My Girl Guide adventure, so far.

Hello, my name is Sarah Lashbrook, I am a 1st year Ranger, and I would like to share a little bit of my Girl Guide experience with you.

My first exposure to Girl Guides was at a Canada day parade in Callander, my cousin, Chloe was a Brownie and she was on the GGC float with her best friend and I wanted to do what my big cousin was doing!

In February 2010, my mom was trying to help me find a new activity to join because dance season was done and I wanted to be involved with another activity, I told my mom I wanted to do something “outdoorsy” and my mom recommended Brownies. I started Brownies, they were halfway through the guiding year already. My first night there, we went skating and I earned a badge. I was so happy. After a month,  I went to my first Brownie sleepover where I learned to sew, making a blue pair of pajama pants. I got to discover cookie selling; our leader took us door to door in our meeting place neighbourhood, I was able to take cases of cookies home to sell to my family and neighbours, my leader was so proud of me, I was able to sell all the leftover mint cases from the fall time and I sold enough to earn the Cookie All-Star crest. On May 15th, 2010, I went on my first-day trip, to Sudbury for the National Rally Day. I got to go camping for the first time on my own. Towards the end of my year, I earned the You’re My Hero badge, when I received it there were only 348 of these crests out there.

During my second year, I went to another sleepover, had fun activities such as woodwork at Home Depot. I also got the opportunity to carry a flag at the World Thinking Day Ceremony. The guiding year wrapped up with a fun bridging event, it was the Sing and Sail, a day trip on the Chief Commanda. That summer I went to a camp at Doe Lake for a week, Kaleidoscope Drama and Improv. I enjoyed it a lot and got a little homesick but my camp counselor helped me through it all, making it a great experience.

I joined the 44th North Bay Guides, my leaders were Estelle, Jill, and Angela. This was the unit where I met Kim, a close guiding friend of mine. In my second year of Girl Guides, I learned about service projects doing a few to earn my Lady Baden Powell award. For Supporting Your Community my project was called12 acts of Christmas kindness. It was when we did sweet acts for people who should be recognized throughout our community. We made Christmas cards for Canadian armed forces. We adopted a "class" which actually was a sparks unit that needed supplies. So we made them Christmas craft kits and treats. Furthermore, my siblings and I donated toys to L.I.P.I. and winter jackets that were too small for us were donated to charity. We brought in gifts for the humane society, also had a small visit because how could not visit such cute animals.  We went Christmas caroling for the Santa Fund, donated to the salvation army and brought hot chocolate for the kettle person, we gave cookies to the North Bay Public Library children's department staff.  Handed out candy canes for post office employees and customers (plus the salvation army, the library staff, and city of north bay employees). We gave girl guide cookies and a candy cane to the garbage man, we also served punch at the Procathedral Christmas dinner and brought in a donation to North Bay's food bank.

Next, for my Green Connection service project, I worked in the Glory Garden at Procathedral with the sparks. Finally, for my Going Global service project, I participated in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. How it works is that each shoebox is filled by Canadians. You fill them with hygiene items, school supplies, and toys. Then the shoeboxes are given to children regardless of gender, race, or religion.

The summer between Guides and Pathfinders I decided it was time to do another week-long camp. I had taken a break ever since Kaleidoscope Drama and Improv since I was worried about being homesick again. I still went to provincial camps in the summer although it was only for the weekend, Mom and Me. It was a good stepping stone, it helped me get the courage gathered up once more to go back to a week-long camp, this time around horseback riding. It was my first time ever riding horses and it was great. I did, however, cause a stampede. I had a horse who got scared by the sound of rushing water, I wasn't told this. I brought my horse near a small creak. The horse panicked and started to gallop, everyone else's horses followed suit. This was my first day, and I only knew how to sit in the saddle and lead them. So off we went for a solid 5 minutes until one the leaders caught up to me and taught me how to stop the horse while we were galloping. Horses are much prettier from afar. (pause for laughter)

