Welcome to the Grizzly Den
Grizzly Den is a Scouts Canada Program Supporting Next Level Adventures in Greater Toronto Council, Shining Waters Council, Central Escarpment Council, and White Pine Council With Financial Support From The Greater Toronto Scout Foundation.
You’ve done hikes in your neighbourhood, camped at local properties, and now it’s time to level up your next adventure.
Now is your chance!
Congratulations to our latest grizzly den funding winners
recent winners
The Greater Toronto Scout Foundation’s generous support of the Grizzly Den program means that thirty-nine Sections in Greater Toronto, Central Escarpment, Shining Waters and White Pine Councils in Ontario will have new, exciting adventures! Over 800 Scouting youth will have the chance to experience the fun and memories that only Scouting can offer. 100% of the grant from the Greater Toronto Scout Foundation is going directly to these sections.
- 1st AFC Oakville Cubs
- 1st Barrie Foresters Cubs
- 1st Barrie Foresters Scouts/Venturers
- 1st Bradford Beavers/Cubs
- 1st Holly Beavers/Cubs
- 1st Kempenfelt Scouts
- 1st Milton Beavers
- 1st Milton Cubs
- 1st Mount Albert Beavers/Cubs
- 1st Mount Albert Scouts
- 1st Port Credit Sea Scouts
- 1st Port Credit Sea Beavers
- 1st Port Credit Sea Beavers/Cubs
- 1st Port Credit Sea Venturers
- 1st Southfields Scouts
- 1st Southfields Venturers
- 1st Uxbridge Venturers
- 1st Westshore Beavers/Cubs
- 2nd Highland Creek Beavers
- 2nd Kincardine Beavers
- 3rd Parry Sound Beavers
- 3rd Parry Sound Scouts
- 4th Clarkson Venturers
- 4th Midland Cubs
- 7th Milton Beavers
- 18th Oshawa Beavers/Cubs
- 19th Oakville Cubs
- 26th Cambridge Venturers
- 27th Guelph Beavers/Cubs
- 27th Guelph Scouts
- 31st Guelph Beavers
- 31st Guelph Scouts
- 31st Guelph Scouts/Venturers
- 93rd MNN Mississauga Beavers
- 93rd MNN Mississauga Scouts/Venturers
- 138th Toronto Beavers
- 163rd IIT Beavers
- 163rd IIT Cubs
- Barrie Phoenix Scouts
Frequently asked questions
If you’re interested in more information about the Grizzly Den program, we encourage you to attend our upcoming information session!
Council Key 3s and Relationship Managers will receive a recording of the information session to share with their Scouters in the days following the session.
Learn more about the program, how to apply, and how your adventure will be judged:
Tue, September 29, 2023, 7:00 pm
Which Sections are eligible to participate in the Grizzly Den this year?
This year, thanks to the generous support of the Greater Toronto Scout Foundation, Sections in Greater Toronto Council, Shining Waters Council, Central Escarpment Council, and White Pine Council are eligible. That includes Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, and Rovers!
Why are other Councils not eligible to participate in the Grizzly Den this year?
The Grizzly Den is generously funded this year by the Greater Toronto Scout Foundation and applications will be accepted from Sections in Greater Toronto Council and the surrounding Councils in Southern Ontario – Shining Waters Council, Central Escarpment Council, and White Pine Council.
We are currently looking at launching similar initiatives in other Councils and other provinces with program partners. Stay tuned!
What types of adventures are the ‘Grizzlies’ looking to fund?
The goal of the Grizzly Den is to think big, real big! This isn’t your weekend camping adventure or trip to the amusement park. This program is all about next level adventures – we’re talking bucket list stuff!
Multi-day paddling excursions? Yup! Backwoods camping out of province? Yup! Other ideas include Beavers spending the night in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum, Cubs getting outdoors in the winter to go dogsledding, Scouts participating in a white-water canoe course, and Ventures going on a 7-day trek at Philmont Scout Ranch.
The Grizzly Den is a one-year program and Sections must apply during the open application period, from October 2 to November 12, 2023. Winners will be announced the week of January 15, 2024, with funding distributed by the end of January 2024. The date of your planned adventure must occur between February 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. Note that the Grizzly Den will not fund adventures that have already taken place.
Can multiple Sections partner together on one application?
Yes, as long as the adventure is age appropriate for all participants.
