GirlGuiding Thinking Day Night Notes

 The notes I used for Thinking Day Guides night taken from various resources:

WAGGGS

OurMission is…

To enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world

Our Vision is…

 All girls and young women are valued and take action to change the world

WAGGGS keeps the global Movement thriving, united and growing. We have Member Organisations in 152 countries worldwide. Between them, they have a combined membership of 10.2 million.

Thinking Day Pennies

There are a million of us. I am not good at arithmetic and I will not make any calculations which may not come true. But a penny, or two cents, or four annas or enough centimes or groschen or Heller or Filler or ore to make the same value, is not an immense amount, especially when it is perhaps saved or earned and given with a willing hand.

Lady Olave Baden-Powell, 1 November 1932

The Chief Guide

Guiding was set up by Robert and his sister Agnes. In 1915 Olave began by organising Guiding in Sussex and her success there led to her becoming Chief Guide in 1918. She led the Guides for the next 40 years.

Check out the current Chief Guide Team 

Meet the chief guide | Girlguiding

What The Guiding World Badge Represents

Every part of the World Badge has a meaning:

The golden Trefoil on a bright blue background represents the sun shining over all the children of the world.

The three leaves represent our three-fold Promise as originally laid down by the Founder.

The base of the stalk represents the flame of the love of humanity.

The vein pointing upwards through the centre of the Trefoil represents the compass needle pointing the way.

The two stars represent the Promise and Law.

Around the edge is the encircling ring of friendship symbolising the World Association - an open ring because the Association is still growing

Anyone who has made their Girl Guide or Girl Scout Promise can wear the World Trefoil Badge. It can be worn both in and out of uniform

The World Badge, a WAGGGS symbol, was first adopted at the 11th World Conference in Evian, France, in 1946. It's design changed in 1991. Whilst the badge looked different the symbolism stayed the same.

Activity

Clean pennies in brown sauce, form them into a large trefoil on the hall floor

Light 3 candles in the centre of the trefoil and say our promise.

I promise that I will do my best:

To be true to myself and develop my beliefs,

To serve the Queen and my community, To help other people

and To keep the Guide Law.

And then read out the guide laws:

1. A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.
2. A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.
3. A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.
4. A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.
5. A Guide is polite and considerate.
6. A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.

Read more...

Sometimes who we are on the outside matches who we are on the inside. But sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s okay.

“Sometimes who we are on the outside matches who we are on the inside. But sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s okay.”

Except it’s not ok, apparently. According to girlguiding who have had their hand forced by the law. But have they truly, could we have collectively made a stand?
In 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that under the Equality Act 2010, the legal definition of the word "sex" refers specifically to biological sex at birth. Because Girlguiding’s governing charity documents legally restrict its membership and benefits strictly to "girls and women," the Supreme Court's decision meant that "girls and women" must legally be interpreted as those recorded female at birth
But documents could be changed, the world changes and we have been growing together learning that anyone can be who they want to be.

I’m seeing friends leaving guiding because they are prepared to take a stand for what they know to be right.   I’m torn, I am aware this country is sleep walking back to a time of bigotry and hate. For many that never went away, it’s their way of life to hate those different to them, to assume trans are a risk because they don’t understand them, to feel threatened by them because it challenges how they see sexuality.  

Almongst all this I know there are many girls that still need girlguiding and everything we give them. The experiences, the development, the future. From the inside I can continue to express my belief of tolerance and understanding for all…or am I just trying to self justify still belonging to an organisation that can’t be open.  

We manage residentials now that include both sexes, we safeguard all, we don’t have one to one situations, exactly what is the problem with trans girls and women members? 

As I say, I sit on a very uncomfortable fence. 

Here’s a thing: it’s polite to call people in a manner they like to be referred as, it won’t hurt you to try to do that.  Who other people choose to love doesn’t affect you, leave them to be happy, look in a mirror if them being happy upsets you. What clothes people choose to wear is up to them, you don’t need to worry about it.  🌈

I’m so unhappy to see my guiding friends hurt over this, and I’m so proud of them for taking the choices they are.  I’m not sure I will ever stand so proud at Pride ever again knowing we let people down, we pushed them out. That’s not ok. 

 “Sometimes who we are on the outside matches who we are on the inside. But sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s okay.”

Read more...

