This summer my family and I moved from Vancouver, British Columbia to Hanover, New Hampshire. I was fortunate enough to go on the Arctic Adventure trip to Churchill, Manitoba with Girl Guides of Canada over the summer, and I was looking forward to going back to my unit as a third-year Ranger and as a Girl Assistant in a Sparks unit.

I had just come back from the Arctic Adventure trip and couldn’t stop talking about my trip. Shortly after getting back my parents told me that we would be moving. I was not surprised because it had been talked about for years; I was just hoping something would fall apart and we would end up staying. I did not want to leave the district where I had spent the first 10 years of my Guiding life.

I spent the few weeks between coming back from the Arctic Adventure and moving searching for a Girl Scout unit where we were moving. Luckily, I was able to find a unit and register for Girl Scouts. Saying goodbye was the one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Because there are not as many units in the Vermont/New Hampshire area, the unit I am in is a mixed unit. The youngest girl is a Daisy (same as a Spark) and the oldest in a Senior Ambassador (same as a Ranger). It felt weird being in a mixed unit, with girls of all ages instead of just one age group. I was not sure how things would work with different ages and when I went into the room for my first Girl Scout meeting I was not sure what to expect. I was worried people would think I was weird and would stay away from me, but I was wrong. Everyone wanted to get to know me, and everyone wanted to hear about what Girl Guides is like in Canada.

One of the hardest things I had to do was trying not to compare my new unit with my old one. In the beginning I was definitely comparing the two. I had to realize that there would not be another unit like the one I left and I would have to make the best of it.

I will never forget my amazing adventures with West Point Grey District and Girl Guides of Canada. I was fortunate enough to attend two SOAR camps and a national trip as well as many summer camps and weekend camps. I am looking forward to all the adventures that I will have as a Girl Scout.

By guest blogger and former Girl Guide turned Girl Scout Dena

Photo courtesy Dena (in the middle)