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Archives
Author Archives: Girl Guides of Canada Blog
Why we should all be ready, willing and able to let youth lead
There’s no doubt that youth engagement has been getting a lot of attention lately. But youth engagement is nothing new for us – Girl Guides of Canada is all about girls empowering girls as they explore all the ways they … Continue reading
Why I keep coming back to Guiding as a volunteer
I was a first-year university student when I signed up for a course that included a requirement of 10 hours of community service. “What a great time to get back to Guiding!” I thought to myself. I had been a … Continue reading
Why Girl Guide cookies are the ULTIMATE Canadian treat
We’re interrupting your day to bring you this important announcement: Girl Guide cookies are here. And they are the ULTIMATE in everything. Girl Guides sell some 6 million boxes of cookies every year. That’s a lot of tasty goodness. But … Continue reading
“Girls are ready to change the world and I am so here for it.”
Say ‘Hello!’ to Krysta Coyle, our new Guiding Ambassador. She collaborates with girls and volunteers to make sure we’re offering innovative, inclusive and empowering programming, while also serving as a Girl Guide spokesperson. Krysta has been a girl member, Guider, … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged girl engagement, girl-driven, Girls First, Guiding Ambassador, youth engagement
1 Comment
How Girl Guides helped me shape an awesome future for myself
Girls in Guiding do amazing things – in their communities and in their own lives. Girl Guides of Canada scholarship recipient Safira shares how Guiding has been a huge spark in her life. My involvement with Guiding began at the … Continue reading
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Let’s hear it for boosting our own confidence, not just our friends’ confidence
As a kid, I always felt like there was something that needed to be changed about me and about the way I look. I felt like the amount of your worth decreased the larger you were. But, as I grow … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged body confidence, confidence, Girl Greatness Awards, self esteem
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Let’s celebrate the impact of girls and women in Guiding
by Krysta Coyle Girl Guides of Canada’s Guiding Ambassador It’s human nature to want to make an impact in this world. To feel like you’re making a difference. To feel like you did something that mattered. Yet sometimes – depending … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides, Uncategorized
Tagged empowering girls, impact of Guiding, World Thinking Day
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How this shy, dinosaur-loving 8-year-old found her strong in Guiding
When girls are a part of Guiding, there are tons of opportunities for them to shine. So let us introduce you to Ellie – she’s all kinds of amazing. She was recognized with a 2017 Girl Greatness Award. We dare you … Continue reading
Acceptance + Compassion: My wish list for teens like me who work a little harder on their mental health
My name is Kate. I’m 17 years old and in my final year of high school. I love science and reading and aspire to be a neuroscience engineer. And my mental health is something I work on. Every. Single. Day. … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides, Uncategorized
Tagged Girl Greatness Awards, mental health, Mighty Minds
3 Comments
How girls are building survival skills to navigate the digital wilderness
Phones. Tablets. Laptops. Snapchat. Instagram. Texting. Fake news. Selfie perfection. Sexting. Yup – it’s a digital minefield out there for girls. With countless options for connecting, sharing and shaping their identity online, there’s a lot for them to navigate. Yet, … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides, Uncategorized
Tagged DeCode, digital literacy, sexting, skills, texting
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We could learn a lot from girls when it comes to supporting mental health
Chill. Relax. Get over it. It’s no big deal. Don’t stress about it. Who hasn’t been given this kind of not-really-helpful-at-all advice when they’re struggling? And we all struggle from time to time – it’s totally normal for some days … Continue reading
Why you should make travel part of your 2018 bucket list
What’s on your bucket list for 2018? How about a little more travel and adventure and new ways to connect with your #globalgirlsquad? Good thing a Girl Guide travel experience has it all. With applications closing Wednesday, January 17 for … Continue reading
Posted in Global Guiding
Tagged Girl Guide travel, international Guiding, Japan, nationally sponsored trips
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Meet the girls who are taking action on poverty
Do not underestimate the power of girls. This holiday season, Girl Guides from coast to coast to coast are all about the giving as they take part in our National Service Project: Action on Poverty. They’re sewing mittens for youth experiencing … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged Action on Poverty, holiday, hunger, National Service Project, service, volunteering
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The world isn’t always great for girls – but Guiding is a powerhouse of support
Even though we live in a world where girls are constantly treated as less valuable or powerful than their male counterparts, I’ve never believed that my gender makes me worth less. That’s because when I was 11-years-old I became a … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Let’s talk about… Violence against girls
Sexual harassment and violence against girls. While this may feel like a grown-up topic, it’s really not. The truth is many girls in Canada are already dealing with harassment. It can start with catcalling in the hallways, creepy comments online … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged 16 Days, gender-based violence, harassment, Say No to Violence
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Why letting girls lead was the best thing to happen to our Guide unit