Tips for travelling with Guiding Groups in London

Tip 1 Make sure every girl has your details on them 

Wristbands are ideal, or a tied on label, don't rely on stickers that peel off jumpers and lose ink in the wet.

When we have taken our Brownies to London we always put a wristband on them.  It has the name of our Leader In Charge on it and our Brownie Unit mobile phone number on it.  Never write the child's name on it.  This would make it much easier for a stranger to 'befriend' a lone child and lead them into a false sense of security.

With Rangers I made sure they all had both leaders mobile numbers in their phones and I gave them all a small laminated card with our numbers, the emergency number and the number of the place we were staying.



Tip 2 keep photos of the girls with you 

Get permission from parents and take a photo on your phone of each girl on the day, this will help you if you need to show it to someone and it can also be transferred electronically for police distribution if needed.


Tip 3 make sure they know what to do if they are separated from you 

Tagging up a child is one thing, but they have to know what to do it they find themselves alone or lost.  A good set of rules is:

1) don't panic

2) stand still, chances are your leader or parents aren't far away and will come to you quickly.

3) if definitely alone ask someone in uniform for help, preferably Police but transport worker if at a station.

4) if you can't see a policemen, go into a shop and ask for help.

5) if there are no uniforms, no shops, ask a lady with children to help you.

6) remember my phone number is on your wrist, ask them to call it.

7) if on a tube, get off at the next stop and stand at the wall, I will come to you.  Ask a transport worker (uniform) on the platform for help.

8) if you are on a tube station alone and we are on the train, stay where you are, stand still at the wall, we will come back to you.

Make sure your girls know their rules about what they must do if they find themselves alone or lost. Remember to reassure them that whilst they need to know what to do, it is highly unlikely to happen and shouldn't worry about it.

Tip 4 make your group visible

Get your girls to wear something distinctive, bright neckers, flowers in their hair, same coloured caps, something to help you identify them in a crowd.

Tip 5 High ratios for younger children

For younger groups have a higher adult to child ratio than the mandatory ratios for very busy places like the tube, 1 to 2 is fantastic for brownies if you can get enough adults.

Allocate children to adults so each adult knows exactly who they are watching whilst on the move.

Tip  6 keep counting

Count, count, then count again!

Tip  7 think about how to walk in groups

Walking through parts of London can be hard, some parts get very congested on the paths.  It is easy to get split up.

When walking in a group have one adult responsible for being at the back, try to ensure you don't get gaps and the person at the front should stop occasionally to allow a 'regroup'.

Tip  8 Pre-plan moving around on public transport

Understand how you will manage public transport as a group before you start on the journey and explain it to the girls too.

When getting on and off the tube or trains have one adult allocated to be last off platform and last off train/bus/boat.  They do a quick visual check themselves before getting off and on.

When your group gets off a tube or train, all walk to the wall and stand still until the initial rush has died down, head count and group walk to the barriers.  It is much less stress if you don't try to move with the initial train rush, even in rush hour there is a minor lull between trains.

Get them ready to leave a boat before your stop and count them both before you get off and after you get off. (It's not as time consuming as it sounds)

Tip 9 think about your loo stops

Have a look at my London Loos for Guiders to help you along.

Tip 10 Think about your Risk Assessment

Remember to think about your Risk Assessment.  Don't just copy one someone else has written but reading others can help you think in the right direction.

Here are some of the ones I used for my Rangers on a weekend visit:

The group may get split up at any part of the weekend. One person may be left alone.

Regular head counting and regrouping to clarify next stage instructions. Each Girl will have the trip organiser’s mobile telephone numbers on them (on a card handout and have been told to add it to their phones if they have one.).  For specific greater risk times (like tube travel) a separate hazard is identified 

Party member may get injured

Will be carrying a ‘mobile’ first aid kit with plasters and bandages for immediate first aid.  A check has been made of where the A&Es are closest to the areas we will be in.  Guys (near Westminster) has minor injury 8-8.  St Thomas’ (near Tooley street)  has A&E.  The Royal Free is very close to Pax Lodge.  In event of serious emergency one adult would go with casualty, one adult would stay with group.  Emergency Contact  would be called and parents contacted..

Separation Hazard Train travel to and from London. Leaving part of the group behind.

Train is straight to London with no changes. Head count at the start and finish of the journey. 

All tickets are booked with pre-booked seats. Each girl will have trip organiser’s mobile telephone number.

