Girlguiding volunteer & life advice
I'm a county leadership mentor. You'd think I'd be all over the new system but in fact I only saw it for the first time yesterday. It's very different and we're all inclined to rail against it right now but let's give it a chance. The new system is at learning.girlguiding.org.uk and you'll need your... Continue Reading →
Support, support, support and a bit more support! In Guiding, you’ll hear about growth and retention. It’s important to get new members - both the kids and the adult leaders - but it’s also important to keep them and I have to say, in my little guiding world, we’re failing miserably on both counts. My... Continue Reading →
This is one of those questions where the answer is both yes and no. No, we don't pledge or swear allegiance in Girlguiding. We make a Promise and part of that Promise is to serve the Queen or King. Certainly in future, if anyone makes or renews their Promise, they will now promise "to serve... Continue Reading →
I was supposed to be camping (by myself; not with my girls) this weekend but I've just had my first ever positive covid test, so guess I'm pitching the tent in the garden. So let's talk about camp. When you go to Guide camp, you'll be doing your own outdoor cooking. Nothing wrong with using... Continue Reading →
Since I'm currently recruiting for someone to take on my Brownies, I thought I'd start an irregular series about why we do these things. After all, my post on why I'm quitting gives you a good idea of why not to be a Brown Owl. So why would anyone want to take it on? What... Continue Reading →
This is apparently a question new leaders have, especially if they're walking into a unit that doesn't already have a leader to show them the ropes. I love Promise ceremonies, it's such a special moment. The important bits are that the person making their Promise does so and that they get the badge. Everything else... Continue Reading →
It’s half term and since we don’t have the kids this week, let’s talk about the adults! (And also because I said last week that I’d tell you about the Trefoil Guild today) The Trefoil Guild is a branch of the Guide family for adults. It’s not actually part of Girlguiding; it’s a side branch... Continue Reading →
You know, I think it's time to talk about Inspire! Inspire was created when the Senior Section was dissolved. It used to go right through until a young member's 26th birthday but one day Girlguiding decided in their wisdom that it would split the section into Rangers and Young Leaders and that it should expire... Continue Reading →
You do not want to hear the noise my district commisioner and treasurer would make if they heard that I was giving advice on accounts and yet here I go. The absolute worst bit about Girlguiding, the thing that's driven me out of Rangers! If you do Module 4 of your ALQ, you have to... Continue Reading →
Well, this has been a while in the making. Yeah, I'm not going to be Brown Owl anymore and I'm leaving my Rangers too. This blog will remain, and hopefully I'll have more energy for it because I won't have the brain-sap from actually running Brownies alongside it. The short version: I'm handing my Rangers... Continue Reading →
The Internet's Brown Owl 