Last year, the Guiders of the 26th Orleans Guides stopped leading the horseshoe, the campfire, or organizing games – and it was the best thing we ever did. We had started our year with four Guiders and a productive planning … Continue reading
Smart. Funny. Confident. Why this Girl Guide should be your new role model
“Kinley is smart, funny, and kind. She also happens to have Down’s syndrome.” That’s how we were first introduced to 11-year-old Kinley in her 2017 Girl Greatness Award nomination. Kinley received an award in the Confidence category after being nominated … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged confidence, Girl Greatness Awards, Girl Guides, inclusive, inclusivity
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How I turned up my confidence as a twentysomething in Guiding
Let’s face it: becoming an adult is all kinds of exciting and terrifying all at the same time. There are so many new things to learn and do – but it can also feel like just so much new all … Continue reading
Posted in Volunteering
Tagged Link, networking, professional skills, skills development, university, volunteering
1 Comment
Why Guiding is the ULTIMATE Choose Your Own Adventure
There’s nothing like a Guiding trip to empower girls to see the world – and themselves – in a whole new way. Bonus – it’s a pretty awesome way to find your global girl squad, too. With applications closing Monday, … Continue reading
Posted in Global Guiding
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The world may be divided, but the girls of the world are not
I am one of a kind. And I am also one of 10 million. I stand together with the 10 million girls and women in Guiding around the world who are making our mark and fighting for gender equality. Attending … Continue reading
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Wonder how much pressure teenage girls face? Just ask them
Too girly. Not girly enough. Too smart, too dumb. Too skinny, too curvy. Too anything. For girls, the mixed messages they get about how they should act, look, and think are confusing and demoralizing. The sad reality is that girls … Continue reading
Adventure. Confidence. Leadership. How my daughters found it all in Guiding
Fact: Guiding has changed the life of my daughters drastically in the past five years. It all started simply enough. I registered my third daughter, Hari, in Guides. In just a few weeks, I noticed some positive changes in her … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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The Guiding year is starting and the excitement is REAL
Excited. Like really excited. That’s how girls, parents and volunteer Guiders are feeling about the start of the Guiding year. But don’t take our word for it (even though you can always trust a Girl Guide). Check out all the feels … Continue reading
From networking to chilling out: 5 reasons being a Guider is an A++ idea
We all know that Guiding empowers girls to learn, explore and find their place in the world. And as I discovered, volunteering with Girl Guides as a university student also pays off in a big way – both for the … Continue reading
How a Girl Guide trip helped me find my #globalgirlsquad
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Global Guiding
Tagged Girl Guide trips, international Guiding, rangers, travel
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These girls put the POWER in empowering by mastering how to use a drill
Learning how to drive a nail and use power tools are empowering skills that can make girls feel strong and fearless. Meet some Girl Guides who mastered how to swing a hammer while learning about female entrepreneurship along the way. … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged activities for girls, confidence, girls' skills, power tools, resilience
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Why giving girls a little bit of freedom in the great outdoors is a recipe for awesome
Think Sparks are too little to cook their own meal or set off on an adventure? Think again. As this Guider writes, when girls get outdoors and have the chance to discover just what they can do on their own, … Continue reading
5 retro camp pics way cooler than anything on Instagram
Who needs Instagram to give their camp photos a nostalgic vibe? At Girl Guides of Canada, we’ve got lots of classic camp pics with that hazy look that can only come from the 1970s and 1980s. More permanent than Snapchat … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged Girl Guide camp, Girl Guide history, Opening the Vaults, outdoor cooking
1 Comment
The moment this Guide learned to ride a bike will give you all the feels
Have you ever had a fear of trying something new? Not this Girl Guide, who tackled learning how to ride a bike. Continue reading
This Sparks pj party will give you the warm and fuzzies
Pajama party checklist: PJs? Check. S’mores? Check. Campfire? Check. Giving back to your community? Check. To celebrate the end of the Guiding year, the 73rd Toronto Sparks put on their finest and fuzziest to celebrate with a pajama party. But … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged Action on Poverty, community service, National Service Project, NSP, sleepover, sparks
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Six Important Things I Learned from Six-Year Olds
There are so many reasons to volunteer with Girl Guides of Canada. And now that my second year of volunteering with Guiding is about to come to a close, here’s a list of what I’ve learned from a group of … Continue reading
How this shy, dinosaur-loving 8-year-old found her strong in Guiding
When you sign your daughter up for Guiding, there are tons of opportunities for her to shine. Let us introduce you to Ellie – she’s all kinds of amazing. She was recently recognized with a 2017 Girl Greatness Award. We … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Move over Wonder Woman – these super hero Sparks are super every day
While Wonder Woman leaps into movie theatres across the planet this week, there are real-life female super heroes in our midst every day. We’re talking about Girl Guides. Super heroes like the 1st Valley East Sparks in Sudbury, Ontario, who … Continue reading
Who’s listening to what girls have to say? Girl Guides is.
