GirlGuidesCANBlog

It’s been almost two years since I shared my story of being a new Girl Guide volunteer,  and while I’ve finally gotten the glitter out of my hair, the sparkle of Guiding still remains. Everyday spent with Sparks is a new adventure. We’ve planted trees, gone ice skating, explored outer space, and even had a sleepover at Girl Guide’s national office. I’ve watched Sparks form friendships, take risks and discover new talents and there’s no doubt I’ve grown alongside my Sparks, too. They remind me to be silly, sing at the top of my lungs, and live curiously. With the new Guiding year just around the corner, I can’t wait to see what happens next.  

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 even camp out under the stars? Well, we have just the thing for you!”

Immediately, I knew I wanted in. Although I was brand new to GGC as part of the Programming staff team, the opportunity to work with girls directly and be part of the Guiding tradition was immensely appealing. And of course there was the promise of glitter.

Within two weeks, and with several training sessions under my belt, I was officially a Spark Guider. Right away the world of Guiding began opening itself up to me in new and exciting ways. I quickly learned the Promise and the opening and closing songs, as well as how to tie a reef knot. I reviewed the programming options and wrapped my head around all the swag – badges and keepers and crests, oh my! Fortunately, my colleague and fellow Guider Chickadee (or as we call her in the office, Ashley) had experience with Sparks and has been incredibly supportive and helpful in showing me the ropes.

Finally, we were ready. We had all our supplies and a general plan for our first meeting. But it wasn’t until the girls arrived that I really understood what I had signed up for. That’s when the ‘spark’ was ignited in me.

Every week our Sparks come in smiling, ready and excited for what’s in store. They light up with each new challenge, and are delighted to learn more about what it means to be in Guiding. They have truly begun to demonstrate the Spark Promise and show excitement and imagination in all they do. We play games, craft, learn invaluable life skills and, most importantly, we have FUN!

The time spent with the girls is undoubtedly the highlight of every week. They make me laugh and smile, and they remind me to enjoy the moment. But perhaps the most rewarding part of being a Guider is watching girls discover the endless possibilities of who they are and what they are capable of. I see it in our Sparks every meeting, and it reminds me of what’s possible in my own life. I am proud to be their Guider and to be on this journey with them.

In December we celebrated the girls’ enrolment. On the day of the ceremony, the girls were all sashes, smiles and giggles. They made us proud as they recited the Spark Promise, and we sprinkled glitter over top of them as they received their enrolment pins. Being new to Guiding myself, I was also enrolled that night. I stood before our guests, three fingers to the sky, and recited the Promise just as millions of girls and women have before me. In that moment, with our Sparks smiling up at me, I felt myself become part of the sisterhood of Guiding. Perhaps it was the glitter in my hair, but I really could feel myself sparkle.

Guest post by Brittany Cohen, Coordinator, Global & Community Programming at Girl Guides of Canada and Guider (a.k.a. Emerald) with 73^rd Toronto Sparks.

Interested in volunteering with a Girl Guide unit in your area? Call 1-800-565-8111 or check out our volunteering page. 

There is something truly awesome about the way Guiding can open doors to new adventures while supporting girls and Guiders in a safe space.  It really shouldn’t have, but it kind of surprised me recently – when our little unit from the ‘country’ found new experiences, tons of fun, and proven friendships while trekking around the ‘big city’.

Our unit, the 3rd Carter Guides, is from a small community outside of Halifax. While most of our girls take a school bus daily, only half had been on city transit. When we sat down as a unit to see if a city adventure was a good year-end trip the ideas flowed quickly. Girls had tons of ideas of what they would (and would not!) like to do during a day on the town.

We started our adventure by meeting up at the bus terminal one morning at 8 a.m. Each girl received a group name badge with emergency contact info, a scavenger hunt sheet (points for unique/creative answers), and a bag of snacks to start the day. As we hopped on the bus, I asked the girls ‘how many have never been on a city bus?’  As hands went up, others started sharing their experiences.  Snack bags were opened, scavenger hunts started, and our adventure day was off to great start!

Over the course of the morning, girls discovered parks and playgrounds, explored the waterfront, enjoyed the ferry ride (another first for some!), participated in the Halifax tradition of playing on ‘The Wave’ sculpture, and suggested other ways we could add to our day. We had tentative plans for the day, but our bigger plan was to roll with our day – as girls, weather, and opportunities allowed. Walking more than 6.5 kilometres, taking two buses and a ferry we were certainly able to see a lot.

