To ask, if you daughter attends/attended Brownies...

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...how they found it?
What sort of activities did/do they do?
Which activities did they particularly enjoy?
Are/were they involved in deciding what activities the unit did?
Did they do many badges?

I ask because I am an assistant leader at a Brownie pack and I feel we are a bit stuck in a rut doing craft activities, games, wordsearches and nothing particularly exciting. There is a new programme we are launching in January and I will be stepping up to begin taking over from the current leader who is hoping to retire. I am looking for ideas and opinions from parents across the country. Thanks in advance.

My niece goes and does similar activities to Beavers - science (hands on activities), cooking, computing and programming, construction, litter picking, outside games in summer.

DD is 9 and has loved Brownies. Her unit is brilliantly run and I can't speak highly enough of the leaders who run it. She'll be sad to leave at Christmas.

Her unit has done trampolining, climbing, pottery painting, had the RNLI in to talk about water safety, been to the local police station, campfires, rounders match against another Brownie pack in the field next to their meeting place, done a batwalk with park rangers, Brownie sleepover, Brownie Camp. They have also served afternoon teas at a a local church hall. They also work on group badges together a couple of times a year but it's more about having fun that completing badges as far as I can see.

They do their fair share of crafts and games and each term have a takeover night when each six gets to choose what they do that week.

I can see how much she has gained from being a Brownie and I'm thinking of offering to volunteer myself.

My daughter was in the Brownies and really enjoyed it, the leader was very with it, and nearly every week, was an activity designed to earn a badge. There was Pizza making in Morrisons, Visit to a Fire Station, Litter picking around the community. Guide Dogs for the Blind came to give the girls a talk. They also planned residentals for the Brownies too. I can't remember all the activities that she planned as my daughter left 2 years ago.

My daughter who has ASD and learning difficulties got so many badges she got a bronze badge.

My boys' scouts group go to lots of bigger organised camps, climbing/sailing weekends etc but they are older. I'm not sure if similar is available for Brownies as they are obviously older. They tend to take only 6 boys to most weekends but not everyone wants to go.

My daughters Brownie leader was awsome really supportive of her needs, and gave it her all and you could tell that she loves what she does.

60% programme is what the guidance says but there aren't enough minutes in 60% to complete a theme in a term if you spend whole meetings doing other things. So you can complete a theme in a term if you can do enough SBs and UMAs (which are timed) but only if your extra activities can fit into meetings around the UMAs. Some of them are short so might fit but it is an almighty juggling act. If you do whole meeting trips/outdoor activities unrelated to the theme you'll struggle. The way the UMAs are labelled timewise on the sheets is mandated: thus when you record them on go they only clock so many minutes, and you need a set amount of UMA time on each theme for the girls to get the badge. As I said, the girls are enjoying the activities, but it does take some jiggling to get the badges in! (and as we know Brownies are very badge orientated! )

We have had times when a single leader managed all the Cubs alone - she set up our current camp placement, where we camp on a site, run by a private adventure company, with proper toilets and sinks available 24hr/day, and THEIR leaders take the Cubs on activities (including bog hopping (which needs old clothes that will get thrown out!), canoeing, wide games, orienteering, archery, climbing wall, crate stacking etc.

So all the leaders need to do is pitch tents, supervise meals (Cubs do some prep and all washup, and we have a great parent who does the shopping and makes a sauce for the dinner), organize campfire, and mind them through the night. We've been going there for almost 15 years now - far more civilized than the Scouts in a farmer's field with a single tap, and using a toilet bucket in a toilet tent that needs to be emptied into a pit and covered twice a day.....nuff said.

There are more of these kind of centres now, and some have hostel beds available onsite (so no need for tents), and some can do meals even if you camp. Depends on what you want to pay for.

If the other leaders don't "do" camping, would they manage hostelling? Then at least there are proper beds and a kitchen. But you can still get out a lot more into the wilds!

Or maybe you could ask your Commissioner, there may be other leaders close enough who would be happy to go and staff a camp with you. I know we always had an extra leader on our Guide camps, as we only had 2 in our pack.

And YYY to communication! We have a meeting with new parents (and any older ones who want to come along) partway through the first session every year. To let them know what's involved, uniform required, our activities, our safety/risk/child protection stuff etc, and also our need for engagement by parents. I have a list there and then for volunteers. And then before Easter (we run Jan-Dec not school year), I put out the main list, where I need 2 parents on shore each week (1 in the Den, 1 on the shore) so leaders can all be on the water with Cubs, a couple of sessions where we need an extra adult for supervision purposes as we're down leaders (usually for training), and hikes (where we invite parents and families to come with us - we often have at least 1 along to enjoy it). And we always put out a call for parents to do a session or part of one if they have skills that would be good to pass on. Or other useful things are the parent who does the shopping, or any parent with a van (to save us hiring one to go on camp), and many cars helping with car pooling to hikes/hostelling trips/camping site etc. We lay it on thick at the start of the year that we need help at times or can't run our programme, and occasionally I have to do that for specific things if there are no offers, but there are a core group who always help out and a few who are rarely/never available (some with good reason - eg. SN DCs and large families in different activities in different directions and health issues themselves - others have never mentioned a reason just not been helpful).

