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When a new organization is created, a suitable name for the organization must be created as well. When Sir Robert Baden-Powell started an outdoor program for young boys in 1907, he based it on the training program that new army scouts took, and the program became known as Boy Scouts.

In 1912, the program was incorporated in a Royal Charter by King George V, and was known throughout the British Commonwealth as the Boy Scout Association.

In 1946, Canada successfully applied to the Boy Scouts World Conference for their own charter, and became known as the Boy Scouts of Canada. In 1976, the program was commonly referred to as Scouts Canada, and the current national symbol was used. The official name, "Boy Scouts of Canada" was okay until 1998, when the National Council passed a motion making the Canadian program fully co-ed.

With 2007 being the centennial year of scouting, it seemed only fitting that the program name be changed to reflect the program participants, so in February 2007, an act of Parliament officially changed the name from Boy Scouts of Canada to Scouts Canada.

May is usually the month that groups take part in the Scout trees program. Scout trees can be used as a fundraising event, or as an outdoor activity. It started in 1972, and at an official ceremony in Ottawa in 2002, the 70,000,000th tree was planted. Sussex area groups have planted thousands of trees in and around Sussex. When I was a Cub in 1968, I planted trees in the field beside the Department of Natural Resources offices in Picadilly, and the field is now a forest!

The Sussex groups have formed a partnership with the SNB Wood Co-op, and over the past six years have planted 10,000 seedlings on Co-op members' properties. Co-op silviculturist Chris Spencer looks for a good property to plant on, directs the planting, and is amazed at the planting abilities of the youth. This year, over 2,000 seedlings were planted on the Elliot property in Knightville, on a cold wet windy Saturday. Planters numbering 65 participated and enjoyed the hot barbecue lunch provided by the Goshen Snowmobile Club. Special thanks to John Teakles, Les Sherwood, Dave Dunston and Danny McCully from the snowmobile club, and Rick McShane from the wood co-op.

Many groups are winding down their youth programs for the year, and have planned closing barbecues and family activities. This is a great time for the parents, and especially the youth, to thank the leaders for their time and work. It is not an easy chore keeping a large group of youth interested in one activity, let alone eight or nine months worth of activities. As I have said many times, volunteers are a precious resource, and we must protect them before they become extinct.