Scouts Canada Invites All Canadians to Join "Good Turn Week"

More than 100,000 Scouts Canada Members will do a Good Turn April 14-22

OTTAWA, March 21, 2012 /CNW/ - One "Good Turn" can make someone's day. Imagine what 100,000 "Good Turns" could do! Scouts Canada has designated April 14-22 as Good Turn Week and is calling on all Canadians to step up and join them by doing a "Good Turn" for a friend, family member, neighbour or the community.

"Scouts Canada's National Youth Network created Good Turn Week as a way to inspire every Scout to do something great. We invite Canadians to emulate Scouting's virtues and make the effort to deliver a simple act of kindness," said Dylan Reinhart, National Youth Commissioner and Chair of the National Youth Network of Scouts Canada. "It's really not difficult to do, and our goal is simple: to foster a stronger sense of community and friendship in Canada through consideration for and assistance of others."

Good Turn Week exemplifies the principles of Scouting: to always help others. A recent York University study found that people who did "Good Turns" saw a marked increase in their happiness and self-esteem. In its third year, the Week not only encourages Scouts but also challenges all Canadians to recognize the importance of doing a "Good Turn" and taking the time to go above and beyond.

"Good Turn Week is an opportunity for all Canadians to put into practice the values that we teach our youth," said Steve Kent, Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors of Scouts Canada. "We're proud of the efforts our Scouting youth have undertaken to create a week that inspires numerous acts of Canadian goodwill. With each simple act of kindness, we can help make Canada a stronger community."

During the week Scouts Canada members will be out in the community doing "Good Turns". After each good deed, they will pass along a "Good Turn" bracelet and encourage them to "pay it forward" - creating a cycle of goodwill that will spread throughout communities across Canada.

There are countless ways to do a "Good Turn". From passing along a parking ticket with time left on it to a driver who's just parked, to assisting an elderly neighbour with their yard work, the possibilities are endless. Canadians can share their "Good Turn" on the Scouts Canada website by texting "Good Turn" with a description of their good deed to 51051 or submitting it via scouts.ca/gtw.

Doing a "Good Turn" is a practice rooted in the values of all Scouting youth: Beaver Scouts (ages 5-7) promise to "help take care of the world;" Cub Scouts (ages 8-10) promise to "do a good turn every day;" and Scouts (ages 11-14), Venturer Scouts (ages 14-17), Rover Scouts (ages 18-26) and volunteers promise to "to help other people at all times."

For more information or to see what "Good Turns" Canadians are doing visit: scouts.ca/gtw

About Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada, the country's leading youth organization, has more than 100,000 members nationwide representing every faith and culture. Scouts Canada groups offer programming in more than 19 languages reflecting Canada's multicultural landscape and communities. Kids in Scouts have fun adventures discovering new things and experiences they wouldn't discover elsewhere. Along the way, they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. For tens of thousands of children and youth across Canada, Scouts is the start of something great. For more information visit scouts.ca

Scouts Canada is a not-for-profit organization (Charitable Registration No. 10776 1694 RR0028) and a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

For further information:

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