We welcomed our families, then started by singing Fire's Burning.
Our first Guide speaker stood up and read:
Just like a campfire starts off slowly and grows over time, Guides learn new things and grow in Guiding. Our first years began by exploring Guide traditions through a Guiding heritage night, learning how to form a horseshoe and taking part in World Thinking Day activities. They have also built new skills by learning about money management, finding out the rules of the road for cycling, and by practicing outdoor skills.
Badges were handed out to 1st Year Guides.
We then sang Make New Friends, and out second Guide speaker stood up:
As Guides we try to make new friends, treat everyone with respect, include others, and make a difference in our communities. Tonight 7 girls are receiving the Make a Difference Award. To earn this award, girls participated in activities for World Space Week, the International Day of the Girl, World Thinking Day, International Women's Day and Earth Day.
Certificates were handed out to the girls who had earned the Make a Difference Award.
The next song was Black Socks, followed by our third Guide speaker:
Guiding is all about fun! We know Guides love games, being loud and having time to be silly. Whether it's creating new fashions from newspaper, getting your elf or pirate name, learning more about Starburst candy or turning a different colour at messy night, our second years know how to have fun!
Badges were handed out to the 2nd Year Guides.
Next up was a Unit favourite - Fried Ham (Guide, Pathfinder and Ranger verses only!), and our fourth Guide speaker:
Our Pathfinders are growing up and ready to use their voices to make a difference. They've increased their awareness of girls and women's rights, developed their leadership skills, and learned about first and and knife safety. But we also know Pathfinders like to have fun, so scavenger hunts, a trip to Tim Horton's, art nights, an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party and Spa Night also featured in their program.
Badges and knife permits were handed out to the Pathfinders.
As we started to quiet down, we sang Land of the Silver Birch, followed by our fifth Guide speaker:
Did you know that Rangers were the second branch of Guiding to be formed? Girls who had been Guides didn't want to leave, so a new program was created for them in 1918. Rangers are still going strong today, exploring their interests, practicing their leadership skills, providing service and making the world a better place.
Here, we called up Lynsey, our only Ranger and presented her with the Chief Commissioner's Silver Award, Ranger Service Project, and Girl Assistant Certificate of Appreciation.
Lynsey is receiving the Chief Commissioner's Silver Award, the second highest youth award in Canadian Guiding. She has completed the Ranger Service Project by undertaking camp maintenance projects at Camp Woolsey last summer. We are also happy to present Lynsey with the Girl Assistant Certificate of Appreciation for her work with the Guides and Pathfinders.
Our final song was My Paddle, followed by our final Guide speaker:
All good campfires must come to an end, and so must each stage of a person's Guiding journey. Guides and Pathfinders are each 3 year programs and during their time in each, girls have opportunities for new experiences, learning new skills, trying new things, making new friends, and exploring new and old interests. As a Guide moves to Pathfinders, she is ready to spread her wings and take on bigger challenges, new leadership roles, and ownership of meetings, events and camps. Advancing Pathfinders will look wide as Rangers, and when they think they are looking wide, they will be challenged to look wider, expanding their awareness locally, nationally and globally.
We presented the Guide Challenge Pin to Abi:
Tonight Abi is finishing her time as a Guide. She is receiving the Guide Challenge Pin to remind her of her adventures as a Guide and we hope that she continues to find fun, friendship and new challenges as she continues her Guiding journey in Pathfinders.
Sophie was receiving her Canada Cord and moving on to Rangers:
Sophie is finishing her time as a Pathfinder and is receiving the Canada Cord. The Canada Cord is the highest award girls can earn in the Pathfinder program, and the fourth highest youth award in Canadian Guiding. Completion of the Canada Cord usually takes three years. To earn this award, girls complete specific modules to learn more about Canadian and World Guiding, event planning, the outdoors, relationships, safety, health and fitness, and the arts. They learn and demonstrate leadership skills, plan and carry out small service activities and larger service projects, participate in bridging activities with older and younger girls, learn about first aid and earn the Citizenship Certificate. We are all proud of Sophie and her accomplishments and hope that she will look wider for service, experiences and skills as she continues her Guiding journey as a Ranger.
To finish, we thanked everyone for coming, invited them to join us for cupcakes and lemonade, and sang Taps.
