Showing posts with label Girls First. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Girls First. Show all posts
Thursday, 5 September 2019
Getting Ready for a New Guiding Year!
It's time for a new Guiding year! Come join us! Remember to register at https://register.girlguides.ca. Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers all start on Tuesday, September 10th!
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
Welcome to Girls First!
Activities were set up as free-flowing stations, where girls could choose which activities they wanted to try, and stay for a short or long a period of time as they wished.
Here we had two activities to choose from: Girls could choose to practice setting up and taking down a tent and/or make one of the GGC Crunchers.
Explore Identities
Here we spread out a large sheet of paper and girls used sidewalk chalk to create positive self-esteem messages and images.
Build Skills
We provided Tangram puzzles and challenged girls to make different shapes and images.
A space was set aside for girls to play active games, and suggestions of some of the favourites from last year were provided.
Experiment & Create
Patterns were provided and girls coloured and then made their own flextangles. The template can be downloaded from Babble Dabble Do.
Connect & Question
At this station girls mined for chocolate chips in their cookies, while learning about the impact of mining on the environment.
Take Action
Large sheets of bristol board and markers were provided for girls to share their ideas about issues important to them and actions we could take to make a difference.
The second half of the meeting was just for Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers. We split up in to the two Units (Guides and Pathfinders/Rangers) and did some brainstorming about possible activities, asked the girls to individually come up with three things they want to do this year, and had small groups explore different Program Areas and suggest activities for the different Themes.
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Tuesday, 16 January 2018
Girls First - Diverse Connections
Happy New Year! We started 2018 off with a meeting testing activities for the Girls First
program! The theme for the evening was "Diverse Connections". As we are asked to keep the details of the test activities confidential, I can't share exactly what we did - but here is an overview of how the evening went:
Our final activity was making up skits - which most of our girls enjoy. Before starting, we brainstormed a list of situations where people could be teased or excluded. Each Patrol had to pick one of the scenarios make up a skit showing the problem and a skit showing how they could resolve the problem. Overall these were well done and stayed on topic.
As the Guides arrived, each Patrol was asked to make a list of things they like for use in one of the later activities. They took attendance and collected dues before our usual opening.
In our first activity, the girls were asked to move to different places in the room based on how much they liked or disliked an item (i.e. YouTube, Broccoli, Math, Stranger Things). This activity went fairly well and the girls commented that they had learned things they didn't know about each other.
Next, we did an activity that was very similar to one from we did last year as part of the NSP: Action on Poverty. Girls were given a coloured card and had to move according to the instructions given with various statements about socio-economic factors. This activity went fairly well, with some interesting comments about how the girls felt in the different positions.
Although these activities involved some movement, the girls were getting restless so we paused here for a game break and played Squirt.
For the next activity, the girls were divided up into small groups and had to find something they all had in common and something they all felt differently about. This was repeated with the groups getting progressively larger. The first round of this activity went well, but later rounds were 'boring' (doing the same thing) or 'frustrating' (too many people to find things in common and something that makes each of them unique). The girls did comment that it's good for people to think differently and like/dislike different things as it would be pretty boring if we all thought/felt the same way.
We ended by evaluating the activities and the discussions we had throughout the evening. The results were mixed and although we didn't run into any major problems, the overall feeling was that these weren't 'fun' activities - the phrase 'school-like' was used by some. Our feedback has been submitted and will be looked at by the Girls First Team as the new program is created!
To keep up with what is happening, follow the Girls First Page!
Tuesday, 7 November 2017
Enrolment 2017
This week we enrolled our new Guides and Pathfinders, and also participated in our first Girls First activity as Testing Units.For Girls First, we talked to the girls about how the new program is going to be structured, and then got their opinions on badge shapes for the Areas of Program and Theme badges. The new program will have 7 Areas of Program (AOPs) and each AOP will have 3-4 Themes - and all of these will have a badge! We also talked about interest badges, program badges and fun/challenge badges and surveyed the girls on the importance of each to the Guiding program. For more information on Girls First, please visit https://www.girlguides.ca/WEB/GGC/Girls_First/GGC/Girls_First/Girls_First.aspx
with the Pathfinders and Rangers at one end and Guides forming the opposite side and bottom. We welcomed our guests, and then two Pathfinders came forward holding the 'door' (bristol board with coloured doors on it). Each Guide with a speaking part then came up, read her piece and stuck her key onto the doorway for her section of the program.
Girl #1 - The Guiding program has 6 key areas. Girls in all branches of the program have the opportunity to explore, experiment, and learn through activities based on these keys.
Girl #2 - I use my key to open the door to the Arts. As a Guide I can explore my creativity through drama, drawing, games, crafts, dance and music. (Purple)
Girl #3 - I use my key to open the door to STEM. As a Guide I can experiment with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. (Orange)
Girl #4 - I use my key to open the door to Camping and the Outdoors. As a Guide I can go on overnight adventures, take part in outdoor activities, and explore the natural environment. (Green)
Girl #5 - I use my key to open the door to Service and My Community. As a Guide I can give back to my community and make a difference in the world. (Red)
Girl #6 - I use my key to open the door to World Guiding. As a Guide I have 10 million sisters in 150 different countries and I can learn about cultures, the lives of girls, and Guiding around the world. (Blue)
Girl #7 - I use my key to open the door to Personal Growth. As a Guide I can practice skills I'll need in the future like communication, leadership, problem solving and teamwork.
Each Patrol was then called up and the Patrol Leaders presented the girls their new Guides and everyone said the Promise which each Patrol. After all the Guides were enrolled, we talked briefly about the challenges we have worked on so far (Sing Ontario Sing, #TeamGirl, and Girl Guides Go Galactic) and then presented Membership Pins and badges to each individual Guide. We had one Cookie All-Star reward to present from last year - a $125 Best Buy gift card for our 40-case seller!
The Pathfinders were then surprised with their own enrolment, and we welcomed 5 new Pathfinders into our group. The Pathfinders were also presented with Membership Pins, individual badges and challenges. With enrolments finished, we thanked our guests for coming and served cupcakes and lemonade to everyone.
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