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Author Archives: Girl Guides of Canada Blog
Summer Guiding projects
I am a crafter. In the various areas of Girl Guide programming (and life in general), I have always excelled in the area of crafts, art and nifty things you can make. While this is a great skill to have, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Go team Sparks!
I love all of my girls in Guiding, but sometimes a group of girls touches my heart in a very special way – and that was the case with 4th Dartmouth Sparks this past year. I was constantly amazed by … Continue reading
Meet Charlie
Want to meet someone inspiring? We’d like to introduce you to Charlie Lowthian-Rickert. As a first-year Girl Guide, she’s had the chance to explore and speak out about the issues she cares about while making a difference in her community. … Continue reading
What’s next on your volunteering bucket list?
Whether you’re interested in helping shape the programming Guiding offers girls or having a role in our international travel program, our national volunteer opportunities are a great way to make your mark on Guiding. (Bonus! These roles are also an … Continue reading
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Bullseye at district camp
“What was your favourite part of camp?” That’s a question that we like to ask as many girls as possible when we ride the ferry home from Burnaby Mountain District’s Camp Flower Power, held each June at Camp Olave on B.C.’s … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged archery, Burnaby Mountain District, camp, Camp Olave
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Splash! Water-balloon catapults at camp
This year, the 3rd Guelph Guides put their lashing skills to use on a different sort of camp gadget – catapults! This activity also reinforced physics, teamwork, safety and leadership skills. And, the fun of water balloons! Several parts of … Continue reading
Helping the Bees
Earlier this spring, the 2nd Cedar Park Guides in Quebec took an environmentally friendly action for the 3rd years to complete their Lady Baden-Powell Challenge and to help the bees. They also invited the 3rd Cedar Park Brownies to partake … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged bees, environmental service, Guides, Lady Baden-Powell Challenge, service
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Little Free Brownie Library
The current National Service Project: Words in Action has been well-enjoyed by our unit! In its first year (2015), our unit held a book swap which resulted in a donation of 325 books to our city’s library. This year, we … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged brownies, literacy, Little Free Libraries, NSP, service, Words in Action
1 Comment
Opening the vaults: A camping we will go…
As girls are set to arrive at Guiding Mosaic 2016 (July 9 to July 17), our 13th national camp, we have combed through the archives and discovered some pictures from past national camps. Our first national camp was held in … Continue reading
Posted in Opening the Vaults, Uncategorized
Tagged camping, Guiding history, Guiding Mosaic, national camps
3 Comments
Until September…
The Guiding year is coming to an end – insert sad face emoji here. For girls and Guiders alike, it’s a time to celebrate – the good times, the fun times, and all of their achievements together as a unit. … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
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2,000 pictures
I have a thing about taking pictures. A lot of pictures. It started the first year I joined our unit, the 12th Ottawa Guiding group. First, I used photos to make personalized enrollment certificates. And then, collages of the photos … Continue reading
Proud of ‘My Girls’
This past weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of watching ‘my girls’ receive their Lady Baden-Powell awards. Were you there? Did you see that person hiding in the back with a box of Kleenex? That was me. Yup, I cried. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged awards, girl greatness, Guides, Lady Baden-Powell Award
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Opening the Vaults: Timeless summer fun
Exploring the outdoors through activities such as hiking, camping and rock climbing can have an extraordinary impact on a girl’s life. With the approach of summer, we’re showcasing some of the outdoor activity photos from our national archives. Although the … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors, Opening the Vaults, Uncategorized
Tagged camping, canoeing, Girl Guide history, hiking, national archives, Opening the Vaults
1 Comment
The best seat at the campfire
Sit-upons, bum buckets or camp chairs: The great debate One of the central parts of a camping trip is the campfire. It’s where we cook and eat, where we bond and strengthen our sisterhood, and where we sing and create … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged bum buckets, campfires, camping, outdoor activities, outdoor gear, sit-upons
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Behind the scenes: Girl Greatness Awards
Three cheers for our new 2016 Girl Greatness Award recipients! These members reflect what girls in Guiding can achieve, no matter what their goals or what challenges they face. Find out what it’s like to be a part of this … Continue reading
A Sparks outing to Fire Hall #6
This week, girls from the 1st Burnaby Mountain Sparks had a very exciting visit to Burnaby Fire Hall No. 6 — a little bit more exciting than they had hoped! Every time Guiders book this outing they are warned that … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged Burnaby Fire Department, community outings, fire safety, sparks
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Going green and going global with Guiding
This past March, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Helen Storrow Seminar (HSS) at Our Chalet in Switzerland. HSS is a WAGGGS leadership development event that focuses on the environment. It’s all about young women leading for a … Continue reading