After a picnic lunch, we explored the award-winning (and enormous!) Halifax Central Library and the historic Public Gardens, with the final stop at a the Halifax Oval – where girls had the chance to try roller skates/blades, scooters and bikes.  So many girls tried new things, and helped each other out.

As many traded in roller skates for (easier-to-use) bikes and scooters, one girl just kept trying.  Her perseverance impressed me.  When I skated passed on inline skates (for the first time in 20 years!) I told her I was proud of her and she yelled back “I’m proud of you, too, Jo!”  That moment stuck with me.  There is a girl, pushing herself, trying new things, and feeling comfortable doing so – and she didn’t just beam with pride, she passed it on.

Over our full day together, I saw too many Girl Guide-y moments to mention.  The girls embraced adventure and small challenges, solved problems as a team (picture a scavenger hunt blowing away), used kind words, and laughed with each other.  It isn’t often I take a day off work to spend away from my own family – but that Thursday, I couldn’t have been happier about my choice.

Guest post by Jo Swinemer. Jo has a been a GGC member for 30 years and has held a variety of roles – the past few years as a part-time Guider in Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia. Jo is excited to open a Pathfinder unit for some of these advancing Guides this fall.  By day, Jo is the Membership Support and Community Development staff at the Nova Scotia provincial office.

At Girl Guides of Canada, we’re working towards a pretty important Vision – A better world, by girls. Through innovative and empowering activities, girls in Guiding are making their mark and shaping their world.  

Here’s a round-up of what Girl Guides across Canada are doing to create #abetterworldbygirls.

View this post on Instagram

Girls can do anything they put their mind to AND will do anything they put their mind to. We need to nurture and feed that endless creativity, drive, interest, and compassion today and into the future. #abetterworldbygirls #girlgreatness #girlguidesofinstagram #girlguidesofcanada #Repost From @gibbymel Woodworking AND gardening #ontarionunavutgirlguides #girlgreatness @girlguidesonnv @girlguidesofcanada

A post shared by Girl Guides Ontario Council (@girlguidesonnv) on May 16, 2018 at 2:53am PDT

Exploring, experimenting, designing, creating. Balancing the equation when it comes to opportunities for girls in STEM is just part of the formula for shaping #abetterworldbygirls. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRmEEWlvlJ/?taken-by=caro.crocker

Guides loved coding, circuit building, 3D pens & more! Thanks so much @engcite @girlguidesofcan @UBC @WPGGirlGuides #Abetterworldbygirls #Everythingshewantstobe #STEM pic.twitter.com/vm9Dh0TgA2

— West Coast Area (@WCAGirlGuides) May 13, 2018

Breaking glass ceilings? You better believe that’s a part of #abetterworldbygirls. 

View this post on Instagram

Hi @girlguidesofcanada! #abetterworldbygirls is all about providing girls with opportunities to dream big, aim high, and look up at a glass ceiling and see it as a worthy opportunity to achieve greatness – not an insurmountable barrier! And then, having girls empower other girls, too. 👍

A post shared by Diamond Isinger (@diamondisinger) on May 3, 2018 at 7:48am PDT

Taking care of the world? That’s 100% a part of #abetterworldbygirls, too.

View this post on Instagram

#abetterworldbygirls is filled with passionate like minded pathfinders who work together to overcome challenges faced by women around the world. This clean water filtration challenge from the Earth Day instant meeting educated our girls on the importance of potable water and how communities around the world are affected by water and our lakes, oceans, and rivers. The Port Morien Pathfinders are now more environmentally conscious thanks to this challenge and they are working hard to make the world a better place for girls like them in our community and around the world 🌎 . . . . . #girlgreatness #girlguidesns #GirlGuidesofCanada #oceanbridge #beplasticwise #water #challenege

A post shared by 1st Port Morien Pathfinders (@portmorienpathfinders) on Apr 30, 2018 at 4:11pm PDT

When girls have a safe space like Guiding where they feel free to talk openly about their experiences, goals and achievements, it’s a total thrill for them to stretch their limits and discover what they can achieve.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdtcj5gFqAc/?taken-by=caro.crocker

Ultimately, #abetterworldbygirls happens when girls have the chance to amplify their voices and make the world a better place in a way that matters to them. 