Separate collection/travel arrangements will be made as appropriate.

Separation Hazard Travel on the underground

Each girl will have trip organiser’s mobile number with them. One leader will be given last on/last off responsibility. Strict instructions to be issued that if separated to get off at the next station and stand against the wall of the tube station until the rest of the group arrive. 

Personal safety Hazard Monopoly Challenge

Route around London to visit streets via tube, bus and foot. Reminder of road sense rules and remaining alert. Both with traffic and personal possessions.

Staying overnight at Pax Lodge, WAGGS Centre

Risk assessment as per Pax Lodge

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

High level of security is already in place at this event. Take particular care not to get separated in crowds outside palace whilst waiting to go in.  Head count after the event prior to leaving

Tate Modern

Commercial risk assessment for premises must be in place. Girls may get split up. Have set meeting place and time agreed in advance.  Each girl will have trip organiser’s mobile number with them. 

Tip 12  Take Badge Swaps with you

There are plenty of opportunities to swap badges, especially if you are going to visit Pax.

Tip 13 Don't Panic

Taking groups to London is not as hard as it sounds, mostly it's just common sense. 

Top Tip:  Make Mountain Top Moments - safely

When we went to the Jubilee we couldn't take many adults with us because of the rules for the enclosure (still within ratio rules though) , but it meant when we walked down the Mall we really would find it hard as the crowd started to surge. 

We made the most of our Young Leaders and 'allocated' the Guides to them whilst we leaders had the Brownies and over all responsibility for all.







I spoke to a wonderful Scouter on the phone just before we walked down the Mall at the front of the procession, with 250,000 other people behind us. He said "Put all your older ones around the outside and walk as a box.  As the crowd start to run from behind close ranks and they will run around you and not split you up."  Clever man, he was right and that box formation kept us together in the crush.

We didn't lose anyone, but I did see a very pale looking brown owl that had lost a girl, it does happen.  I'm sure she will have had her girl labelled up and there were so many police around that day no child could be lost for long but I think the labelling is key to a quick reunion.

Read more...

Song: Yes She Can

(Tune: She’ll be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain)

Can a women fly an airplane? Yes she can, yes she can.
Can a women build a building? Yes she can, yes she can.
Can a women fight a fire?
Can a women change a tire?
Can a women lead a choir? Yes she can, yes she can!


Can a woman be a lawyer? Yes she can, yes she can.
Can a woman fix an engine? Yes she can, yes she can.
Can a woman be a drummer?
Can a women be a plumber?
Can she play ball in the summer? Yes she can, yes she can!


Can a woman be a doctor? Yes she can, yes she can.
Can a woman drive a tractor? Yes she can, yes she can.
Can a woman lead a nation?
Can she run a TV station?
Can she head a corporation? Yes she can, yes she can!


Just you wait until we’re older, then you’ll see
We’ll be women in tomorrow’s history.
As we grow up through the years
We can sing out loud and clear.
Can we start the process here?
Yes we can! Yes we can!

Read more...

Guides in Paris 2023

It's been 8 years since I did an international trip with Guiding and this summer we went to Paris again. It was a county trip, on a similar format to the one I'd been on before and I was responsible for only a handful of Guides (of the 150 that we took), so apart from the obvious worries of responsibility it was really quite stress free. 

It was a very early start on the first day and a full day's travelling, but it all went smoothly.  

The next morning we headed into Paris and climbed the stairs to the second level of the Eiffel tower. Security was much tighter than any time I'd been before and it actually made for a much more pleasant experience underneath the tower.  

It was really lovely seeing guides every which way I turned, even these ones that were completely ignoring the view and concentrating on the best wi-fi spot. 

After we had a  headcount (A very common happening!) and a picnic we headed to the river bank for a boat tour.

 

The Eiffel tower was in her glory, whilst poor Notre Dame is still looking rather sad for herself. 

After the boat tour we had a coach tour and went around the Arc de Triompe a number of times!

And Guides took over the supermarket on the way back to our base. 

After a pool swim and the campfire in the evening you'd have thought we were all rather exhausted but the guides still needed nagging to bed for the big day the next day!

Disney!

So the girls I had this time were much younger than the ones I took last time and we weren't confident to leave them conmpletely to their own devices, this made for a different Disney experience to the time I brought Rangers, but I think it was actually more fun and I did more rides - including the Indianna Jones 360 loop! 

