Category Archives: Girls’ Guides

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

[This post is part of our Flashback Friday blog post series for the 2013 summer months. Enjoy!] ———————————- This was my third year as a Guider and my first year as a contact Guider with two other ladies who were … Continue reading

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Mentoring Members

We are having a beautiful summer here in Canada; and if you are reading this Guiding post during it – you are quite the dedicated Guider. You are the member I want to speak to today. All Guiding members are … Continue reading

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Flashback Friday: Why Volunteering is Like the Mafia

[This post is part of our Flashback Friday blog post series for the 2013 summer months. Enjoy!] ———————————- Volunteering is many things – selfless, altruistic, but like the mafia? Yeah, it kind of is. Because as a Dad commented to … Continue reading

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Girls in Media

In this age of invasive media, teaching our daughters how to weed through the onslaught of sexual imagery directed at them is not easy.  All around them are examples of young women, not that much older than themselves, being used … Continue reading

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You had me at Sparks

This post was originally shared on Guides Québec’s blog post on June 18, 2013. We thought it was so inspiring that we asked for their permission to share it with our audience on GirlGuidesCANBlog. ——————————————————- [Editor’s Note: This text is … Continue reading

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Let’s Be Less Frugal

I follow a plethora of “saving” websites, blogs and Facebook groups. Okay, maybe not a plethora, but enough. What I keep seeing is, “buy in bulk, when it is on sale.” Okay, that’s great, but what happens when I buy … Continue reading

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Online Guiding: Keeping Connected

Last summer, I had the fantastic opportunity to volunteer at the National Jamboree in Iceland for Scouts and Guides.  It only rained twice (while I was setting up and taking down my tent), the Icelandic food was delicious, and I … Continue reading

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Kenza’s Goal: to go to Our Chalet

This post originally appeared on Guides Quebéc’s blog in French. We have translated it and included the French original copy below. ————————————————————- Once upon a time… This is the story of Huguette Deschenes and her daughter Kenza Deschenes-Kherchi.  Kenza is … Continue reading

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The Cost of Procrastination

This is actually a slightly painful post for me to write. I tend to write about my own experiences, and this is certainly one that I have to own. A few weeks ago, I cut my hair. I had grown … Continue reading

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Figuring Out Your Feelings

May 6 – 10 is Mental Health Week in Canada. This is a great time to consider how you deal with your feelings, or how you can help a child identify what she’s feeling. —————————————————————————————– This post is about your … Continue reading

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Cookie Time is Bonding Time

At the little tender age of five, my daughter Amelia already loves Girl Guide cookie sales. She joined Girl Guides late in the fall when cookie sales had already started. Yet despite that challenge, she managed to sell 10 cases, … Continue reading

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You’re a Teenage Girl Living in a Scary World. Be True to You.

Update: This post was voted a 2012/2013 GirlGuidesCANblog Big Deal Seal winner in the Reader’s Choice category! Bravo blogger Sarah! ———————————– This guest blog post was written in response to the recent death of Nova Scotia teen Rehtaeh Parsons, and … Continue reading

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The “Outsider” Girl Guider

Update: This post was voted a 2012/2013 GirlGuidesCANblog Big Deal Seal winner in the Girls’ Guides category! Bravo blogger Megan! —————————— At a time when a girl can choose Scouts or Girl Guides, is there really much difference? Or can … Continue reading

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Rock Stars Among Us

I was a quiet, introverted teen looking for my place to shine. Girl Guides was that place – to be recognized and to develop into my own person. My Guider made me feel like a Rock Star. Draw the Curtain: … Continue reading

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What the World (and Guider Sarah) Needs Now

March 20 is the International Day of Happiness. Here is a special post to mark the day. Happiness, to me, is like a bubble blown from a wand into the wind. It floats near me; then away. It slowly dances … Continue reading

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A Pathfinder Guider Job Description

Recently I was asked to come up with a Pathfinder Guider job description, specifically what kind of person it would take. I think this is a bit like asking what kind of parent makes the best parent – it’s hard … Continue reading

