Early History
Guiding has been active in Caledonia since 1942. There have been up to 3 Guide units operating at a time. I have very little information on the history of the unit, and will add anything I find out later. The 2nd Caledonia Guides have been in continuous operation since at least 1976.
1990 to 1993 - My Guide Years
I remember having great fun as a Guide. The patrols were Lily of the Valley, Trillium, Violet, and Daffodil. The program we worked on was based on Tenderfoot, Adventure Challenge, and Voyageur Challenge. The highest award was the All Around Cord. The program was changed in the fall of 1992, so my year group was the last to complete the old program and earn the All Around Cord.
Each year we went for a Hike on Good Friday to Seneca Park where we would play games and attempt to cook lunch over an open fire that we built and lit. We also went to camp once a year in June at La Fortune Park, themes I remember were Christmas and Hawaiian. Other activities I recall were a visit to Edinburgh Square as part of the Citizen Badge, learning about Roberta Bondar (who was the first Canadian woman in space in 1992) as part of the Astronomer Badge, making napkin rings for the Division dinner as part of the Needleworker Badge, a trip to the Fire Station to earn the Fire Safety Badge, and guest speakers for the First Aid and Law Awareness Badges.
1996 to 1998 - My Junior Leader Years
My first year as a Junior Leader there were about 15 girls in the unit and I think there were 3 patrols. My second year there were only 6 girls, so we made one patrol and let them choose a new emblem - they choose to be the Swallow patrol. Each year I planned and ran an entire meeting, one year my theme was Promise & Law and the other year it was Camp Skills. We had a sleepover one year. I recall include making terrariums and baking and decorating cakes.
2006 to 2019 - My Guider Years
Our numbers have fluctuated each year, but we still have fun! We have had as few as 13 girls and as many as 21 girls.
Program Highlights
2006-2007
- Sleepover at the Ontario Science Centre in February to earn the Chemistry Badge
- Summer Camp at Byng Island Conservation Area in June
- Sleepover at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in April to earn the Aeronautics Badge
- Summer Camp at Byng Island Conservation Area in May
- Winter Camp at Camp Teka in Paris in February, where we earned the Music Fan Badge
- 3rd Years go to Weekend on the Water (Canoe Camp) in May and earn their ORCKA A qualification
- Summer Camp at Byng Island Conservation Area in May
- 100th Anniversary Campfire in Brantford on October 21st (Campfires were held across Ontario on the same night, using the same songs to kick off the 100th Anniversary celebrations)
- Fashion Badge Sleepover in December, where we made hooded camp blankets
- 100th Anniversary Launch Party at Casa Loma in Toronto in February
- Winter Camp at Camp Teka in Paris in February, where we completed the Zoe Goes to Brazil Challenge
- 100th Anniversary Rally Day at Ontario Place in May
- Summer Camp at Byng Island Conservation Area in May
- CSI Challenge Day in Stoney Creek in November
- Winter Camp at Camp Teka in Paris in February, where we earned the Astronomy Badge
- Summer Camp at Byng Island Conservation Area in May, where we earned the Birdwatching Badge
- Around the World Sleepover in December, planned and run by the 3rd Year Guides
- Winter Camp at Camp Teka in Paris in February, run by two Pathfinders as part of their Canada Cord
- Summer Camp at Byng Island Conservation Area in May, where we earned the Games Go Global Gold Challenge
