Scouts Canada has launched a new helpline to help people if their time in the wilderness turns into a camping calamity.
People can call in to the Camptastic Helpline if they have any issues or questions while camping, and as Council Youth Commissioner Zoey Healey explains the line gets a lot of calls.
She says they get questions about things like what to do if their tent pole is bent, or if their tarp has a hole in it. When people call they can choose through one of several options, and pre-recorded messages form scouters will help them through their problem.
🐻 Don’t skimp on tidiness or it could attract furry scavengers or large wildlife; keep a clean campsite!
📞 Call the Camptastic Helpline for tips, 24/7:
1-844-SCOUT101.
(1-844-SCO-UT10 for Bell Canada customers)https://t.co/Ix2sBnSLoi pic.twitter.com/Vlb99pScVa— Scouts Canada (@scoutscanada) July 10, 2024
Healy says before launching the help line, they did a survey about camping competency.
She says they surveyed over 1,000 Canadians and found that 45 per cent rated their competency as ‘good,’ 27 per cent said ‘passable,’ and the rest ventured into what she calls the ‘dangerous zone.’ Some of those shared stories of burning their tents down with lanterns, and putting their tents too close to a river and waking up flooded.
