BCC: Northern Lights Council Volunteers / Bénévoles du Conseil de Northern Lights | | | |
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NLC News
Connecting Volunteers Across Northern Lights Council
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| Launching Fall Adventures Together | | |
Welcome to our September edition of NLC News. As we begin a new Scouting year, we want to extend our sincere thanks to the dedicated volunteers who make Scouting possible across Northern Lights Council. This fall marks the return of a registration year aligned with the school calendar, creating a more natural rhythm for families, volunteers, and Groups as they plan for the year ahead. As we welcome new and returning members, thank you for the time, energy, and passion you invest in helping young people discover, lead, and grow. Together, we'll make this another memorable year of adventure, learning, and friendship.
On the Council front we're pleased to welcome Brenda Doroshuk as Event Support Scouter, and Dave Betts, Jim Brown, and Brian Wallace, all as Group Support Scouters, to the Council Leadership Team. They join Corey Wren (Communications Support Scouter) and the rest of the CK3 as key contacts for Council. We'll share their bios and contact details in the next newsletter.
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- Useful Right Now
- Fuel Your Next Adventure with Scout Popcorn
- Are You Ready for Some Football?
- [Article] Keeping Group Finances Simple and Transparent
- [Article] Helping Make Adventures Happen: Meet the Northern Lights Scout Foundation
- What's Coming Up
- Confirmed Events
- Pending Events
- Shout Out!
- NLC Range Training Team
- Help Needed
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| Quick wins, urgent updates, and key resources. "Useful Right Now" delivers the tools and deadlines you need to know about today. | | |
Fuel Your Next Adventure with Scout Popcorn!
Whether you are looking to stock up on tasty treats or lead a group campaign, it’s not too late to register and participate! The annual Scout Popcorn fundraiser runs from September 1 to November 3, 2026, and NLC Groups can still sign up to start raising funds immediately.
Scouts Canada has partnered with Kernels Popcorn to offer fresh, Canadian-made snacks. Choose from top flavours like Buttersalt, Cheesey Dill, Whalen's White Cheese, Creamy Caramel, and the new Scout Exclusive Maple Caramel.
Every purchase helps fund camping trips, community projects, and essential gear, with free shipping via AMJ Move Distribution Hubs ensuring maximum profits stay in your community.
Register your group today!
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Are You Ready for Some Football?
Go to the Confirmed Events section to get more information, including ordering deadlines, for the upcoming Eskimos Scouts Night and Sleepover event.
For more information, contact Norm Kerr (norm.kerr@scouts.ca)
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[Article] Keeping Group Finances Simple and Transparent | |
Local Scout Groups operate as chartered branches of Scouts Canada. This means each Group operates under Scouts Canada’s official charitable registration, bank standards, and insurance umbrella rather than as an independent organization.
Because every Group shares the national registration, clear financial management helps protect both local youth programming and the organization as a whole.
Simple Rules for Everyday Finances
Scouts Canada keeps financial rules clear and consistent across all Groups:
- The Scouting Year: The official financial year runs from September 1 to August 31.
- Naming Bank Accounts: Bank accounts must use the official format: Scouts Canada – [Group Number, Name].
- Two Sets of Eyes (Dual Control): Any financial action—including cheques, transfer approvals, or spending—requires approval from two registered Scouters. To keep the process objective, these two Scouters cannot be related by blood, adoption, marriage, or other personal relationship.
- Planning the Budget: Before the Scouting year starts in September, the Group Committee approves an annual budget. Groups plan expenditures around expected collections from fundraising, member fees, and existing reserve funds.
- The Year-End Check-In: By November 30, we're asking Groups to submit a Year-End Financial Report to Council. Two independent reviewers—individuals who do not hold signing authority for the Group and are unrelated to the signing authorities—review the books to ensure accuracy.
How Scouters Work Together on Finances
Financial management in a Scout Group is shared between administrative committee roles and Section Scouters running weekly youth activities.
- Group Commissioner
- Looks out for the Group's overall health, safety, and governance. Group Commissioners help recruit leadership roles (such as the Treasurer) and ensure the Group stays on track with Scouts Canada policies and yearly budgets.
- Group Treasurer
- Keeps the Group's financial operations running smoothly. The Treasurer logs income and expenses, balances the bank account, tracks group assets (such as camping gear), and shares monthly updates with the Group Committee. They also aggregate section requests into a master Group budget.
- Group Committee Scouters
- Handle administrative responsibilities behind the scenes. They manage venue bookings, maintain group equipment records, support member registrations, and coordinate major group fundraisers like annual popcorn sales.
- Section Scouters
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Focus on delivering engaging youth programming. Section Scouters plan seasonal activities, estimate event costs, and collaborate with the Group Treasurer to ensure activity fees cover outings and gear expenses.