In Pathfinders, I discovered that you got to make a lot of your own decisions which is a nice change from girl guides. I enjoyed more of the activities since I had a vote. Our group loved going on trips and went on one at the start of each guiding year with the cookie money the girls would raise from the year before. My first one was to Ottawa. I loved it there so much. We saw museum’s, had a tour around parliament and went on the amphibious bus. We went back again, doing different activities that time. Regular meetings would vary, on our energetic nights, we’d play Can’t Cross Canada. Yes, we knew of other games but we only liked that one. Sometimes we'd have a craft night followed by singing our favorite campfire songs. Some of our meetings would be out whether it be at the waterfront park or on a hike at Duchesne falls.  A few of our memorable meetings were going to the Remembering ABBA Concert. Going letterboxing which was a learning experience for me, an adventure and felt like a mini version of geocaching, which we also did. We have also had special guests come in.  A news reporter came to talk to us once about her career.  We learned how to make face scrubs and decorate cupcakes. Not the same night of course. (wait for laughter) At Christmas time before the break we'd have a dinner, a potluck to make things easier. When it came to selling cookies we usually sold them at Sobey's. Having hot chocolate and Timbits after most shifts just as a treat. There was also different camps such as the emergency preparedness camp, where I got to learn how to run with a fire hose and use a fire extinguisher. To add winter camps, where we'd go snowshoeing, have fires and one night we danced until 1 am.  I slept really good that night. We’ve done activities with other branches, such as a reading night with sparks and brownies, or having the girl guides visit our unit to encourage them to go into pathfinders. Furthermore, we have done evenings of community service work with the Rotary Club stuffing bingo envelopes.

At the end of the year, we have a tradition of going to dinner at East Side Mario's then seeing a movie. All throughout it was a great three years.

During my third year in pathfinders, early September,  I received an email from girl guides of Canada. It talked about international trips and applications being out for girls to go on one. My mom encouraged me to apply.  Many days after school, I would work on my application until I was satisfied with it. It took me a long time to complete it because I added a lot of detail to my responses. I made sure that I was expressing myself clearly enough since they read the application and don't know me personally. Something for girls to consider if they wish to apply too. I sent my application the day of when it was due. This was because my principal at the time and I had called a lady from girl guides national office to verify that we did the process right also having everything in order. My principal was one of my references as well as my leader Linda. During the application process, they had given a couple options of countries, the United States, Mexico, Switzerland or Ireland. I was to able to check the boxes for all four but I only checked the Ireland box. It was the most appealing to me and I figured that if I orientated my application around one country I would have a better chance of being accepted. In February my mom called to say I was accepted, I was excited and nervous, but prepared as well. After attending so many years at various camps including ones with my troops, then other with provincial camps I had the experience to back me up. The leadership development program (LDP) was really helpful. A two week camp at Adelaide where I learned how to take charge of groups. This was a great stepping stone for me. There was only three of us in this program. We all knew each other beforehand from a French camp from the previous summer also at Adelaide. We bonded closer and had the time of our lives, learning, and leading.

As I said earlier this is my first year in Rangers I haven't been to every meeting every week because this year I've been very community oriented. From being in a musical at the start of the year with my school board. To volunteering my second year in a row with the Capitol Center March break camp. Both went towards my Chief Commissioner Bronze. I have still done a few projects with girl guides though, such as being an offer of service at Rendezvous with Kim. We ran a dreamcatcher workshop together, both getting to be leaders. I also got to help the girl guide unit at Trinity Church this year. Mostly helped out with selling cookies.  At the Canada 150, I gave presentations about my trip to Ireland and how it is an amazing experience. Furthermore, it has been an aid to getting me on the road to travel. Next year I will be a Rotary Exchange student, and I'll be in Italy for 10 months. Girl Guides is an amazing program and I encourage the younger girls to continue the whole way up with such opportunities out there.