To not be happy about Brownies litter picking?

[ImNameyChangey]

I know it's part of what Brownies are about...to be public spirited and I do appreciate that it's important for them to learn about this sort of thing but the area around the Brownie hall is very large, open and is close to a lot of houses and flats.

It's an area with mixed social issues...on the one hand it's middle class but on the other there are people with drug problems.

My DD like many of the other Brownies is only 7 and giving her one glove and a bag and telling her to pick up packets etc isn't sensible imo. There could not only be syringes but dog mess and all manner of other nasty stuff.

I feel like I want to say something to the leaders about this.

Geocachers have been doing environmental work, including litter picking, this week - it's called Cache In Trash Out.
If you Google your local area + geocaching + CITO you might find it as a listed activity.
Could it have been part of that?

Well I'm sure it was Harriet now you've pointed it out. I just think proper equipment would have been good.

I have no reason to doubt what dd told me. She's seven not a toddler.

If that is in response to my post, I didn't say you should. But it would still be a good idea to find out from the adults involved whether what your DD is describing is completely accurate. I do have pretty extensive experience of 7 year olds (what with being a Brownie leader and a mum and all that) so I think I can tell the difference between one and a toddler, lol!

I'm certain it's completely accurate. I don't want to quiz the staff. I feel bad enough judging them when they do so much. I just don't feel comfortable and wanted to check if I was bu.

and you don't know they didn't because you haven't bothered to ask and just condemned them

if you are that hostile I suggest you sign up to help out

Jesus wept!
Calm down!
She's probably picked a few crisp packets up under supervision.

I think you are being VUR tbh.

What I think YOU need to calm down with your exclamation marks. This thread was reasonable and calm until this point. I'm fine thanks.

Light I'd love to sign up to help but unfortunately I'm disabled and can't. I haven't had TIME to ask as it was only this evening I found out.

When it comes to rubbish on the ground it doesn't matter if it was dropped by a toff or by a scrub, it's still rubbish and it still needs to be handled with care - preferably by professionals. I understand the community spirit angle, but kids aren't likely to differentiate between sharps and crisp packets unless they are specifically told to avoid the stuff they can't identify. I hope they are coached well because it is NOT their responsibility to deal with the nasty stuff people leave lying around and I hope they don't feel the weight on their shoulders just because of this 'community spirit'.

I honestly don't mind the rubbish aspect...a bit of dirt is ok...it's purely the risk of needles and dog mess.

Well, I don't think you are being unreasonable, but I do think you should speak to them. You think it was unsafe. Plenty of others, including me, also think it doesn't sound safe. There is only one way of being certain and ensuring it doesn't happen again, either to your child or to somebody else's, and that is to bring it up with the leaders (not staff - they're not employed to do the role). Maybe they didn't even consider the risks. Who knows!

If you want to be told when your child is doing this sort of activity then tell them that's what you want. Otherwise you're going to be having the same concerns a couple of months down the line when they do the next activity. Please share your concerns with them. That is how a safe and successful unit is run.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. I do community days with work and some have involved litter picking. I'm a 30-something project manager and I still try to be careful, although we were given thick leather work gloves. Still, it's easy enough to pick up glass and cut yourself.

So pull her out of brownies. I hear most have waiting lists. YABU

Division Commissioner and Trainer here (and I've ummed and ahh'd about posting this for the last half hour)

To correct some things on this thread:

if the Brownies we in the immediate area of the meeting places, with no change in drop off/pick ups etc, no additional consent is required. It will be covered in the EI form you signed when she joined.

A risk assessment would absolutely have been done, and I agree littler pickers would have been advisable.

Brownie leaders are not "staff", they are volunteers.

Being disabled does not bar you from volunteering- I have dealt with many disabled leaders - with mobility problems, chronic illnesses, MH issues, a deaf leader among others. With the right support there is not much that can stop someone volunteering if they genuinely want to. Neither does having younger children or a job (most of us have those!). It is fine to say "I don't want to volunteer at the moment", but the handwringing "I'd LOVE to volunteer but...." martyrdom really pisses me off. Just say you don't want to, it's not for everyone.