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Guiding Culture Shock

I recently spent three years in Guelph, Ontario for university followed by seven months in China for an internship, so I was a little apprehensive about heading home to Montreal. I worried that all the friends I hadn’t seen in … Continue reading

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From Frustration to Compassion: A Guider’s Journey

Please don’t ask me to lead Sparks or Brownies again. Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing more adorable than a Spark selling Girl Guide cookies, or more wonderful than the unbridled inquisitiveness of a Brownie.  But give me a … Continue reading

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Guiding a Family

I was never a Brownie or a Guide. So how has Guiding become such a huge part of my family? Quite simply, a small slip of pink paper came home with my oldest daughter nearly 10 years ago. At that … Continue reading

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Happy World Thinking Day 2013!

Each year on February 22, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world celebrate World Thinking Day. Girl Guides of Canada Members use this day as an opportunity to participate in activities and projects with global themes, learn and take … Continue reading

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Women in the Media: Empowering and Enraging

I truly think women in the media can be both empowering and enraging, depending on the situation. There are some television shows/movies/ads that present women in a positive way and some not so. In some media portrayals, they make all … Continue reading

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Guiding and Me

After many years away from Guiding I found myself volunteering last year as a leader with my daughter’s Brownie group.  Now my daughter is off to Guides and I am still a Brownie leader. My original plan was to volunteer … Continue reading

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Help to Remove the Stigma

Today, I would like to invite all members of Guiding, to talk about the realness of Mental Health. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety. I have been fortunate to have found reassurance in attending my Pathfinder meetings and comfort … Continue reading

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A Careful Eye on Gender Messaging

Over my past 8 years as a Unit Guider, I’ve taken my girls to a variety of events, outings, and sleepovers – horseback riding, snowshoeing, wilderness camping, heritage villages, wood working workshops, ceramics making, and many more. A common thread, … Continue reading

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Why I Volunteer with “The Trefoil”

The other day I had to submit my resume for the chance to be a delegate at a conference. I would be representing a volunteer organization, so I felt it necessary to really highlight the volunteer experience I have, versus … Continue reading

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Trex would make for awesome Pokémon Trainers!

Girl Guides has seriously affected the way I approach Pokémon. Ever since I was a kid, I always imagined what I’d be like as a Pokémon trainer going on my journey, and one of the biggest things that I always … Continue reading

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Permanently, a Girl Guide

I was a young Guider when, as many young adults of my generation have made the choice to do, I let someone have “craft time” on my body, drawing and colouring in a tattoo (or two). And to be honest, … Continue reading

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Watching Girl Greatness

Something pretty amazing happened to me the other day, and I am still excited about it. Through my job with the Canadian War Museum, I recently attended a video conference organized by the United States Embassy about women’s empowerment in … Continue reading

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Bumbling [Brownie] Badges

Badges can be the bane of a Guider’s existence, can’t they? Although they provide satisfaction and joy, they are small and easily lost. They like to hide in every nook and cranny of our Guide bags, and only show up … Continue reading

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Tea with Trefoil Guilds

Earlier this month, the two Trefoil Guilds in Richmond, BC – the Fraser Delta and Legends – hosted the 28th annual Christmas Fair.  Our ladies came through as they always do; we had wonderful home-baked goodies, candy and preserves, lots … Continue reading

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A World Guiders have the Opportunity to Shape

“He’s not abusive; he just hits me sometimes.” “He didn’t assault me; he just slapped me.” “He didn’t punch very hard; it’s only fractured here and here.” These lines sound like the kind of dialogue you’d expect to read in … Continue reading

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The Right Stuff

How hectic is your life?  If you are an urban dweller you are likely finding life busy, crowded, expensive and often tiring.  If you live in a rural area, your life is also likely busy, expensive and often tiring.  For … Continue reading

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You Too Can Make a Difference

During my years of Membership in Girl Guides of Canada, I have been very fortunate to meet many girls and women who have left a mark on my heart.  I take such pride when I meet a mom or dad … Continue reading

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Oh Baby! Let’s Go Camping

Many know that I’m the leader of the 2nd Port Elgin Pathfinders which means I love to camp! It has taken me a few years to finally figure out this camping thing – before I became a leader, my idea … Continue reading

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Speaking Up: From Girl Guide to Guider

I knew that I was going to be a “lifer” when I was in Guides at 11 years old. This was confirmed to me when I was working with my Girl Guide Unit on Monday nights while still going through … Continue reading

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20 Years of Guiding

At a recent awards ceremony I attended, every girl and adult receiving an award was asked what their favourite Guiding memory was. “Oh my,” was my immediate thought. Just one? I have been a Girl Guide for 20 years. A … Continue reading

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Badge Modernization: A Sign of the Times?

