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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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