorized to use the Swiss Army trade name, Victorinox or Wenger.; A similar knife not made by one of these companies.
Tail: One of three different beaver tail-shaped insignias worn on the back of a Beaver's hat to indicate the Beaver's age (Scouts Canada).
taps: A song traditionally sung or played at the end of the day.
Thinking Day: The birthday of Lord Baden-Powell. Term is used most within Guiding.
Trainer: A person who helps a Scouters' development of skills and knowledge.
troop: The name for a section of Scouts. A Scout Troop.
Troop Night: The weekly gathering of a Scout Troop.
Troop Scouter: A Scouter associated with a Scout Troop.
uniform: The clothing that a Scout wears while participating in Scouting activities.
Venturee: A large gathering of Venturers.
Venturer: A youth member of the Venturer section, usually 14-17 years of age.
Venturers' Own: A Scouts' Own for Venturers.
vertical patrol: A patrol comprising Scouts from all ages, usually with the older Scouts holding position of PL and APL. Sometimes called a family patrol.
voluntold: The act of selecting a person to take an action which is nominally voluntary. Example: "We were voluntold to help." Etymology: volunteer + told.
Voyager Scout: The second of four ranks of a Scout in the Scouts Canada program.
Walking stick: Scout Staff.
White Tail: The tail worn by seven-year-old Beavers (Scouts Canada).; Any Beaver wearing a White Tail (Scouts Canada).
woggle: A decorative tube through which both ends of a rolled neckerchief are passed so that it can be worn around the neck.; Anything used to hold a neckerchief in place.
Wolf Cub: A youth member of the Wolf Cub section, usually 8-10 years of age.
Wolf Cubs' Own: A Scouts' Own for Wolf Cubs.
Wood Badge: The system of Scouter training.; Wood Badge Beads.; A Wood Badge course.
Wood Badge Beads: A necklace with two, three, or four wooden beads representative of Wood Badge training.
Wood Badge Part I: The first of two levels of Wood Badge training. Usually a weekend-long course held at camp.
Wood Badge Part II: The second of two levels of Wood Badge training. Usually a week-long course held at camp followed by the completion of a Wood Badge Ticket.
Wood Badge Ticket: A set of tasks which apply the learning from a Wood Badge course. A Scouter "works their ticket" to complete their Wood Badge training. Every Wood Badge candidate writes their ticket in collaboration with their trainer.
World Organization of the Scout Movement: The organization responsible for coordinating the Scout Movement worldwide.