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Archives
Category Archives: Camping & Outdoors
This Brownie is making a big impact for small creatures
Xyra, a Brownie from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, was excited and surprised when she learned she was a 2020 Change Maker Award recipient. She had no idea some of her Guiding friends had nominated her for the award – though it’s no wonder … Continue reading
Why soaking up summer in the great outdoors is the BEST
Making memories, making friends, making s’mores. It’s all possible through the kinds of outdoor experiences Guiding offers girls. Whether exploring the hidden beauty of an urban park or experiencing their first overnight canoe trip, girls in Guiding are kind of … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camp, girls extracurricular, outdoor experiences, summer activities
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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
Lost: One camp blanket
My camp blanket is gone. I’d feel better if I’d left it behind at camp, or accidentally swapped it with another Guide, or if it had been the victim of a flooded tent (kidding! I don’t actually wish that). The … Continue reading
How low ropes taught me how to be a better Guider
Earlier this fall, I attended a large fall camp for 500 Guides and Pathfinders at Camp Wyoka, a phenomenal Girl Guide property near Minto, Ontario. I was an assistant for the first session of low ropes, an obstacle course that … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors, Girls' Guides
Tagged camping, girl empowerment, girl engagement, low ropes
1 Comment
So many Pokémon, so many ways
Pokémon GO became available in Canada just as Guiding Mosaic 2016 was ending, and I’ve been playing ever since I got home from camp in Alberta. Here are 10 ways to incorporate Pokémon GO into your unit’s activities: Map reading/orienteering. … Continue reading
Sometimes, we all need a life preserver thrown our way (literally!)
When the phone rings before the morning alarm, panic sets in… “Hello?” “Mom…” I could sense my daughter’s tears before she said the next words, “I’m in trouble.” As a parent, with a university student living 1,400 km away, nothing … Continue reading
Campfire on the Hill
Imagine 500 of your closest Guiding friends, one big campfire, an unbeatable location, and surprise guests who are truly living the Guiding Promise to “take action for a better world.” That’s pretty much what happened at this year’s Girl Guide … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged campfire, GGC alumni, Members of Parliament, Ottawa, Parliament Hill
1 Comment
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
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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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
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
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
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
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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Opening the Vaults: Creative camp gadgets
We have some really interesting photos of camp gadgets in our collection. So many that we had trouble narrowing them down and reached out to some self-proclaimed gadget experts for their help with the selection. Choosing these pictures brought back … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors, Opening the Vaults
Tagged archives, camping, camping gadgets, Opening the Vaults
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My camp blanket tells a thousand stories
Not all stories are told in books, not all memories are seen in pictures – some come in the form of a thousand little embroidered pieces of felt. My camp blankets tell more than my Guiding story. They weave together … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged badges, camp blanket, camping, crests, travel, world centre
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Teaching camp skills….indoors
Teaching camp skills to a group of 30, mostly new, inexperienced Guides before a fall tent camp that will be three-hours away from home can be a very rewarding experience. Teaching these skills that are to be applied outdoors during … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged backpack, backpacking, camp skills, camping, Guides, tents
1 Comment
How I planned – and survived! and enjoyed! – trekking with my Rangers
New Brunswick’s 2nd Tidewater Ranger Unit focuses on outside activities as much as possible. Our meeting place is in a ski hut in a park in Moncton where we have access to hiking trails, cross country ski equipment, snowshoes and … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camping, Dobson Trail, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Fundy National Park, hiking, New Brunswick, rangers
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Girl Guide camp blanket vs. camp poncho
As units gear up for fall camps, we’re sharing one of our most popular blog items of all time. In today’s post, we’re entering into some pretty turbulent waters, opening up a seriously contentious debate, if you will. No, I’m … Continue reading
Practicing for Guiding Mosaic 2016
With one year to go until Guiding Mosaic 2016 (GM2016), we decided to hold a Mosaic practice camp for the girls registered in our patrol. So, in mid-July we headed out, looking to get to know our girls better and … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camping, Guides, Guiding Mosaic 2016, pathfinders, training
2 Comments
Opening the Vaults: 1920s and 1930s Campfires and Cookbooks
Every so often we find cookbooks included in a donation to the archives. Today we have decided to share a few of the earliest cookbooks and illustrations from our collection. Many of these recipes and cooking styles would no doubt … Continue reading
Trex Trek to Baden-Powell Lake
Earlier this summer, eight girls and six leaders from 1st Quinte Trex in Trenton, Ontario headed into Algonquin Park for our annual wilderness canoe trip. In addition to the fun, good food and adventure, the girls planned a very special … Continue reading
Who are we singing along the road
This past weekend, on a beautiful summer day, my friend Megan and I slapped about 40 pounds of gear on our back and took to the backwoods of Kejimkujik National Park. Like, 10 kilometres into the backwoods, into the backwoods. … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged CAMPFIRE COOKING, camping, KEJI KEJIMKUJIK, RECIPE
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How many sleeps until camp?
We signed our Brownie up for a week-long camp experience at Camp Adelaide in the “Outdoor Explorers” program. This was her first sleep-away camp and she was apprehensive about being away from home for so long so we went to … Continue reading
I “Bee-lieve” in Camp!
I spent a lot of my time as a youth member in Girl Guides at camp. Going to Guelph ’93 as a Pathfinder was one of the defining moments of my youth, and one of the main things that kept … Continue reading
Throwback Thursday: Are you a Swap-a-holic, too?