The park was at capacity but the queues were considerably shorter than UK theme parks.

Whilst I was enjoying myself immensely, I still couldn't shake off the deep feelings of guilt that Disney is totally about excess, fun, and an awful lot of environmental damage whilst a huge proportion of the world doesn't even have access to clean water.

These were not feelings I shared with anyone, no one wants a Debbie-Downer when the parade of happiness is passing by!

Back to base for the last night disco and packing ready for a long day of travelling again

This was a great trip, well run by the main leader Guiders. 

These international trips, or any Guiding residentials, offer so many development opportunities for the girls - making new friends, independence, new cultures, and they usual come at must cheaper prices than anything schools offer because we are all volunteers that run them. I used my work holiday and paid the same as the girls to take them away - and I would do it all over again! 

Read more...

The Guiding Promise and Laws since the beginning

This is an extract from a Guiding training resource:

"In 1908 Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting and Guiding, had strong beliefs and convictions including a strong sense of stewardship of the earth and all living things and the value of small groups working and playing together. Out of Baden-Powell’s convictions grew the Scout Promise and Law from which the Girl Guide Promise was slightly modified. The Promise and the Law gives a purpose and a new meaning to life. It provides members with a set of values such as honesty, responsibility, integrity, loyalty, respect, tolerance, self-awareness and a moral framework. 

The guiding Promise has changed 13 times since the organisation was founded. With each change the Promise has remained true to the principles on which guiding was founded over 100 years ago"


1910 
The Original Promise and Law 

On my honour, I promise that I will do my best:
To do my duty to God and the King (Or God and my country);
To help other people at all times;
To obey the Guide Law

Law

1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted
2. A Guide is loyal to the King and her Guiders, and to her parents, her country and her employers or employees.
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide, no matter what social class the other belongs.
5. A Guide is courteous.
6. A Guide is a friend to animals.
7. A Guide obeys orders of her parents, patrol leader or
8. Captain, without question.
9. A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.
10. A Guide is thrifty.
11. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.

Baden-Powel added

 "......[This law is unwritten, but it is understood]"
"A Guide is not a fool"

Moto: Be prepared



















1912
Guide Promise
I promise, on my honour

1 To be loyal to God & the King, 

2 To try and do daily good turns to other people

3 To obey the law of the Guides
Guide Law
1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted
2. A Guide is loyal
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide, no matter what social class the other belongs.
5. A Guide is courteous.

6. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.
7. A Guide is a friend to animals.
8. A Guide obeys orders
9. A Guide smiles and sings
10. A Guide is thrifty.


1914
Brownie Promise
On my Honour I promise to do my best
1 To do my duty to God and the King, and
2 to do a good turn to somebody every day.


1916
Brownie Promise
On my Honour I promise to do my best
1 To be loyal to God and the King, and
2 to to try to help other people, especially those at home.


1918
Guide Promise
I promise on my honour
1 To be loyal to God and the King
2 To try to help other people at all times
3 To keep the Law of the Guides

Guide Law
1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted
2. A Guide is loyal
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide
5. A Guide is courteous.

6. A Guide is a friend to animals.

7. A Guide obeys orders 

8. A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties

9. A Guide is thrifty.

10.A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.


1920
Brownie Promise
I promise on my honour to do my best
1 To do my duty to God and the King, and to be loyal to the Law of the Brownie Pack
2 To help other people every day, especially those at home.
Brownie Law:
The Law of The Brownie Pack is:
1. The Brownie gives in to the older folk
2. The Brownie does not give in to herself


1921
Guide Promise
On my honour I promise that I will do my best
1 To do my duty to God and the King
2 To help other people at all times
3 To obey the Guide Law

1926
Brownie Promise
I promise to do my best
1 To do my duty to God and the King, and to keep the Law of the Brownie Pack
2 To help other people every day, especially those at home.


1929
Brownie Promise
I promise to do my best
1 To do my duty to God and the King
2. To help other people every day, especially those at home.


1938
Brownie Law:
The Law of The Brownie Pack is:
1. A Brownie gives in to the older folk
2. A Brownie does not give in to herself.


1947
Guide Law
1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted
2. A Guide is loyal
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide
5. A Guide is courteous.
6. A Guide is a friend to animals.
7. A Guide obeys orders
8. A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.
9. A Guide is thrifty.
10. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.