View this post on Instagram

#abetterworldbygirls 💙 @girlguidesofcanada

A post shared by Newfoundland and Labrador GGC (@girlguidesnl) on May 15, 2018 at 12:57pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#abetterworldbygirls💙 @girlguidesofcanada

A post shared by Newfoundland and Labrador GGC (@girlguidesnl) on May 14, 2018 at 7:42pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

#abetterworldbygirls means more girls speaking up and more girls being heard. @girlguidesnl @girlguidesofcanada

A post shared by Newfoundland and Labrador GGC (@girlguidesnl) on May 3, 2018 at 7:02am PDT

Give her #abetterworldbygirls by being part of Girl Guides. Registration for fall 2018 is now open for current girl members.

Abbigail wearing her winning Girl Guide T-shirt design.

Amazing. Incredible. And so very styling. We were blown away by the 550+ entries we received for our Girl Designed T-shirt contest. Girls put their design savviness to work in creating  T-shirt concepts that girls in Guiding can wear at Guiding events or just hanging with their squad.

After 5,300+ votes, three winning designs were selected by girls and Guiders across the country. We check in with one of the shirt designers, Abbigail, a Pathfinder in Saskatchewan.

Tell us about how you came up with your design idea.
I heard about the design contest from one of my Unit Guiders. My mum suggested that I should keep my design simple, so I did! I decided to just write, “Is there a badge for that?” on my shirt because I hear other girls asking that all the time. I took a picture of a plain blue T-shirt from Google (because what other colour do you think of when you hear Girl Guides?) and I used my drawing app to write the phrase onto the picture. I emailed in my design and waited for something to happen!

What did it feel like to know your shirt design was one of the finalists?
Oh my goodness, I was so excited when I found out my design had made it to the top 15. I told all of my Guiding friends. I showed them my design and sent them my link to vote for my T-shirt. My mum posted the link to our local unit’s Facebook page. Soon, it was shared to both the District and Provincial Girl Guiding pages too. Everyone seemed to be loving my design!

When I got the email saying my shirt made it to the top three, I couldn’t believe it! At that point, I didn’t even care if I won or not. When they announced they chose all three designs as winners, that was just super crazy. When I got the shirt I designed in the mail, it was the COOLEST feeling.

Besides being a T-shirt designer, tell us a little bit more about yourself.
I’m 14 and I live in Saskatchewan. In my spare time I love to draw, hang out with my friends and participate in Girl Guides. I’ve been in Guides for almost 11 years. I’ve been Guiding all the way from Sparks to Pathfinders. I love Guiding because every outdoor experience, event and meeting is a new adventure. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next year in Rangers.

Check out the other two winning girl designs. All shirts are available on thegirlguidestore.ca.

Shirt designed by Keira (Brownie) with the support of her sister, Sienna (Guide) of Ontario.

Zoe, a Pathfinder from Alberta, in her winning shirt design.

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 age of five, as a Spark. In fact, some of my earliest memories come from playing sock wars and reading the Spark stories in meetings! These amazing memories kept growing as I continued in Guiding through Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders, Rangers and then Link. I have vivid memories of my first sleepover, of the first time I put up a tent, of backpacking into Camp Westover and so much more. Not only did I make some of my best memories in Girl Guides, but also some of my best friends that I still keep in touch with are from Guiding, even if they are on the other side of the country. (Shout out to you, Janelle!) We have such a unique and special bond because we have known each other since we were young, and share 14 years of memories (and counting!).

Girl Guides has also played a huge role in helping me develop leadership skills that serve me well as I enter this next phase of my life. For example, my leadership skills grew out from planning Girl Guide events, first a Spark sleepover, later a district camp, and eventually an international trip. I have also learned how to work with and empower different age groups through bridging events and being a junior leader. These skills have been extremely applicable to other aspects of my life, such as planning large events while I was on the students’ union, coaching younger debaters, and taking on different leadership roles. Girl Guides is the organization that gave me the skills to excel in these activities and effectively help others in my community.

In addition to helping me build up my skills, Girl Guides has shaped my values. Most notably, Girl Guides always encouraged me to stand up for what I believe in, which sparked my interest in public speaking, debate, model United Nations and civic engagement. In pursuit of this interest, I spent last year working as a Page in the House of Commons, and this year working in an MP’s office. It is also part of the reason that I decided to study Public Affairs and Policy Management at Carleton University, with a specialization in development policy studies.