Our Section is already fundraising to support a trip abroad (i.e. World Scout Jamboree). Can we apply to the Grizzly Den for additional funding for this event?
Yes, international adventures are eligible to receive funding.
How much funding could the ‘Grizzlies’ invest in our Section’s adventure?
The amount of funding will depend on how many Sections make it past the pre-screening phase and what type of adventures they are pitching. The Grizzly Den will provide funding to encourage sections to try “next level” adventures. We are unable to and will NOT fund the entire adventure.
Who are the ‘Grizzlies’?
Made up of seasoned Scouters and representatives from the Greater Toronto Scout Foundation, the ‘Grizzlies’ will review applications and judge the pitching process.
Are you interested in becoming a ‘Grizzly’? If so, you can express your interest by completing the application form.
What is the goal of the Grizzly Den?
The goal of the Grizzly Den is to encourage and support as many safe, outdoor adventures to more Scouting youth in Greater Toronto Council, Shining Waters Council, Central Escarpment Council, and White Pine Council as possible. By providing extra funding, the Grizzly Den hopes to remove financial barriers and elevate the outdoor Scouting spirit to new levels.
What if my Section needs help planning our adventure?
Send an email to grizzlydenuploads@scouts.ca letting the ‘Grizzlies’ know you are interested but need some help creating an adventure application. A member of the ‘Grizzlies’ will reach out to your Section to offer support.
Application Timeline
Every application is carefully reviewed and will go through the phases described below.
- 02 Oct, 2023to12 Nov, 2023
Application Period
The Grizzly Den will be accepting applications throughout the application period. But remember, a significant amount of the planning process will need to be done before formally submitting your Section’s application.
- 13 Nov, 2023to26 Nov, 2023
Judging Period
The judging period will enable to ‘Grizzlies’ to review applications and ensure all the requirements have been met and that the adventure aligns with the spirit of the program. If additional information or content is required, the ‘Grizzlies’ will work with Sections to complete their application.
- 27 Nov, 2023to15 Dec, 2023
Pitch to the ‘Grizzlies’
Beavers and Cub do not have to formally pitch their adventure to their Council’s ‘Grizzlies’ but are encouraged to help build a presentation that demonstrates their planned adventure and the outcomes of that adventure. The presentation can be either be electronic (PowerPoint presentation or similar) or a fun video. Remember, the Grizzlies are NOT evaluating the video production quality, but rather the words youth use to describe their planned adventure.
Scouts, Venturers, and Rovers will be asked to formally pitch their adventure to their Council’s ‘Grizzlies’, either in-person or virtually. As older Sections, the pitching process helps youth gain valuable soft skills and provides an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to their adventure idea. Older Sections are encouraged to use electronic presentations or video to support their pitch. Remember, the Grizzlies are NOT evaluating the video production quality, but rather the words youth use to describe their planned adventure.
- 15 Jan, 2024to21 Jan, 2024
Winners Announced
The winners of this application around are announced.
- High-Level Summary of the Adventure – A brief description of the adventure that highlights key elements. The summary should explain the benefit to the young people who are proposing the adventure and highlight both hard and soft skills that will be gained.
- Trip Plan – This document outlines the details of the planned adventure (the where, when, and how). This should be a youth-led initiative, as the ‘Grizzlies’ will be looking for elements that demonstrate that this has been planned by the youth. The plan should also include the number of youth and Scouters attending (what percentage of Section will be participating?). The Trip Plan can be a document, PowerPoint Presentation, video, or similar. (Adventure Application Form)
- Emergency Response Plan – This must be attached with your submission, and it must include a completed Risk Identification and Management Plan. Note that this section can be completed by Scouters for Junior Sections. (Emergency Response Plan and Risk Identification)
- Procurement Plan — This document outlines any plan to procure training, certificates, or equipment that may be required for your adventure.
- Detailed Budget — This document must outline a fully costed budget for the adventure, including fundraising plans. A sample budget template is available here
- Alternative Funding — This document outlines a plan for securing funding for the adventure should you not receive an investment from the Grizzly Den.
- Pictures or video of the brainstorming activity — This should be a youth-led initiative and demonstrate that the youth have brainstormed and planned their adventure idea.
Don’t forget, this should be a youth-lead initiative and the planned adventure should be one that the youth have brainstormed, planned, and are excited about undertaking!
Do you have questions about the Grizzly Den? Speak with your Relationship Manager or Council Key 3 or send an email to grizzlydenuploads@scouts.ca.