NEWS RELEASE
SCOUTS CANADA
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Resilience is essential for coping with risk factors, challenges, uncertainty and stress, as well as for building positive mental health, emotional wellbeing, social relationships and academic achievement.
Research supports that when children are resilient, they are braver, more curious, more adaptable, and more able to extend their reach into the world. Over the past few months, and weeks, as children adapt to new environments at school or to virtual classrooms, it is more important than ever foster healthy social and emotional wellbeing.
Scouts Canada, a leading organization that focuses on developing well-rounded youth, is partnering with award-winning educator, resiliency expert and mother of three, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to provide Canadian families with the tools and knowledge to better navigate risk and challenges – not just during a pandemic but in everyday life.
The Guide to Resilient Children, is a free resource launching today at Scouts.ca, offering everyday tips, practices, sustainable solutions, and age-appropriate goals to developing resiliency.
“Resiliency is the journey – not the destination, not something you are born with or without. It can be taught and fostered,” said Dr. Robyne. “I believe in breaking down the barriers between knowledge and access, so I’m thrilled to be partnering with Scouts Canada, an organization that helps cultivate confident, resilient youth, to develop a resource for parents and supporters that is free and accessible to all.”
“Partnering with Dr. Robyne to develop a resiliency guide for parents and families is a natural extension of our mission to help children and young adults become capable, confident, resilient and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world,” said Andrew Price, Executive Commissioner and CEO, Scouts Canada.
According to a Statistics Canada survey on the impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian families and children, 61 per cent of participants were very or extremely concerned about managing their child’s or children’s behaviours, stress levels, anxiety and emotions.
Dr. Robyne specializes in resiliency, navigating stress and change, leadership, and personal wellness in the workplace and schools. Her writing and research takes a refreshing approach that looks at resiliency from multiple vantage points with the aim of being fully accessible to everyone – applying her own insights from juggling a successful career with family and raising three children. Scouts Canada will be hosting a free interactive webinar with Dr. Robyne on Sunday, October 18 at 2pm ET / 11am PT to discuss her principles of building resiliency, offer steps families can take at home and enable parents to ask questions. The Resiliency Webinar is free to register by visiting Scouts.ca.
The guide also outlines the role of outdoor play, a fundamental need for children, which has become even more limited during the past six months as a result of the newfound challenges related to the pandemic. Scouts Canada recognizes that outdoor play not only supports physical development, but also cognitive functioning such as the use of imagination, which fosters creativity and problem solving.
In an effort to get more kids to enjoy the outdoors, girls, boys and young adults ages five to 26 can Scout for free for the remainder of 2020. Families can sign up at Scouts.ca.
“Scouting has always aimed to build and strengthen communities,” said Price, “In order to enable families to benefit from the Scouting program and to eliminate barriers, youth will be able to participate in Scouting for the remainder of 2020 at no cost.”
Scouts Canada is currently offering an outdoor and virtual program with all in-person activities taking place in limited cohorts in an outdoor setting to ensure the health and safety of the Scouting community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fall program will challenge youth to get outside, develop well-rounded skills, discover a sense of community, experience adventure and build resilience through fun activities.
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Scouts Canada’s step-by-step return to Scouting was developed in accordance with the direction provided by governments and health agencies and guided by provincial ministries of education. For more information about Scouts Canada’s COVID-19 procedures, visit Scouts.ca.