To read more about group finances, check out these resources:
Policy & Governance Framework:
Fundraising & Donation Receipts:
Reporting & Compliance Guides:
| | [Article] Helping Make Adventures Happen: Meet the Northern Lights Scout Foundation | | |
Behind the backcountry treks and youth-led expeditions across the Northern Lights Council, NLC groups work hard to plan and fundraise for their activities. To assist with these efforts, the Northern Lights Scout Foundation (NLSF) provides additional financial support to turn ambitious ideas into reality.
Strengthening NLC Initiatives
The Foundation’s core mission is to raise, manage, and invest funds to bolster Scouting across the Northern Lights Council. Over the years, the NLSF has contributed directly to council initiatives. Managed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of active members and veteran Scouters, the Foundation embodies a simple principle: Once a Scout, always a Scout.
Targeted Support for Groups
While primary funding for regular outings comes directly from section fundraising, the Foundation offers supplemental grants for eligible projects through the Grizzly Den Adventure Grant program. Co-funded by Scouts Canada, this grant offers financial top-ups to help NLC groups offset the costs of major, character-building outdoor projects and adventures.
Honouring Service, Funding Adventures
Extraordinary Scouters make ambitious youth expeditions possible. The Order of the Aurora offers a meaningful way to recognize these dedicated leaders while giving back to NLC. By nominating a Scouter for this prestigious honour, a group's tax-deductible contribution goes straight toward funding local grants, ensuring our volunteers' legacy continues through the youth they inspire. Have a Scouter in mind? Consider nominating them today.
You Are the Foundation
Every active member of the Northern Lights Council is part of the Foundation. As one of the most active councils in Canada, NLC benefits from the extra boost the Foundation provides to help empower youth, foster leadership, and expand outdoor opportunities.
If your group is planning a major project, the Foundation offers an additional funding stream worth exploring.
Learn more, view past adventure reports, or review grant guidelines at nlscoutfoundation.ca.
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Edmonton Elks Scouts Night and Sleepover
September 26, 2026
Starting at 6:00 P.M.
Commonwealth Stadium (map)
Join the excitement for this year’s ELKS Game and Sleepover!
Tickets to the game are $35, and include entrance to the game, commemorative badge, access to the sleepover and all post-games events.
Use the following link to register:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/waqB5TBirH
IMPORTANT! The last day to order tickets is September 15, 2026.
The Edmonton Elks Scouts Night and Sleepover is an all-sections event that is also open to family members.
If you have any questions, contact Norm Kerr (norm.kerr@scouts.ca)
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Scouting Essentials
September 27, 2026
Starting at 5:00 P.M. Mountain Time
Virtual (Registration Required)
Explore everything that is the Canadian Path. Giving you the confidence to run great weekly meetings, camps and beyond. Discover the routines that engages you and your youth to build great programming Scouting Essentials aims to help Scouters in their Program Delivery and Section Scouter role by using the Scouting Method to introduce to key concepts of the Canadian Path to bridge theory and practice. Discover:
- Weekly Meeting Structure
- Create a Section Code of Conduct
- How to use Patrols
- Youth-Led Adventures
- Shared Leadership - Youth, Scouters and Families
- Balancing Your Program
- Learn where to find resources
- Run fun safe Scouting activities and so much more!
**An alternative session is available October 17, 2026**
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NLC Range Training
October 3 and 4, 2026
Scoutland Camp (map)
The cost for each course is $20.
The plan is to offer two courses on Saturday, October 3, 2026 (pelletry and tomahawk), and archery on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Each course is a one-day affair,
We normally require a minimum of six participants in a course to make it worthwhile to conduct.
If you are interested, contact Ray Dunn (redunn46@gmail.com)
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Jamboree on the Air/Internet
(JOTA/JOTI) & Permit Skills Camp
October 16 to 18, 2026
Devon Lions Campground (map)
Targeted for Scouts.
More details to come.
If you are interested, contact email nlcjota2025@gmail.com
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Scouting Essentials
October 18, 2026
Starting at 5:00 P.M. Mountain Time
Virtual (Registration Required)
**This session will have the same information as the session held on September 27, 2026**
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Turkey Shoot
April 24 and 25, 2027
Scoutland Camp (map)
An archery-focused event for Cub Scouts held at Scoutland rain, shine, or snow.
**Currently at Capacity**
For more information, including adding your group to the wait list, email David Walker (walker.53227@gmail.com).
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PENDING
Events listed in this section are in the planning stages, but do not have a confirmed date and time.
