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

Duplicate's List - July 25, 2012

Challenge Crests

Girls for Safer Communities (3 available)

This crest was available only for a limited time.

Camp Crests

Camp Wyoka 1998

Campy Wyoka is located in Clifford, Ontario

Piper's Hill Camp

Zoe's Amazing Race - Westglen District Camp, May 13-15, 2011

Program Earned Badges

Guides - Baker's Badge

Guides - Pink Thanks Silk

Guides - Experienced Camper Emblem

Pathfinders - Be Prepared Arrow - In the Home

Guides UK - Music Silk

Miscellaneous Crests

Ontario Cookie Seller Crest

Environment Girl (2 available)

Guiding Rocks - Skydome 2002 (14 available)

2003 Classic Cookie crest (4 available)

Ontario Deputy Provincial Commissioner silk

White Oaks Guiding Centre silk

Brant Division crest (Ontario) (4 available)

Ontario Provincial Commissioner - Maggie van Dusen silk

Remembrance Day Crest

From Field to Fridge

Lady Baden Powell (2 available)

Mardi Gras

Empowering Girls

Tuesday April 17 - Dupe's List

Challenge Crests

Girls for Safer Communities (5 available)

This crest was available only for a limited time.

BC Girl Guides CSI Challenge

Camp Crests

Camp Wyoka 1998

Campy Wyoka is located in Clifford, Ontario

Piper's Hill Camp

Camp Wyoka 2003

Camp Wyoka 2002

Zoe's Amazing Race - Westglen District Camp, May 13-15, 2011

Program Earned Badges

Guides - Baker's Badge

Guides - Pink Thanks Silk

Guides - Experienced Camper Emblem

Pathfinders - Be Prepared Arrow - In the Home

Guides UK - Music Silk

Miscellaneous Crests

Tidy Camper Award

Ontario Cookie Seller Crest

Environment Girl (2 available)

Guiding Rocks - Skydome 2002 (14 available)

2003 Classic Cookie crest (4 available)

Ontario Deputy Provincial Commissioner silk

White Oaks Guiding Centre silk

Brant Division crest (Ontario) (5 available)

Ontario Provincial Commissioner - Maggie van Dusen silk

Remembrance Day Crest

From Field to Fridge

Lady Baden Powell (2 available)

Mardi Gras

Empowering Girls

Touching Base

I just wanted to say how excited I am to have found two separate groups on Facebook to do swaps with!  It's been great.  I think I've probably sent out 10-15 swaps already and there are more in the works!  Who knew there were so many other Girl Guide and Girl Scout leaders out there with the same passion for camp blanket bling that I have?

I have discovered a downside to these new found swapping groups...my collection of crests and badges that need to be sewn on my blanket still has grown enormously!  I probably have 50 badges to go on and the count gets higher with every new envelope full of swaps that arrives in the mail.

Here are a couple of my favourites so far!

I'll take some pictures of my newest crests and post them all when I have some more time.  In the meanwhile, happy swapping!