Travelling as a teenager to another country can definitely be a little bit scary – but also super exciting and amazing at the same time. This summer, I was part of a Girl Guide trip to Ireland and it’s no exaggeration to say it was the most amazing, unforgettable and fantastic experience. I met girls from across Canada, Ireland and around the globe. I got to be a leader, to do things I never would’ve done before, to take a giant step out of my comfort zone – all while being myself. TBH if you asked me if I’d want to go back in time and relive it all, the answer would be a thousand times ‘yes.’
The minute we stepped off the plane in Ireland, I knew this Girl Guide trip would be my passport to adventure. We started by exploring Dublin, learning so much at every place we visited. Then it was off to IGNITE, an international camp hosted by the Irish Girl Guides. Every day, we got our adventure on with classic camp activities like kayaking and swimming. But we also got to explore topics like gender equality, refugees, science and tech and more with activity themes such as Be Limitless and Be an Advocate. I learned so much, but it was nothing like school. I was just having so much fun.
And when we went with our Irish hosts to the town of Cashel to learn Irish dancing, I knew I’d found my global girl squad. The Irish girls totally had our backs, helping us learn and encouraging us even though our dance moves were pretty rough at first. By the end of the week, it was incredible to see girls from so many different countries coming together as a united squad.
This was honestly a once in a lifetime trip. The girls I met and the places I explored will forever have a place in my heart. Every minute of the trip made an impact on me and it was unforgettable.
My advice? Be the girl who decides to go for it and apply for a Girl Guide travel experience – it’ll give you a whole new view of yourself and of the world.
Guest post by Marlina Forgione, a Ranger in Toronto. She loves chocolate, gymnastics, swimming and of course, Guiding!
Apply now for our 2018 Nationally Sponsored Trips to the United Kingdom, Mexico, Switzerland and Australia. Application deadline: October 30, 2017 at 5:00 pm EST.
