Another Year Wrapped Up

WOW, it's been a while since I've blogged here.  I found the below as a draft from LAST year and thought I'd share it, even if I didn't finish the post.  I'll try to do better this year and blog more.  I think it's important for other units to see what everyone is doing.  How else do you come up with fresh ideas year after year?



I'm not quite sure where this year went.  I had the best intentions to blog about all the fabulous things our unit did to not only document the events; but, to also provide a resource for other Guiders to go to and maybe be inspired to try some of them out with their girls.

In the midst of returning to a full-time job, after 9 years at home with my kids, time for blogging and reevaluating our weekly meetings just fell by the way-side.  I've already made a schedule for the 2013-14 Guiding year though.  A schedule that allots me time to blog about our weekly adventures in a timely fashion.  I'm hoping that you, my readers, will hold me accountable and send me a message if I fail at posting an update.

In the meanwhile, here's a list of some of the amazing things we did this past year:

- Active Living Day - Community 12 hosted an all-day Guide event to promote active living.  We had 4 sessions focusing on ways for the girls to fit being active into their busy lives.  We danced it up with Zumba, took it slow with Tai Chi, laughed to relax with Laughter Yoga and put down the gonlet with Curling.  It was an amazing day and we all had fun.  Who knew being active could be so much fun...and earn you badges too ;)

Operation Earth Action

Every year we attend a "neighbourhood" camp with our fellow Guiding units.  We have Sparks, Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders all in attendance and we usually pick a theme for the weekend.

This year, we decided to do the National Service Project and participate in Operation Earth Action.

It was fairly easy to come up with activities for the girls to do over the weekend.  The Pathfinders actually had some great input and were responsible for running one of the activities, planning our outdoor campfire, Earth themed, and again our Guides Own on Sunday.

Our activities included making games out of recycled/repurposed items.  We made ring toss using paper plates, paper towel roll tubes and some glue.  We also made dominos from rocks and used paint to mark on the dots; don't worry it was non-toxic paint.

A second activity was making fossils from coffee grounds.  The girls loved this activity as it allowed them to get dirty and the fossils turned out amazing!

The third activity was the 100 km (100 mile) challenge and the girls needed to plan out a menu containing foods that came from 100 km or less.  This proved difficult at this time of year as much of our produce is imported from tropical regions until later in the summer.

Finally, the girls learned about water consumption and how to conserve it.  Each girl was asked to bring a reusable water bottle for the weekend and we examined how much water they use daily.  It was pleasantly surprising to see the girls were amazed and worried about how much water their families used.

Of course, Operation Earth Action wouldn't be complete without a hike and cleanup.  We spent most of the afternoon outdoors tracking and cleaning up our surrounding area.  It was absolutely perfect!  The weather was cooperative and the girls enjoyed getting outdoors to "take action for a better world". 

I think camp was a success and the girls all left with a sense of purpose.  I'm certain they will go forward conscious of their decisions and how they ultimately affect our world.

Karaoke Party

Sticking to our month-long WAGGGS theme, this week we looked at focus country Ireland.  It was decided in our planning that we would celebrate Irish Girl Guides with a One Direction karaoke party! 

Not entirely Guiding, but fun just the same.  We had a brief talk about Guiding in Ireland and got into the fun. 
A huge thank-you to Pigskin Pete, from the Hamilton Tiger Cats, for running karaoke and making it a huge success, even if he did make Sunflower, Sapphire and I sing too ;)

The girls had a blast.  Some of our quiet, shy girls really showed their true colours which was amazing to witness.  The affect music can have on a person is truly remarkable.

Here's a short video of a couple of the girls doing their thing!

Chopstick Challenge

Thinking Day is quickly approaching and we decided to focus the whole month of February on WAGGGS countries and our sisters around the world.

This week, we looked at Japan.  Japan joined the Girl Guiding movement in 1919 and was a founding member of WAGGGS.  We had the girls dress in "mock-Kimonos" using bathrobes and flip-flops. 