Posted in Global Guiding
Tagged Helen Storrow Seminar, international travel, Our Chalet, WAGGGS, World Centres
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Reflecting on positivity
Our unit is just starting the Key to Me, and being the end of the year I really wanted to find something special for our girls to do. I knew it was recently Mental Health Week in Canada, and there … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged brownies, mental health, positivity mirror, Quebec, self esteem
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Avoiding checking out too soon
If you’re like me, you may have noticed the girls in your unit have had a little more trouble sitting still lately. Maybe they’re just a little more chatty than normal. You may have even had to remind yourself to … Continue reading
In Guiding, I know my daughter is accepted
Most of the time, being a mother to Ella, who is six and has down syndrome, is just like being a mother to my son or younger daughter. That being said, every child is different. Every child progresses at their … Continue reading
Now my family understands why I’m a Guider
It’s almost the May long weekend – which means you might be camping in shorts and T-shirts, wearing flannel and a toque, or a combination of both on the same day. In this blog re-post, Guider Jodi shares how her … Continue reading
A Very Royal Correspondence
Earlier this spring, Sparks in Regina packed their sleeping bags for a night at Regina’s Guide building. But this wasn’t just any sleepover – it was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Pax Lodge, one of the World Association … Continue reading
Guides learn the nuts and bolts of auto mechanics
This year, our programming has been focused on trying new things. Our unit brainstormed ideas of things that girls should know how to do but might not traditionally learn. Most of the girls had participated in a tool or building … Continue reading
What has Guiding taught me? Where do I begin!?
A few weeks ago, I was at a community breakfast for volunteers when a woman across the table spoke of how her organization had recently partnered with a local youth organization. I immediately mentioned my involvement in Girl Guiding and … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged gender equality, Girl Guides, leadership, rangers, skills, STEM
1 Comment
Girl Guide night in Qatar
It was important to me to enrol my daughter in Brownies to help her learn about all of the great things girls can do. I was pleased to see that participating in Brownies was one of my daughter’s favourite activities. … Continue reading
Words in Action: It’s more than just collecting book donations
When we started off the 2015-2016 Guiding year, we asked our Guides what they thought Guiding was about and what they wanted to focus on this year. To our surprise, the number one answer (tied with camping) was community service. … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged books, community service, Guides, literacy, National Service Project, Words in Action
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Rangers Take On Taxes
I’ve been working with teenage girls for over 20 years, the last four years with Rangers. In all that time, I thought I’d done it all, so I was not at all prepared when this year’s Ranger group started planning … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged financial literacy, girl led, meeting ideas, rangers, taxes
1 Comment
Girl Guide cookies + green activities = a sweet combo!
It’s that time of year! Yes, our chocolate and vanilla Girl Guide cookie season is underway… and with it comes the cardboard boxes and cases taking over meeting spaces, basements, and garages. As we approach Earth Day (April 22), many … Continue reading
Posted in Cookie Bits N Bites
Tagged cookie crafts, crafts, Earth Day, girl guide cookies, recycling
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Opening the Vaults: Mountaineer, explorer and Girl Guide Phyllis Munday
Girl Guides of Canada–Guides du Canada was thrilled to hear that former member, and famous mountaineer, Phyllis Munday has been nominated as one of the iconic Canadian woman to be featured by the Bank of Canada on a new bank … Continue reading
A Proud Mama Hen
I’ve been a parent volunteer for the last three years, since my daughter joined Guiding as a Spark. I can tell you that Girl Guides has been a great experience for me personally. Watching the girls learning, laughing and growing … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Volunteering
Tagged Guides Quebec, National Volunteer Week, parent volunteers, parents, volunteering
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Thank you x 74,340
Week in and week out, we know just how much our volunteers give to girls in Guiding. You contribute on so many levels – as Unit Guiders, Trainers and Advisers, Commissioners and Treasurers, and Trefoil Guild and Link members. Thank … Continue reading
Guiders like to play, too
Guiding encourages girls to try new things, learn through playing, and to challenge themselves, all while earning badges along the way. You can tell a unit meeting is going well by the sound of fun, the sound of laughter and … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities, Uncategorized
Tagged engineering, mathematics, science, STEM, technology, trainer, Unit Guiders
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When Guiders amp up their camp skills
There’s nothing quite like March in Canada – cold enough to qualify as winter camping, but often with no snow on the ground. That didn’t stop the group of Ontario Guiders I guided on an overnight trek into the woods … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camping, Guider training, outdoor activities, outdoor skills
1 Comment
Opening the Vaults: Vintage Girl Guide cookie boxes