For those of you howling to withdraw their dd and complain to Girlguiding, you are one of the reasons we can't get enough volunteers to provide opportunities for your dds.
I am currently dealing with a nasty, malicious complaint from a parent, which has distressed a (blameless) leadership team so much, we are likely to lose all three of them, even though GG won't uphold the complaint as it's nonsense, and probably the whole unit of 28 girls will have to close

I always sigh when I see a Brownies thread on MN, as it is a moan 9/10 times, and usually full of wrong information, which then gets ignored when the many leaders on here try to put the OP right.
The anti Girlguiding feeling on MN is second only to the DM haters IMO, which is odd because the DM hate us too.

But before anyone starts howling at me, please note I did agree that littler pickers would have been advisable.

We have a blind guider in our area.
And one with MS who uses a walking frame and wheelchair.
My dd has cp, and fully intends to be a guider when she is older - she is all about the ability, not the disability.

She also did a litter pick yesterday - it being Earth Day and all, it's the week for it, and most leaders have been sent a lot of encouraging emails to find a suitable area and make a difference with their girls to contribute to a better world.

All hail the volunteers who arrange litter picks for children of all ages, teaching them to respect their environment, and make the world a better place.

Standard practice for the kids to be told 'don't touch x, y or z, if you see anything you are unsure of, ask a leader before you touch'.

But yeah, as someone else said, pull her out - leave the much sought after place open for someone on the waiting list. The thing about brownies is there are never enough leaders to go round, and acres of wanting to join.

The worst thing about being a leader is dealing with the parents. I have lost countless volunteers because of stroppy parents who aren't prepared to step up themselves, but expect the volunteers to do everything exactly as they wish. And of course, every single mother has a different idea of what that might be.

You cannot please all of the people all of the time. And the volunteers are extremely well versed in risk assessment and procedures.

Step up or ship out.

Whining about a litter pick on earth day? It's pretty low, tbh.

We did a highway clean up with our girls last year, op. You would have had a field day with that.

I'm disabled and am a leader in charge of a great brownie unit. Instead of ranting on mn, why don't you contact the leader to discuss the issues with which you have a problem with. How can leaders resolve anything if they don't get feedback from parents.

Waving to Madwoman- I bet you're up at this time of night dealing with Brownie stuff. Am I right?

Lol, different time zone but coincidentally, I do have about two hours admin, budget and fundraising planning for a trip next year to do tonight. I have older girls this year.

Totally with you there Madwoman, I'm constantly losing leaders and they always say they love the girls and have kept going as long as they have but with the endless paperwork required due to the complaining culture we now have, it is usually a nit-picking parent that it the final straw.
I almost left myself last year due to getting very down about people complaining when things are not absolutely perfect, but was talked around and finally getting my mojo back!

I am trotting on a bit now lol... but in the dim and distant past was in the brownies, guides and rangers.... grew up and became tawny owl in brownies then was one of the first Rainbow guiders. But have not been part of it for some years.... lots reasons but most of it topics like this

I cannot believe how" precious ." Most parents are these days... they would have heart attack at what I did as a brownie.... camping out IN A TENT. .. using an axe to cut wood and making fire with it... cooking food on said fire and making things out of wood ?. By goodness we were tough way back then ??

Yes of course we have to be safety aware but by goodness surely to heck if we cosset kids too much how on earth will they learn to think... and grow up to be responsible for their own safety.

As to the parents moaning about the guides and leaders... if those people are not responsible enough to care for your precious dc then perhaps they need to be replaced ... by YOU. They are very hard working people who's training planning, preparation and administration time is far in excess of the couple hours with your Dc. ... and they are not paid for it!

Here's to all you present day guides out there...you have far more patience than me