We started the night with a chopstick challenge.  The girls were all given a set of chopsticks and then divided into two teams.  One member of each team raced up the floor to where two plates were waiting for them.  Using their chopsticks, they had to transfer five grains of rice, one at a time, and a piece of spaghetti to the other plate before returning to the line allowing the next member of the team to go.  The race illicited a lot of laughter as the girls struggled to pick up the food and transfer it.  Somehow, we managed to get rice everywhere but on the plates.

Next, we made dolls from clothes pins in honour of Doll's Festival. 

"Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival)" is held on March 3rd. This is a day to pray for young girl's growth and happiness. It is also called "Momo no sekku (Peach Festival)" because of the peach blossom season on the old lunar calendar. - Wikipedia

It always amazes me at how creative the girls can be.  We had girls with buns, girls with chopsticks in their hair and more.

 

After our craft had been cleaned up the girls figured the fun part of the night was over.  Little did they know that the fun was just beginning.  Sunflower learned how to say the Promise in Japanese, which made the girls giggle.  Somehow, she made it sound far too humorous.  The girls then had a laugh playing Janken, the Japanese version of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

English	Romaji	Japanese
Rock	Guu	グー
Paper	Paa	パー
Scissors	Choki	チョキ

Finally, we ended the night with a sampling of Japanese Sencha green tea and sushi...candy style!  The girls made their own sushi using fruit strips (seaweed), rice cereal treats (rice) and gummy fish.  I think they liked it! 

Next week, we're focusing on Ireland...can you say One Direction Karaoke party?

Spirit of the Season

I originally posted this on my other blog, Life of a Twingle Gal; but as it involves my Guides I thought I'd share it here too.
I'm hoping it may provide other Guiders with ideas on how they too can share in the spirit of the season.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men'".

Luke 2:10

Sometimes at this time of year, we get all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the season and we forget what Christmas is really about.  But, it's not just Christmas.  Many religious groups celebrate this time of year.  Whether it be Hanukkah, Kwanza or any other religious Holiday, the season is about celebration and love.

Tonight, my Guides and Pathfinders went to McMaster Children's Hospital to do some carolling for the kids who will be spending the holidays there.  We spoke with our girls prior to the visit and talked about what they might see while we were there.  They all seemed very open to the fact that there could be a wide variety of ailments and treatments happening.  We made a craft to give each child that visited us, a little winter toque for their holiday décor, and prepared about 10 popular, secular, carols to sing.  The hospital staff were very open and excited to have us in and prepared the lounge for us to perform.  We had several patients and families join us for our performance and we even had a couple of the older kids join in the singing.  

It was amazing to see the faces warm up to our, totally off-key and sometimes way too fast, singing.  Something so simple, brought such joy to these kids.  At the end of our time, the staff all thanked us for coming.  We even had several of the patients' parents come up to thank the girls too which I think made our girls' night.  

But what made it all worth it, was hearing our girls say "thank-you" for bringing them to the hospital to sing for the "sick kids".  They all agreed that this was probably one of the best gifts we could give to people we don't know and it made them feel good to help out.

I say to my girls and fellow Guiders, job well done!  We set out to teach our girls that the season is about more than gifts and possessions and I think we accomplished that tonight.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanza and Happy Holidays!  May the spirit of the season burn bright in your hearts today and all the year through.

Another Guiding Year

Happy September!  I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are as excited about this Guiding year as I am.  

You'll notice I've updated the blog a little.  I've created a new page for my available swaps and I will use this main section as a running commentary of my Guider experiences.  I hope to provide craft, program and problem solving tips and tricks here.

We all know that Guiders, including myself, can get stuck in a rut.  So I hope you'll follow my updates and find something helpful to use in your units this, or in a future, year.

Yours in Guiding,

Misty

August Greetings

Hi everyone!
I hope you're all enjoying your summer (or winter as the case may be).  It's been a busy and hot one for me and I'm excited to start thinking ahead to another Guiding year.  In fact, I'm getting together to plan the first few months tomorrow!

I've also learned we have some new Twinning Project badges available at our National Store.  I don't have any in my hands YET; but, I will have some to swap in a few weeks.

If there is any interest in either of these, please let me know.

Yours in Guiding,
Misty