Our spring cookie season is ramping up, a tasty tradition that started in 1927 when girls in Regina sold cookies to raise money for their uniforms and camping equipment. Many visitors to our archives are drawn to the vintage cookie … Continue reading
The un-meeting or…. what to do when your plans don’t go the way you planned
One of my favourite meetings unfolded in a most unlikely way. It was a bridging evening for our multi-branch unit in early spring. The third-year Guides were with the Pathfinders, and the Sparks, Brownies and remaining Guides were going to … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged girl empowerment, multi-branch unit, unit activities
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Because it’s 2016… Girls’ and women’s rights
I was recently a delegate with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to the 60th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in NYC. I’ve been trying to sum up … Continue reading
Guiding isn’t just for girls
Around this time last year, I decided to apply for a Girl Guides of Canada scholarship. (This year’s application deadline is April 1.) I did not know if I had any chance but I decided that it was worth a … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged scholarships, university, volunteering, young Guiders
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The gift of school supplies
Last week, we shared the story of how a Quebec unit was Taking Action for Refugees. Today, we’re showcasing the 3rd Victoria Guides, who supported newly arrived refugees with a school supply drive as part of their participation in our … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged community service, National Service Project, service projects, Syrian refugees
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Taking action for refugees… and a better world
In recent months, Canadians have proudly opened their arms to welcome newly arrived refugees – and Girl Guides are no exception. Today’s post shares how one Quebec unit learned about the lives of Syrian girls while collecting clothing and other … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged clothing donations, refugees, service projects, Syrian refugees
2 Comments
Women are scientists, too
Girl Guides of Canada–Guides du Canada is bursting with pride to mark International Women’s Day today. It’s a powerful opportunity to to celebrate the trailblazing difference girls and women around the world are making. Most of my friends will tell … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged International Women's Day, STEM, UN CSW, women and science
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Kayaking. Indoors. In the winter.
Kayaking lessons may not seem like the most obvious kind of activity to do in the grips of a Canadian winter. But for a group of eager Girl Guides and some anxious parents, it was the perfect way to learn … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities
Tagged boating, kayaking, outdoor skills, winter activities
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Sparks CAN Snowshoe!
This re-post is a great reminder of what girls – and Guiders! – can achieve on a moonlit winter’s night. Three years ago at my first monthly District Guider meeting, one of our (amazing!) 50+ year Guiders advised our group … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged challenge, outdoor activities, sparks, winter camping, winter fun
2 Comments
When compliments are contagious
Like most great things, it happened as an accident. The craft group wasn’t quite done and the Guides I was working with couldn’t handle another running game. So we sat in a circle and caught our breath. “I have an … Continue reading
Opening the Vaults: World Thinking Day and the World Flag
World Thinking Day reminds us of our connections to global Guiding. Last year, we opened the vaults to look at the many ways that we have celebrated World Thinking Day in the past. This year, we’re showcasing the origins of the … Continue reading
Posted in Opening the Vaults, Uncategorized
Tagged Guiding history, Opening the Vaults, trefoil, WAGGGS, World Flag, World Thinking Day
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What does it mean to be an Arts Adviser?
As Guiders, we get a lot of emails about volunteer opportunities within Guiding. We often scan them and look at the deadline but that’s about it. Last spring, one position in Nova Scotia caught my eye – Arts Adviser. So … Continue reading
Posted in Volunteering
Tagged arts, Arts Adviser, crafts, volunteering, young Guiders
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What girls are saying about Girl Greatness
When I was part of the Girl Greatness Awards selection committee in 2015, I was blown away by all the positive words girls have about each other and about themselves. In our Guide unit, we decided to talk about girl … Continue reading
Posted in Girls' Guides
Tagged confident, courage, Girl Greatness Awards, making a difference, resourceful
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Big ‘mistakes’ make good memories
Ever notice that when people start telling stories about their Guiding memories that there are a lot of tales of that time when something went wrong? Mine’s the time when I was at Guide camp and it rained so hard … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors, Girls' Guides
Tagged camp, rainy camp, unit activities
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Saturday morning Guiding
As busy Guiders, we all spend occasional weekends doing Guiding activities, sleepovers, camps, cookie sales and outings. But what about having your weekly unit meeting on a Saturday? Could this be a way to engage girls and families who aren’t … Continue reading
Our bilingual unit adventure
When I moved two years ago from Mississauga to Barrie, Ontario to do a year of post-graduate studies at Georgian College, I wanted to continue my volunteer work in Guiding so I joined a French language unit near campus. This … Continue reading