Scouts Canada and Hydro One launch an online
Activity Finder to give families new ideas to safely
enjoy the outdoors
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Scouts Canada and Hydro One
have partnered to launch a free Activity Finder to give
families new ideas to help reduce recreational screen time and
enjoy the outdoors safely. The database, available at
Scouts.ca/ActivityFinder, offers more than 150 thoughtful,
educational and fun activities that also help youth of all ages
develop well-rounded skills. Each activity provides simple
guidelines challenging young people to plan and facilitate the
activities themselves and then reflect on how to do it even better
the next time. Hundreds of additional activities will be added
throughout 2021.
"As Scouts, we are committed to strengthening communities in any
way possible. Due to the pandemic, a great number of Canadian
families are facing disruptions to their daily routines; they are
spending increased time at home and children are missing
much-needed opportunities to play and interact with their friends,"
said Andrew Price, Executive
Commissioner and CEO, Scouts Canada. "With the support of Hydro
One, we have created the Activity Finder, a free and
accessible resource for families seeking fresh ideas to engage,
challenge and inspire their kids all while being physically active
and exploring the great outdoors."
"At Hydro One, we believe we have a deep responsibility to
support people and communities during this unprecedented time,"
said Jay Armitage, Vice President,
Marketing and Communications, Hydro One. "Especially at this
challenging time, Scouts Canada plays a critical role in developing
resiliency in young people. The Activity Finder, powered by Hydro
One, will help improve mental and physical health by connecting
kids and their families with safe, educational and fun
activities."
Outdoor play is a fundamental need for children.
Research shows it offers a multitude of physical, mental and
social benefits, contributing to building resilience, cognitive
functioning, creativity, problem solving, social skills and more.
With Canadian guidelines recommending children ages five to 17
engage in 60 minutes of daily physical activity, Scouts Canada's
Activity Finder provides new ways to achieve this goal
and is searchable by age group, the season and activity focus.
Children can discover how to build a quinzhee shelter from snow,
host a household "Olympics", make outdoor art, and more.
A 2021 Maru Voice Canada survey*, conducted on behalf of Scouts
Canada and Hydro One, examining the frequency that Canadians and
their families are engaging in outdoor recreational activity for at
least 30 minutes, found:
- 16 per cent are engaging daily
- 52 per cent are engaging once a week or less
- 28 per cent are engaging less than once a month
Furthermore, a study conducted by Innovative Research Group
demonstrates that 76 per cent of Ontarians believe participating in
outdoor recreational activities is a great way to support their
personal well-being during the pandemic. The study also found that
79 per cent of Ontarians mostly or always do the same outdoor
activity – walking topped the list of most popular activities.
Fifty-two per cent said they would be more likely to increase
their frequency of participation in outdoor recreational activities
if they knew what was available.
To ensure the health and safety of the Scouting community,
outdoor and temporary virtual Scouting (varies by location) are
being offered in accordance with local and regional governments and
health agencies. The program gives kids something to look forward
to and a sense of belonging, allowing them to have fun while
challenging them to get outside, experience adventure and build
resilience.
For youth from families facing economic barriers, Scouts Canada
has a program called No One Left Behind that subsidizes membership
fees and related costs. For more information about how to
register and Scouts Canada's multi-stage COVID-19 procedures, visit
Scouts.ca.
About Scouts Canada
Kids and young adults in Scouts
chart their own path of discovery. Through a variety
of fun experiences with friends, outdoor adventures and
contributions to their community, Scouts build resilience and
skills that set them up for life. Scouts Canada is the
country's leading co-ed youth organization, offering programming
for children and youth aged 5-26 in multiple languages, reflecting
Canada's multicultural landscape and communities. For more
information, visit Scouts.ca.
Scouts Canada is a not-for-profit organization (Charitable
Registration No.10776 1694 RR0028) and a member of the World
Organization of the Scout Movement.
About Hydro One Limited
Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)
Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and
distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued
customers, approximately $27.1 billion in assets as
at December 31, 2019, and annual revenues in 2019 of
approximately $6.5 billion. Our team of approximately 8,800
skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe
and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting
strong and successful communities. In 2019, Hydro One invested
approximately $1.7 billion in its transmission and
distribution networks and supported the economy through buying
approximately $1.5 billion of goods and services. We are
committed to the communities where we live and work through
community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We
are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian
Electricity Association. Hydro One Limited's common shares are
listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes
are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed
at www.hydroone.com; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.
* From January 4th to January 5th
2021 an online survey of 1,506 randomly selected Canadian
adults who are Maru Voice Canada
panelists was executed by Maru/Blue. For comparison purposes, a
probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error
(which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of
20. The results have been weighted by education, age, gender and
region (and in Quebec, language)
to match the population, according to Census data. This is to
ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population
of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
A full set of the data tables and analysis is posted to the site
www.marublue.com/canadian-polls.
SOURCE Hydro One Inc.