This post is a revisit of a topic previously shared on GirlGuidesCANblog as it relates to Media Literacy Week, November 5 -9. This year’s theme is Privacy Matters, and shines a spotlight on the privacy knowledge and skills that youth … Continue reading

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Online Privacy, a girl’s perspective

November 5 -9, 2012 is National Media Literacy Week.  The theme for Media Literacy Week 2012, Privacy Matters, shines a spotlight on the privacy knowledge and skills that youth need for their online activities. Girl Guides of Canada’s Cybercitizen Challenge, … Continue reading

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Whose Day is it, Anyway?

This post was originally shared on the National Eating Disorder Information Centre’s  blog. ———————————————————————————————————- October 11 was the inaugural International Day of the Girl. Several Canadian girl-centred organizations coordinated celebratory events and began the important work of facilitating dialogues around … Continue reading

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Halloween Costume Challenge

This post originally appeared on Lisa Naylor’s own blog Gentle Angry Blogger. Thank you Lisa for sharing it with us. ———————————————————— Over time, October 31 has become a celebration of dress up and fantasy, scary and beautiful, something for children … Continue reading

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Guides and Scouts – awesome in their own ways!

Starting our the Guiding year, I am always excited and energized, thinking about ways we can implement our program for our Brownies in new and interesting ways. We brainstorm about activities, ask the girls what they want to do during … Continue reading

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Feminism Online: Taboo or Top-of-Mind?

For that last few years, I’ve been happily administering Girl Guides of Canada –Guides du Canada National’s online community. Our posts have been about Guiding stories and big-picture issues related to empowering girls and young women. Some of our best … Continue reading

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No One [except ourselves] Puts a Guider in the Corner

How do you find the time to stay healthy? Guest blogger Sarah shares her own challenges and hopes you follow. Don’t forget to check out a previous post she wrote for GirlGuidesCANBlog on the topic: Resolutions for a Healthy, Happy … Continue reading

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Long Time Guider, First Time Parent

Love GirlGuidesCANblog? What post would you like to share with us? We’re always happy to hear from girl and adult Members, volunteers and supporters! ————————————————————— I was a Guide leader for years before my daughter Claire came along.  I have … Continue reading

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Mother-Daughter Guiding

Today we have another great guest post about a Guiding experience. What post would you like to share with us? We’re always happy to hear from girl and adult Members, volunteers and supporters! ————————————————————— When I joined Guiding as a … Continue reading

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Guiding with Baby on Board

I was a Guider long before we decided to have children.  So when I learned I was pregnant, right before heading off to spring camp, I had no doubt that I would continue Guiding after my daughter was born.  Luckily … Continue reading

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Flashback Friday: My First Unit Meeting

Love our blog? You’ll love the content we share on other platforms too! Come see just how social we are! ———————————————————————————————————————– This post is our final Flashback Friday blog post series for the summer months. See you in September! A … Continue reading

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What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do?

This was my third year as a Guider and my first year as a contact Guider with two other ladies who were parent helpers the year before. I definitely learned a lot about myself and about dealing with ladies that … Continue reading

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Thrown in the Lake: POV from First-Time Guider

A little about me Girl Guides is new for me – I became a Sparks Guider last September when my twin daughters joined. Little did I know that I’d love being a Guider! I was nominated by my fellow Guiders … Continue reading

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Flashback Friday: First Impressions

Love our blog? You’ll love the content we share on other platforms too! Come see just how social we are! ———————————————————————————————————————– This post is part of our Flashback Friday blog post series for the summer months. Enjoy: A couple of … Continue reading

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