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Oilers Scout Night
Target: November/December 2026
Oilers Scout Night brings local Scouts and their families to Rogers Place for an Edmonton Oilers NHL game, offering discounted tickets, a limited-edition event patch, and special in-game recognition.
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NLC Ski and Snowboard Day
Target: January/February 2027
Hit the slopes with fellow Scouts, leaders, and families for an unforgettable day of winter adventure!
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Sherwood Park Vehicle Rally
Target: March 2027
Bring your handcrafted cars, trucks, and buggies to the track for an exciting day of gravity-fueled racing in Sherwood Park.
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Oil Kings Scout Night and Sleepover
Target: March 2027
An annual event hosted at Rogers Place, featuring an Edmonton Oil Kings game, where thousands of local Scouts and families gather for a full evening of hockey, exclusive post-game activities, an event patch, and an optional overnight sleepover inside the arena.
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Great Edmonton Scout Camp
Target: May 2027
A weekend campout for Scouts (11 to 14) that brings together groups for joint outdoor adventure and inter-troop camaraderie. The previous year's event was at Imrie Campground.
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Bikeree
Target: May 2027
An annual spring cycling event for Cub Scouts (ages 8–10) held along the multi-use trail network in the Edmonton River Valley.
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Cuboree
Target: May 2027
A weekend campout for Cub Scouts that brings together packs from across NLC and beyond to experience large-scale outdoor camping, practice scoutcraft, and connect with the broader Scouting community. Last year was at Imrie Campground.
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Spring Thaw
Target: June 2027
An late spring/early summer outdoor weekend campout for Scout groups, traditionally hosted at a more rustic regional camp location in NLC.
| | PLANNING AND REGISTERING AN EVENT | | |
Are you planning a special camp, rally, or multi-group adventure? The Scouts Canada Event Management Playbook maps out your event's lifecycle, from the initial idea through post-event review, to ensure every experience is safe, youth-led, and manageable. Before diving into logistics, start at the Idea Stage by following the Event Assessment & Approval Procedure.
It is important to secure early sign-off from the Council Key 3 for low-risk events, or National Leadership for medium- and high-risk events.
If you need help navigating the procedure and documentation, or to notify us of a missing event on the confirmed or pending lists, email Brenda Doroshuk, NLC Event Support Scouter (brenda.doroshuk@scouts.ca) or nlc-ck3@scouts.ca.
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This section highlights the amazing volunteers and youth who go above and beyond to make Scouting incredible across Central and Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
Send "Shout Outs!" for future newsletters to nlc-ck3@scouts.ca.
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Aiming High: Celebrating Our NLC Range Training Team
A massive thank you to the dedicated instructors and volunteers of the NLC Range Training Team! Folks like Ray Dunn, Susan Kerr, Don Morken, David Walker, and Rhiannon Walker, Craig Cameron, and Denis Campbell, are what makes our certification system possible.
NLC is currently the only Council featuring a dedicated range training certification program for Scouters, Venturers, and Rovers interested in running ranges for archery, pelletry (air rifles), and tomahawk throwing. Thanks to the team's commitment to safety and outdoor skill-building, our youth get to experience thrilling activities overseen by trained range masters.
Empowering Scouters, Enriching Youth
By delivering specialized qualification courses, the Range Training Team equips our Scouters with the confidence, certifications, and safety protocols needed to lead these dynamic programs.
Through these training courses, Scouters gain:
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Strict Safety & Range Leadership: Mastering range setup, safety commands, and risk management to ensure a controlled environment for everyone.
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Effective Coaching Techniques: Learning how to teach youth proper form, marksmanship, and focus across archery, pelletry, and tomahawks.
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Expanded Program Delivery: Earning the qualifications needed to run range events for their groups, directly expanding opportunities for youth.
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Youth Impact: Confidently guiding youth as they build discipline, self-confidence, and a lifelong respect for range safety.
Our youth are undeniably better for the additional training our range masters undertake in NLC.
Get Certified! Interested in becoming a range-certified Scouter for archery, pelletry, or tomahawk throwing? Check the NLC News for upcoming training dates or email nlc-ck3@scouts.ca today. If you're interested in being a trainer, let us know, too!
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Northern Lights Council Youth Commissioner
Are you a young leader (ages 14–26) ready to shape local Scouting? Northern Lights Council is looking for a dynamic Council Youth Commissioner to join our leadership team!
In this key volunteer role, you will help drive growth, support volunteers, and empower youth across NLC. Most importantly, you will serve as the primary voice for NLC youths while helping to coordinate regional programs and networks.
Ready to make a difference in your community? Apply today to inspire the next generation!
| | | The Council Key 3 is an equal leadership partnership that collaboratively guides strategic direction, supports local volunteers, and drives safe, high-quality Scouting across NLC. | | | | |