National Council – your chance to be heard “Girl Guides really gets it! They care about our voices and they’re ready to listen.” That’s what I was thinking last year when applications opened for Girl Guides of Canada’s first National … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged national volunteer opportunities, National Youth Council, pathfinders, rangers
1 Comment
How girls created the MOST Canadian welcome for newcomers
Sometimes, the best ideas come to you early in the morning. You know, when there’s a crisp quietness in the air and the sun is just starting to warmly say ‘hello’ for the day. This particular idea – knitting a … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged immigration, knitting, rangers, refugees, welcome
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Getting real and giving hope when everyone is watching 13 Reasons Why
For National Mental Health Week, we reached out to Kids Help Phone to develop some recommendations on how to talk about some of the serious subjects covered on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why if they’re brought up in a unit … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged 13 Reasons Why, Mighty Minds, National Mental Health Week, suicide
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Three reasons why volunteering with Girl Guides is awesome
By Katie Dersch There is something for everyone Growing up in Guiding, I was able to try so many different things. From camping to robotics, I got to see for myself what I was interested in. Girl Guides helps you … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Why I Volunteer with Girl Guides
By Christina Roberts I love volunteering with Girl Guides because providing girls with enriching experiences and learning opportunities is tremendously rewarding. For the past two years, I have led a Brownie unit. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting intelligent and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Thank you, volunteers!
As National Volunteer Week begins, girls in Guiding are sending a huge shoutout to our amazing volunteers.
Posted in Uncategorized
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Remembering Beyond Remembrance Day
On April 9, Canadians will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. Guider Michelle writes how inviting a woman from the Canadian Forces helped her Guides explore their own leadership skills and the achievements of those who … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged female role models, leadership, Remembrance Day, Vimy Ridge
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Lost and found in translation
I recently went on a two-week long B.C. Girl Guide trip to Peru. We toured over a dozen towns in Southern Peru as well coastal cities such as Lima and Paracas. We hiked Machu Picchu, explored the floating islands on … Continue reading
Posted in Global Guiding
Tagged Girl Guide story, international, Peru, rangers, travel
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In Guiding, I’m not alone
When I was growing up we didn’t talk about mental health and mental illness. It wasn’t something we talked about at home. It wasn’t something we learned about at school. And it certainly wasn’t something we discussed at Girl Guides. … Continue reading
When the pieces click together
At university, they say the first semester is the hardest. To say I was nervous was a bit of an understatement: on top of delving into my specialization degree in Immunology and Infection at the distinguished (and somewhat menacing) University … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged balance, Edmonton, Girl Guide scholarships, Guider, STEM, university
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Pamela Rice: Why Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word
Nesta Ashworth is the kind of hero that girls today would have no problem relating to. In the early 1900s, she saved her pocket money to buy an axe and build a fort in the woods with her friends. When … Continue reading
The courage to start
Every day across Canada, girls in Guiding are accomplishing great and amazing things: overcoming obstacles, realizing their goals, and contributing in positive ways to their communities. I know this personally because I have seen it first-hand over the 13 years … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged climate change, courage, Girl Greatness Awards, rangers, STEM
2 Comments
We are #STEMinists
As the world celebrates the best in cinematic achievement this weekend, all eyes will be on Hidden Figures, the Oscar-nominated film about female African-American mathematicians who played a vital role at NASA in the 1960s. This film has inspired many … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged engineering and math, Hidden Figures, science, STEM, technology
1 Comment
Opening the Vaults – World Thinking Day and the Intangible Spirit of Guiding
When we look through the collection in our national archives, we’re often inspired by the intangible spirit of Guiding that shines so bright in many of the images. For this World Thinking Day, we have pulled together a selection of quotes … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Global Guiding, Guiding history, Opening the Vaults, World Thinking Day
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A positive egg-sperience in responsibility
Warning: Some eggs may have been cuddled in the making of this post The theme for one of our recent unit meetings was understanding responsibility. The girls brainstormed ways to be responsible in Guides, create kit lists and set goals for … Continue reading
Sparks sparkle – and so do new Guiders!
A few months ago, an email arrived announcing that the national office would be hosting our own Girl Guide units. It read: “Are you looking for a little more glitter in your life? Looking to connect with nature and possibly … Continue reading