This the second blog in this mini series on Good Guiding.
I have been lucky enough to spend part of my weekend outdoors with over 300 Brownies and Guides and its really inspired this blog on outdoor adventure.
Getting outdoors for an adventure is a key part of Good Guiding for me, and it doesn't have to be something as big as my experience at the County Outdoors Day today. However its about making it an adventure for the girls!
There are some useful resources which leaders can use to support their own adventures with their girls.
Rainbows - Many of the Roundabouts support activities which can take place outdoors during a meeting, we have a trip planned to the local primary school to use their trim trail and hold a campfire evening.
Brownies - Why not try the Out and About badge as a way to introduce getting outdoors, ours loved a mini treasure hunt around the village.
Guides - Light nights are great for campfires, evening chippy walks or penny hikes!
But...... I don't have outdoor space at my meeting place
SNAP! We don't but it doesn't stop us! What about looking in the village/town do you have a park nearby? some woods? our local school lets us use their field, what about holding your meeting at an alterative venue?
But ...... I don't have the right qualifications
Check the guiding manual! Walks in easy country don't require any formal qualifications. Your county walking advisor and local outdoor teams are there to support you. Why not ask other leaders in your area what they have been up to. Why not join with other units at district, division or county events, watch out for opportunities coming up in your area.
But ...... There is too much paperwork to do
Yes, paperwork is important - risk assessment can be downloaded from the members area of the website, non adventurous activities during your meeting time which start and finish at the meeting place don't need extra paperwork. You can get outdoors just by letting your local commissioner know your plans.
Being an adventure doesn't mean that you have to be abseiling from a bridge! A true adventure is all about the girls having fun, learning something new, trying something out, exploring and discovering. Hunting in the wood for a Gruffolo with 15 Rainbows, capturing the flag on the field with 24 Brownies or watching the stars with Guides can be just as much of an adventure!
I have been lucky enough to spend part of my weekend outdoors with over 300 Brownies and Guides and its really inspired this blog on outdoor adventure.
Getting outdoors for an adventure is a key part of Good Guiding for me, and it doesn't have to be something as big as my experience at the County Outdoors Day today. However its about making it an adventure for the girls!
There are some useful resources which leaders can use to support their own adventures with their girls.
Rainbows - Many of the Roundabouts support activities which can take place outdoors during a meeting, we have a trip planned to the local primary school to use their trim trail and hold a campfire evening.
Brownies - Why not try the Out and About badge as a way to introduce getting outdoors, ours loved a mini treasure hunt around the village.
Guides - Light nights are great for campfires, evening chippy walks or penny hikes!
But...... I don't have outdoor space at my meeting place
SNAP! We don't but it doesn't stop us! What about looking in the village/town do you have a park nearby? some woods? our local school lets us use their field, what about holding your meeting at an alterative venue?
But ...... I don't have the right qualifications
Check the guiding manual! Walks in easy country don't require any formal qualifications. Your county walking advisor and local outdoor teams are there to support you. Why not ask other leaders in your area what they have been up to. Why not join with other units at district, division or county events, watch out for opportunities coming up in your area.
But ...... There is too much paperwork to do
Yes, paperwork is important - risk assessment can be downloaded from the members area of the website, non adventurous activities during your meeting time which start and finish at the meeting place don't need extra paperwork. You can get outdoors just by letting your local commissioner know your plans.
Being an adventure doesn't mean that you have to be abseiling from a bridge! A true adventure is all about the girls having fun, learning something new, trying something out, exploring and discovering. Hunting in the wood for a Gruffolo with 15 Rainbows, capturing the flag on the field with 24 Brownies or watching the stars with Guides can be just as much of an adventure!