1950
Guide Promise
I promise on my honour that I will do my best 

1 To do my duty to God & the King (Queen from 1953)

2 To help other people at all times

3 To obey the Guide Law

1952
Brownie Promise
I promise to do my best
1 To do my duty to God and the Queen
2. To help other people every day, especially those at home.

1957

Guide Promise

I promise on my honour that I will do my best 

1 To do my duty to God & the Queen

2 To help other people at all times

3  And to obey the Guide Law

1967 
Brownie Promise
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God, to serve the Queen
and help other people, and
To keep the Brownie Guide Law.
Brownie Law
The Brownie Guide Law is:
A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day.
Brownie Motto
Lend A Hand

Guide Promise
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God
To serve the Queen and help other people
and to keep the Guide Law.

Guide Law:
1. A Guide is loyal and can be trusted
2. A Guide is helpful
3. A Guide is polite and considerate
4. A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides
5. A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things
6. Guide is obedient
7. A Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties
8. A Guide makes good use of her time
9. A Guide takes care of her possessions and those of others people
10. A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does.




Rangers
I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen and help other people, and to keep the Guide Law with the further responsibility to be of service to the community.


1969
A recruit of foreign nationality wishing to be enrolled as a member of the association in the united kingdom makes a promise in one of the following ways:
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God, to my country
and to the country in which I am a guest
to help other people
and to keep the  (Brownie) Guide Law.

or she may make the promise in the accepted form of words used in her own country and the addition "To do my duty the country in which I am a guest"

or a recruit unable to live in her own country and not wishing to promise loyalty to its government may use the following form of words
"I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God
To serve the country in which I am a guest
and help other people
and to keep the (Brownie) Guide Law."

1987
Rainbow Promise
I will do my best to love God and to be kind and helpful.






1990
Alternative working for the "duty to God" clause
"where in religion God has a name which is more commonly used, that name may be substituted, in order to make the promise more meaningful to each girl or woman"


1994

Brownie Promise
I promise that I will do my best:
To love my God,
To serve the Queen and my Country,
To help other people,
and
To keep the Brownie Guide Law

Rainbow Promise
I will do my best to love my God and to be kind and helpful.

Guide Promise
I promise that I will do my best:
To love my God
To serve the Queen and my Country,
To help other people,
and
To keep the Guide Law
 (unofficially Rangers add: ‘and to be of service to the community’)


1996
Guide Law
1. A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.
2. A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.
3. A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.
4. A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.
5. A Guide is polite and considerate.
6. A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.



2013
The Current Promise and Law 

Brownies, Guides, Senior Section (Rangers) and adults:
I promise that I will do my best: To be true to myself and develop my beliefs, To serve the Queen and my community, To help other people and To keep the (Brownie) Guide Law.

Rainbows
I promise that I will do my best to think about my beliefs and to be kind and helpful.


The Guide Law for Guides, Senior Section (Rangers) and adults:
1. A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.
2. A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.
3. A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.
4. A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.
5. A Guide is polite and considerate.
6. A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.

Brownie Guide Law:
A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a Good Turn every day.

2022 (20th September)

Rainbows

‘I promise that I will do my best to think about my beliefs and be kind and helpful.’

Brownies

‘I promise that I will do my best,
to be true to myself and develop my beliefs,
to serve the King and my community,
to help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide Law.’

Guides, Rangers, young leaders and adult volunteers

‘I promise that I will do my best,
to be true to myself and develop my beliefs,
to serve the King and my community,
to help other people and to keep the Guide Law.’

In the century since the founding of guiding, tens of millions of girls and women around the world have made the Promise, each in her own language.  Tens of millions of girls and women all committed to a moral framework. It can only be a good thing.

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Angel in Blue - Girlguiding reading for a funeral

  ANGEL IN BLUE

Having left mortal earth, I passed through Heaven's Gate

And while anxiously awaiting the outcome of my fate
I walked among the Angels all robed in purest white
Whereupon I saw one figure which cast a blue-ish light.

She sat upon a misty cloud, a harp held to her breast
In a flowing, blowing gown of blue unlike all the rest;
I asked what great deed she'd done to earn the special hue
That gave her colour where others had none, or maybe just a few.

