Scouts Canada launches helpline for confused campers

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Confused campers can now access assistance this summer thanks to a helpline offered by Scouts Canada, a co-educational youth non-profit.

The “Camptastic” helpline, available for Bell Canada users, allows campers dealing with common camping-related struggles to call in for support and be directed to pre-recorded expert solutions from scouts and volunteers at the organization.

“Back in 2022, Scouts Canada did a random survey across Canada with 1,000 participants, just talking about their camping comfort levels,” says Krystal Reid, the scouting relationship manager supporting Cascadia.

“We found out that across Canada, camping comfort levels are not as high as you think they should be. So Scouts Canada launched in 2023 the ‘Camptastic’ hotline for anyone to call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to get some camping tips to make their camping trip a little more enjoyable.”

Callers, regardless of their camping experience, can receive advice on areas such as how to properly set up a tent, what to do during a bear encounter, and how to have a comfortable sleeping environment. The helpline also covers what to do when needing to use the washroom without an outhouse or running water available, how to be a good camping friend with others, and more information, Reid says.

She adds the helpline features some more updated information callers were asking for and that the helpline was very popular last year, which contributed to its return.

“The hotline also allowed more youth to participate in scouting activities throughout this past year because the hotline helped families get out and then the youth wanted to enjoy more outdoor camping adventures,” she says. 

Along with the announcement on the helpline, Scouts Canada released survey findings from 1,000 random Canadians in preparation for this camping season. It found 54.2 per cent of Canadians would do the wrong thing when encountering a black bear, such as play dead, run, attack first, pretend to be a harmless baby cub, or sing “The Bare Necessities.”

Almost half of Canadians would dig a hole outdoors to use the washroom, while 40.8 per cent would rather do anything to avoid it, such as give up coffee or their phone for two days, give up Netflix for two weeks, or use leaves instead of toilet paper, among other things.

“I think the general opinion of Canadian campers is that … we have a high level of camping skills, but honestly the majority of Canadians do not have that comfort level and we don’t have those high skills for camping,” Reid says.

More than 80 per cent of Canadians are OK with going to the washroom outdoors, and 28.4 per cent said it would take them 10 minutes to set up a tent. Almost 20 per cent of Canadians would like to camp in B.C. the most, which comes after Ontario in first place at 38.2 per cent. Almost 46 per cent of respondents rated their personal camping competency as good, according to the survey.

When asked who they would most like to hang out at a campfire with, Canadians ranked actor Ryan Gosling first, followed by survival expert Les Stroud, author Margaret Atwood, The Matrix star Keanu Reeves, and Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds at number five, Scouts Canada found.

Reid hopes Canadians go out and enjoy the outdoors.

“I hope they take away some knowledge that allows them to feel confident to actually get out there and go camping for the first time, … enjoying the beautiful country that we have here in Canada.”

Callers can reach the helpline at 1-844-SCOUT101 or 1-844-SCOUT10.

For more information about the helpline and survey, visit www.scouts.ca/.