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.
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.
