Guide camp rejection

[Getmoveon14]

My daughter applied to go on international Guide camps and attended two selection days. They were told most of them would get a place. Trouble is a handful wouldn't and she is one of the few who didn't get a place. She has been a committed Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and now Ranger and helped for a couple of years at Brownies too. She made a big effort at the selection days initiating conversations and sharing activities so she is gutted not to have got a place. It's not like a job interview where we know the selection criteria. Has anyone been in this situation? How did you support your kid in this moment of rejection?

What is the selection criteria?

If it's a random draw then I guess it's a 'life isn't always fair' lesson.

If it's based on actual criteria, can you speak to her group and find out where she fell down so she can work on it?

We weren't given any selection criteria. May have to go down the Life's-not-fair route.

If there is a selection day then that sounds like there is a selection process otherwise just draw names out of a hat from the beginning. I would tell DD to contact them to ask what the selection criteria is and for feedback. It probably won't change anything but it's good practice for her for when she is looking for work etc.

How frustrating! Girl guiding is a funny one. We’ve had a good run over the years and I was heavily involved as a child/teen but sometimes what the leaders see as fair, parents don’t. It’s never quite been the same for us after DD’s best mate was made to share a tent at camp last minute with the leader’s daughter a couple of years back, leaving DD with someone she hardly knew. DD was upset, as was friend, and friend quit Guides soon after. And then so did the leader’s daughter… DD is still there but there seems to be a mix of lovely, lovely women and then a few who, despite being volunteers, resent what they do and power trip. There likely is no apparent reason, but you would think they’d be desperate for people like your DD, committed, resilient etc, so I can see how it would sting.

My DD just recieved her rejection for the World Scout Jamboree so we are in the sane boat. She knew it was unlikely (less than half on selection weekend would get a place) but its still upset her. (She's only 12, only just in the age bracket)

No advice really... weve just been doing lots of comfort, listening and reassurance that she did well to get as far as she did.

All you can do is support and reassure. With limited places there will always be some who miss it no matter how amazing they are.

My 2 older ones missed out on the WSJ in Korea. One of them then went in Roverway and had a great time. One rejection didn't put him off applying again. My youngest is applying for the Poland WSJ. Hell either get in or he won't but there will always be other opportunities.

Both mine went to selection camp for WSJ when they were younger. Their attitude was to automatically volunteer for the rubbish stuff no one wanted to do. Both got selected.

It'd be fair enough for your daughter to ask for some feedback, as long as she's polite about it. Maybe a follow up email along the lines of 'thanks for letting me know. I hope you all enjoy the trip. I'd appreciate some feedback so that if I apply again for a similar trip I am able to act on it."

Usually selection is large enough that most people (50% or over) don't get a place, so it's odd that there's been a two day selection where most people get a place. I'd try to focus on what she enjoys about Guiding and Rangers and being a Young Leader, and see if her Brownie and Ranger leaders are planning exciting things for her to get involved in too!

It's sad when this happens, she sounds amazing your daughter by the way. Worth a chat with the various leaders and see what other opportunities are coming up. No doubt there will be something else right up her street.

From an Ex Girlguiding leader now a Scout leader