Adam Whyte

Adam Whyte, a spokesman for Scouts Canada, commended the scouter volunteers for their dedication to Scouting.

"We also have some incredible stories of service by our volunteers.We highlight the incredible number of hours volunteers contribute.We need and want to recognize these people for their incredible efforts."The (annual ceremony) is a way to say thank you for what you are doing," said Whyte.

Scouts Canada is a national community-based organization devoted to delivering learning opportunities and recreational programs to young people between the ages of five and 26.There are more than 250,000 active Scouts and Scouting volunteers in Canada today including 10,500 in the GTA.

For details, call 1-888-SCOUTSNOW.

Adam Whyte, Director of Field Services, GTA, and responsible for implementation, service and support for all Scouts programs in the GTA, says, "It's a great opportunity for kids in this community to participate in fun, creative activities that are geared to stimulate the mind, as well as the body.SCOUTSabout expands their horizons, exposing them to experiences they would otherwise never have."

A recent report (1) for the Canadian Policy Research Networks, an Ottawa-based think-tank, found that, "...a lack of afterschool programs is a leading cause of classroom failure, youth crime and teen pregnancy."

Adam Whyte, Director of Field Services, GTA, and responsible for implementation, service and support for all Scouts programs in the GTA, says, "It's a great opportunity for kids in this community to participate in fun, creative activities that are geared to stimulate the mind, as well as the body.

"When we were looking into our crystal ball two or three years ago, what we saw was the extinction of scouting," said Adam Whyte, a spokesman for Scouts Canada.
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"Another avenue the [scout] troops would turn to, and many did, was to say, you know what, we can't do this anymore," Whyte said.
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"In a longer-term view, these are community spaces," Whyte said."That was the understanding when they were built."

"Kids refer to it as my school because that's how they see it," he said.

Adam Whyte, Toronto director of field services for Scouts Canada, said the increase in permit fees has had a negative effect on membership.

"It has been absolutely devastating," says Whyte."(The board has) created a policy of exclusion."

Whyte said that in some neighbourhoods membership in Scouts has plummeted because parents cannot afford the cost of fund-raising to pay for the new fees.He cited one example where a group got a $10,000 bill for permit fees.

Adam Whyte

Scouter, Friend and Executive Staff member Adam Whyte has returned to school to become a teacher.Adam joined the Executive Staff in November, 1995 as a Council Field Executive and became Director of Field Services in 1999.Adam has served Scouting well as a youth member, volunteer Leader, national communications committee member, executive staff member and more recently as a parent helper.

During Adam's term as Director of Field Services, Scouting grew in Greater Toronto Council (2001 and 2002).He and his team built up Scouting through many innovative ways such as SCOUTSabout afterschool programs and partnerships with like organizations such as Boy's & Girl's Clubs by offering Scouting camp programs.Adam was a determined task master who got results and Scouting is better for it today.We wish Adam and his family all the best and we look forward to hearing more about his new teaching career.

Adam Whyte

Scouter, Friend and Executive Staff member Adam Whyte has returned to school to become a teacher.Adam joined the Executive Staff in November, 1995 as a Council Field Executive and became Director of Field Services in 1999.Adam has served Scouting well as a youth member, volunteer Leader, national communications committee member, executive staff member and more recently as a parent helper.

During Adam's term as Director of Field Services, Scouting grew in Greater Toronto Council (2001 and 2002).He and his team built up Scouting through many innovative ways such as SCOUTSabout afterschool programs and partnerships with like organizations such as Boy's & Girl's Clubs by offering Scouting camp programs.Adam was a determined task master who got results and Scouting is better for it today.We wish Adam and his family all the best and we look forward to hearing more about his new teaching career.

To Scouts Canada's Adam Whyte, director of field services in Toronto, the fees could mean the beginning of the end of some Scout groups.

"We're very concerned that some groups may have to close because these fees will be one more pressure on a volunteer sector that is already under attack," Whyte said.

Scouts Canada would find it "devastating" to lose access to schools after hours, said Adam Whyte, director of field services for Scouts Canada in Toronto.

About half of the scouting groups - about 5,000 people aged 5 to 26 - meet in schools.

Parent Cathy Dandy, co-chair of the Campaign for Public Education, said: "I know that there isn't a parent in this board that believes we should cut any more money out of this system.We expect our trustees to hold the line and not make any more cuts.

"We expect our trustees to defend our children and we expect our government to stop punishing them and putting them at risk," Dandy said.