Guiding has had such a pivotal role in molding the person I am today. Whether it be debating at Alberta Girls’ Parliament, hiking the Alps in Switzerland, practicing my Spanish with children in Mexico, or just volunteering with some of my closest friends, Girl Guides has sparked my passions and given me so many opportunities to grow as a person. I am so grateful to Girl Guides for supporting me with travel opportunities, a scholarship and of course infinite amounts of love and encouragement. I could not have asked to be part of a more supportive or impactful organization.

Guest post by Safira Teja from Calgary. Safira is studying Public Affairs and Policy Management at Carleton University in Ottawa and is the recipient of a Girl Guides of Canada Barrett Family Foundation National Scholarship.

Applications close April 9 for our 2018 Scholarships. Whether you’re studying engineering, education, history or anything in between, there’s a scholarship that’s right for you!

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 Guide – and I learned that girls can do anything. During 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, I’m shouting out loud and clear that in Girl Guides, girls are a powerhouse of support. We’ve totally got each other’s backs when it comes to letting the world know that girls are more than rather than less than whatever you perceive us to be.

Whether it’s on purpose or just an underlying bad habit, boys are often treated as stronger and more useful than girls. It’s not uncommon, especially in elementary school, to hear a teacher ask for “a big strong boy” to help carry something. And in my experience, boys often get the chance more often than girls to speak in formal and casual discussions. In a girls-only environment like Guiding, it’s simply not possible to brush us to the side.

Early on in my Guiding experience, it became clear to me that my gender should never limit what I can or can’t do. However, on a daily basis, the media and our personal experiences remind us that society doesn’t always treat girls the way we should be treated. It’s important for girls to believe they can do anything, but equally critical is learning to step up and speak up when we aren’t treated fairly.

As a member of GGC’s National Youth Council, it’s been evident to me that Guiding helps amplify girls’ voices. All the adult volunteers in our organization genuinely care, value, and respect what youth have to say. I’ve had the chance to share my insights and personal experiences with our Board of Directors and other volunteers on a huge range of initiatives they’re working on. Their desire to hear feedback from a youth perspective is always genuine and never a token gesture.

I’ve also been lucky enough through Guiding to connect with girls in my communities about what matters to them in Guiding, and what changes they want to see. For example, in April I attended the Ignite. Inspire. Innovate. Conference with 150 Rangers from across Canada.

I was amazed by Guiding’s ability at this event to create a safe space for us to discuss everything and anything we found important. From sexual assault and harassment, bullying, queer issues, and micro-aggressions faced by girls and women on a daily basis, it was clear no topic was off limits. Safe space isn’t just a word you can throw around, it’s a series of steps you take. In the case of Ignite, this meant making participants aware of the topics that were going to be covered before the presentations began, letting us step out of the room if it became too much – and having dedicated areas to chill out and take a break.

Whether it’s meeting with my own Ranger unit or connecting with Girl Guides across the country, Guiding has taught me to value my strengths and use my voice. In a world where girls are often treated less than fairly, Girl Guides offers a space for us to stand up and speak out about the issues that matter to us, in an environment where we are always supporting one another.

Guest post by Nerissa Kassis. Nerissa is a third-year Ranger in Vancouver and a member of the GGC National Youth Council. She is a self-proclaimed science nerd and always loves a good cup of tea. 

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 the recent 36^th World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Conference in India gave me the chance to see what it truly means to be a part of the ONLY global Movement for every girl and any girl. In 150 countries, Girl Guiding is the place where girls’ interests and the issues that matter to them are front and centre. This is our space and we’re making it count.

At the conference, I watched in the emotion-filled moments as new countries joined WAGGGS. Countries like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Aruba and war-torn Syria, where girls are coming together for sessions on self-esteem and gender-based violence. I stood in solidarity with my fellow youth delegates as we moved our own motion to include more young members in the global decision-making processes of WAGGGS. And I was continually inspired by the strong women who devote their time to Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. Together, we are united in creating safe and inclusive spaces for all girls around the world.

Being part of the WAGGGS World Conference gave me the chance to connect with young women representing a multitude of nationalities, cultures, languages, and worldviews. We asked questions, learned from each other, and ultimately formed connections that I know will stay with me as I continue to carve out my place in this world. But what truly blew my mind was that no matter how many differences we may appear to have, we all shared a common passion and mission for girls’ rights, education, and success. The courageous girls and women I met at the event are working tirelessly for the change they want to see in the world.