She said "On earth I sought no fame, fortune was not my goal,
I shunned the power of politics and worked without a toll;

I spent my time with children, helping them to grow

For as you reap in life, so must you learn to sow."

"You see...", she said, "the dividends while growing up I'd share,
I returned where many others were too self-involved to care.
Girl Guiding was my choice of roads to follow in my quest

For among the girls I found a love deeper than the rest."

"A teacher was I, my work was hard, I had no diploma or pay

But where family and institutions failed, I help show them the way.
The lessons I taught were obscure and difficult to see

For they didn't have names like 'spelling', 'maths' or 'geometry'."

"They were lessons in life delivered through guided experience

And they taught such things as character, spirit, and confidence.
Though on earth my life was blessed, it's even more so today

For when I look down I see my work,  as my girls show others the way."

"On earth Girl Guiding taught me to leave things better than before
And the same applies to that mortal place where life never was a bore.
Now having lived by that Girl Guiding rule in every earthly endeavour

I have become an Angel in Blue and shall be a Girl Guide forever."

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Camp isn't all rush

At Wellies and Wristbands I slept inside the training centre on a proper bed because of the state of my back. But the Rangers were given a pitch at the top of a steep hill about as far away as they could be from the main building.

Each morning I got up early and showered in a lovely, long hot shower in my ensuite, but don't mention that to the campers, they get all huffy about these things! and walked up to the camp site, sat with a cup of tea and waited for the world to wake up.

This meant my Rangers got a cup of tea in bed.  It's a way to say thank you for how they help me out with carrying my bag and generally being great girls.

It's lovely just sitting, waiting to hear the first zips of the tents.

There is usually time, especially at large scale events where activities are lead by other volunteers, to sit and chew the fat or perhaps plan a few meeting nights.

It's not just the leaders, the girls like to have time to chill and will seek out a quiet area to do it.  Down time can be as important as up time.

I spotted this leader tucked away between tents having a mid afternoon recharge well there were a lot of bands to be dancing to later!

Each evening as the girls and our other leader bedded down, I walked back to hall.  On the last night the moon was a gorgeous orange.  There were muted conversations coming from tents, torch lights swinging back from the toilet blocks and a dampness coming down in the air.  It's a special part of camp.

On the walk to my tent late on the last night at Charnwood 2011 I saw the longest, clearest shooting star, it summed up everything about how I felt at the time.  I really can't describe what a lovely feeling it is on a dry, warm camp night after the girls are starting to quieten down, but all Guiders that camp will know what I mean.

But sometimes those early mornings, provide the most beautiful moments.

There really is something very special about being out and about, waiting for day of activity and fun to start and yet feeling that you could freeze time just for a while to soak up the tranquillity.

At Wellies and Wristbands Waddow, one lady went around the dry stores on each camp site at about 5:30am and put on the boilers for hot drinks when the campers woke up.  It seems like such a chore and I was so grateful to her but I could wish to be that lady, happy to have nature to myself, just for a while.

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A Guide is no fool

There is a general sense of inclusion that Guiding brings.

A Guide does not ignore people some days and not others, even if it's a rotten day they will still catch your eye or nod. A Guide does not play controlling queen bee and choose who's 'in' or 'out' and a Guide is no fool and knows who isn't genuine!

 

I know that when there is laughter it is at the absurdness or hilarity of the situation not 'at' me.





I know it doesn't matter what I wear or how much of an idiot I look because it's all about fun.


It seems to attract the nice people.  Perhaps Guiding just magnifies the goodness but think it all comes back to the Laws.

A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.

And whilst we aren't quite marching along in uniform underneath the guiding banner...

This picture says so much to me about relaxed friends happy together.

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Charnwood 2011

Guiding and Scouting is for the children.  The adults are there for the children....mainly!

I have just come back from having the time of my life.  Of course it was for the children.  My daughter was there and it will be an experience that will stay with her for the rest of her life and I've seen a positive change in her since we've been back.

But beyond the children, it was the elixir I needed to take me back to a mental place I love to be in.

There is the companionship, the sense of a shared purpose, the desire to have fun linked with our shared promise.

I'm sure at some point I will tell you all about the activities the children and young adults did, how they grew their boundaries in a safe environment etc

But this one is about me. My happy place, my sense of belonging.

These videos show very little in terms of pictures but for me they capture the excitement and emotion of the last night.

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