We know our members are a little, ahem, ga-ga for swapping. As many Girl Guides gear up for summer camp, we’re re-posting one Guider’s confession. Hat crafts. Traders. Swaps. You can call them whatever you want. I call them … Continue reading
Posted in Awesome Activities, Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camp, crafts, creativity, hat crafts, meeting ideas, swapping, traders
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Confessions of a crest collector
Camping season is coming – and girls and Guiders will be busy swapping crests and coveting the latest additions to their collections. We asked one Guider to tell us about some of her favourites. Since becoming a Guider in 2011, … Continue reading
You gotta sing!
Spring is here and Girl Guide camping season is upon us! Out come the sleeping bags, the dippy bags, the sit-upons, the camp blankets and flashlights! All over Canada at the moment, girls from the youngest Spark to the oldest … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged campfire, camping, Girl Guide songs, planning resource
4 Comments
Calming the Camp Nerves
As units grab their sleeping bags and pack their marshmallows for spring camp, we’re re-posting this blog on prepping girls – and their parents! – for camp. We at Brownies know how stressful a first camp can be! Nerves and … Continue reading
It’s never too late
It’s never too late. No matter what you want to do, aspire to be, or where you want to go. It’s never too late to try something new. When my daughter was 10 and in her second year of Guides, … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camping, guiders, inclusivity, Outdoor Adventure Leadership, rangers, trex
2 Comments
Guiding Mosaic, here I come: Getting your group on
Travelling is exciting – travelling with Girl Guides is amazingly exciting. Planning for Guiding Mosaic 2016 (GM2016, July 9-17, 2016) can seem daunting, exhausting and terrifying. Don’t panic, take up the challenge and enjoy the experience. Enjoy the view and … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors
Tagged camp planning, GM2016, Guiding Mosaic, pathfinders, rangers, Sylvan Lake
2 Comments
Calming the Camp Nerves
We at Brownies know how stressful a first camp can be! Nerves and anxiety everywhere. To help, I’ve made a list of my top ways parents and Guiders can help to calm homesick and anxious campers. For Parents: Don’t transfer … Continue reading
A ditty bag by any other name…
Every Girl Guide knows a mesh bag is essential at camp to do dishes, but what do you call it? A mess kit? A ditty bag? A mess sack? Every unit uses different terminology but generally within the same region, … Continue reading
Opening the Vaults: Retro camp pics
Who needs Instagram to give their camp photos that nostalgic vibe? At Girl Guides of Canada, we’ve got lots of classic camp photos with that great hazy look that can only come from the 1970s and 1980s. Our archives sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in Camping & Outdoors, Opening the Vaults
Tagged camp, Opening the Vaults, retro Guiding
3 Comments
Camp packing tips
1. Girls should know their stuff. If you really need to ‘help,’ choose the clothing and items to pack, lay them out and have the camper pack them. This gives her the opportunity to know what she has packed. More … Continue reading
Why every Brownie should have a camp blanket
On this edition of Throwback Thursday, we’re revisiting a blog post on favourite topic – camp blankets! When I became a Brownie leader, right before we went to camp, I always brought my camp blanket to a meeting. This was … Continue reading
Throwback Thursday: The Benefits of Camping without Parents
If you’re involved in Guiding, you know how amazing the camp experience is. For girls, it may be their first exciting taste of freedom as they head out into the world without mom and dad. Here’s a Throwback Thursday post … Continue reading
Now my family understands why I’m a Guider
There we were…pouring rain, middle of May chill in the air (not quite spring, not quite winter), camping 100 km from anything – running water, power and even cell phone service. What was I going to do with 14 cold … Continue reading
Rain, Rain Go Away – or maybe not!
Why bad weather is a good thing in the run-up to a major camp Preparing eight girls and two Guiders for a week-long summer camp is not an easy task. There are the group dynamics to decipher, patrol gear to … Continue reading
Girl Guide Camp Blanket vs. Camp Poncho
For today’s Flahsback Friday installment, we’re re-posting one of our most viewed blog posts of all time. ——————————————————————————————- In today’s post, we’re entering into some pretty turbulent waters, opening up a seriously contentious debate, if you will. No, I’m not … Continue reading
Doing it all – and then some – at camp
What can you do at camp? Pretty much anything. Our friends at Caddy Lake Camp in Manitoba outline just some of the amazing experiences campers can expect this summer. When can we start packing?! Did you know going to camp … Continue reading
Can urban living and a love of nature go hand-in-hand?
Since I was a child, I have had an insatiable curiosity about nature. I grew up hiking and camping outdoors, and my mom, who had once worked at a greenhouse and had a garden, taught me about the beauty of … Continue reading
Should girls bring tech to camp?
It started when a Brownie asked if she could bring her iPod Touch to camp. Our packing list says no electronic devices at camp. Cameras are optional. The Brownie (and her parents) understood, but she explained that her iPod is her … Continue reading
Sparks CAN Snowshoe!
Three years ago at my first monthly District Guider meeting, one of our (amazing!) 50+ year Guiders advised our group that the district had a huge cache of snowshoes at our disposal. It was my first year as a Guider … Continue reading
How to Explain the Beauty of Winter Camping
“Why would anyone do that!?” That was the reply when I told a dinner companion that in 10 hours I’d be heading to the mountains of Manning Park, British Columbia, to go winter tent camping in record low temperatures, along with … Continue reading
Guiding Mosaic 2016
Mark Your Calendars and Start Dreaming of Fun on the Shores of Sylvan Lake! Guiding Mosaic 2016 will be held from Saturday July 9 to Sunday, July 17 at Camp Woods in Alberta. This is the 13th Girl Guides of … Continue reading