As I was growing up and a member of a rural Guiding unit in Nova Scotia, Aline was simultaneously doing the same in Burundi, Andrea was doing so in Cyprus, Katrine in Denmark, Alyssa in Barbados, Yoshika in Japan… and the list goes on. The exact activities we did in our respective countries may have been different, but they all resulted in shared values and belief in the power of girls to be a positive force in changing the world for the better. In a world where many things seem to divide us, I am ever so thankful for the global Movement of WAGGGS that unites girls and women.

Guest post by Janice Noble. Originally from Nova Scotia, Janice is now a Guider in Fredericton and is completing her undergraduate degree in Interdisplinary Leadership at UNB.

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 and soon enough I was registering my second daughter, Rishi, in Pathfinders. My youngest daughter joined Sparks, and my eldest daughter joined me as a Brownie leader. My whole family was now part of a larger family – the Guiding sisterhood.

Over the next few years, my daughters received so many opportunities and did so many things that I never could’ve imagined for them – or could have dreamed of for myself as a girl. Rishi was accepted to be a part of the Ontario Youth Forum, a tremendous opportunity that she recommends to all Pathfinders. She also went on a Nationally Sponsored Trip to the Sea of Cortez. Hari was part of the Ontario Youth Forum, as well as the National Youth Council. She even traveled to Scotland and Iceland through Guiding this year. It made me proud to see how my girls were taking hold of their future and achieving incredible things.

My youngest daughter, Ruby, had many friends at her school who were intrigued by the Girl Guide cookies she brought to school to sell, and were interested to know all the things she was doing at her Girl Guide meet ups. I seized the opportunity to speak to their parents. I told them not only about what my daughter does in Brownies, but also about my older daughters, and the benefits of being in Guiding as a teenager.

At first, they were skeptical as they mistakenly thought that Girl Guides would be a mainly white-dominated, Christian-based organization. But I quickly reassured them that this was not the case. Any girl can join Guiding, and every girl will find a safe and accepting space.

So many joined that eventually my daughter had trouble selling cookies at school! There were so many Girl Guides in her midst. Eventually, Ruby moved schools and she was worried she’d have to leave her friends behind. But now she looks forward to seeing them in Guides, where every week the girls pick a new activity. It can be as simple as a craft or inviting a female member of the Canadian Armed Forces. It’s such a diversity of experiences that you just don’t find at school.

To all parents of girls in Canada, Girl Guides of Canada is the organization for your daughters.

Guest post by Vidhya Ilangomaran, proud Girl Guide parent, cooking fan and a teacher in the Toronto area. 

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 dare you not to feel all the feels after reading her story:

“My name is Ellie. I am 8-years old. I am one of the only girls in my unit who cannot read and write things on my own. This made me feel very bad about myself because I try really hard to read but it is taking me longer than anybody else I know.

I am the only homeschooled girl in my unit. I am also the only girl (that I know of) that loves dinosaurs and snakes more than dolls or dresses. All these big differences make me stand out and feel really shy.

I begged my mom to let me quit Brownies because I felt so silly and different. She told me to be myself and take my time. I stopped trying to be like the other girls and started talking about what makes me special.

I am going to read a story to the unit this month. Brownies gave me confidence so I am excited to do it because I know they will support me. I am also planning to bring my toy dinosaur collection so I can teach them all about the different dinosaurs. I am so excited that I can teach them… maybe another girl will learn to love dinosaurs too!

Thank you for helping me with my confidence. I’m pretty awesome and Brownies helped me see that.”

Here’s what Ellie’s mom Caroline has to say about how Guiding helped her daughter truly shine:

“I continue to be in awe over how much Elizabeth has grown over her two years of Guiding. She had one year in Sparks before moving up to Brownies and that transition was very difficult for her at first. She was still quite shy and was feeling like she had to start all over again with a new group.

By the spring, she was a completely different girl – she was racing out the door to go to Brownies, going to every sleepover and not shying away from questions about her love of dinosaurs, homeschooling experiences or things that made her unique.

Just a few short months ago, Elizabeth would become quite distraught if she thought more than one person was looking at her and the thought of introducing herself to anybody terrified her. Now she has no problems making friends, proudly wears her Brownie sash (it’s nearly full after only her first year) and is an incredibly confident and helpful little 8-year-old both at home and in her unit.

Brownies has truly brought out the best qualities in Elizabeth that were hiding right under the surface. I can honestly say that being a Brownie is one of the best things that ever happened to our Ellie girl.”

When you sign your daughter up for Girl Guides of Canada, you’re giving her the opportunity to discover herself – and so much more. She’ll explore, create, learn – and shine. Registration is now open for the 2017-2018 Guiding year.