My DD goes and mainly loves it. They do:

Cooking
Science and experiments
Bike rides
Walks
Water fights
Sports nights
Music nights
Disco
Human Spirograph
Film and pyjama party
Baking for Christmas fair
Golf at the local range
Chocolate making at local shop
Building campfires
Barbecue

There isn’t much parental involvement in planning but most parents volunteer for some of it.

Just thought of some more things, we have also visited a fire station, a food bank and a mosque, all really interesting!

And we also run a final session at the end of the year where badges get awarded and we recap the year. The 2 Scout Groups show their video of activities during the year (they are great at photos and it's good for the Elder Lemons moving up to see it), and usually I just talk about ours (we are NOT great at taking photos).

But we invite the parents to that session, give them a cup of tea, and let them see it. And I always make a point of asking the Cubs themselves about their high points - which are varied and usually involve at least a few of the activities that parents have helped with. So they see for themselves the positive impact - and I get a few more offers for next year.

Our Brownies is a bit disappointing. They do crafts every week - making flimsy-looking tat, half the time not linked to any themes. Camp once or twice a year, one night only. They rarely play outside - maybe once a year. Never do anything like riding a bike somewhere or doing a treasure hunt or any of the amazing stuff mentioned upthread. Everyday there are sweets, biscuits and juice - everything they do seems to involve tonnes of sweets.

After 2 years DD has a handful of badges - the leaders seem to buy a bunch of badges and hand them out even though the girls haven't all done everything they are supposed to.

One of my friends' daughter attends another pack and they regularly do really exciting activities. I am thinking of moving DD to another pack or to Scouts. Our unit has plenty of volunteers, I think the issue is the leader TBH.

What a shame that the other leaders don't "do" camping. I think it is a vital part of Brownies. DD went on a couple of camps where they actually stayed in a village hall, so slept on camp beds and had access to toilets and a kitchen etc and it was also near a forest so great for outdoors stuff too. So still fun for the girls and the leaders didn't have to rough it too much. Would your leaders consider that if you have suitable premises nearby?

If not then joining another troupe might be a good idea, or a district camp if there is one.

I forgot that they also visited the local fire station and had the local Emergency Response come to show them how to use a defibrillator. They also had a beetle drive.

A couple of things our brownies loved in the darker months were human hungry hippos (google this) and glow in the dark bowling (glow sticks in empty drinks bottles).

If you're not already, sign up to Girlguiding Brownie Leader Support Group on Facebook. Loads of ideas.

No, mine is in Scouts as that's the group that go into her school once a week.

I’m a Rainbow leader not Brownies but we meet at the same time so I see what the Brownies do. We are probably a bit more outdoorsy, but that is just down to leaders’ interests and personalities I think. We do a bit of craft but not tons, same with food/baking. We do physical stuff (Zumba is popular if you have a teacher who will come in), treasure hunts, have visitors from various organisations including some covering some great STEM stuff. Our girls are big into nature and being outdoors so we encourage that, but tricky this term. Oh and parachute games of course. We don’t sing (other than closing song) because I really, really can’t! First aid is always popular, as are fake wounds, but that’s a nightmare for permission with skin allergies.

What the Rainbows are so so so so jealous of (to the point of tears once) is that the Brownies get to go litter picking. Go figure.

I'd suggest having a look at this Facebook page. A Sister to all Guides. A leader was expelled for raising safeguarding issues.

Also a Brownie leader, new since September with a completely new team and fairly young set of girls. We went straight in with the new programme and there are so many good ideas included, seriously just jump in! We are limited due to location with trips as parents really don’t want to get involved, but have had some visitors and many of the new activities give you scope for outdoors ideas that aren’t just camping (I’m no camper 😁). I’ve really enjoyed the mix and the girls have too. We showed them the cards at the start of term and went with the theme that most picked, then mixed it up with UMA cards from other themes to get a balanced programme. We’ve also had time to do an old badge to use up stocks, and the usual crafts, games, promise activities, dancing, singing etc. The new programme very much encourages badge work outside the meetings, but they are presented in such a way that my girls are incredibly motivated by the challenge! The new books are fab too. Can you tell I’m a convert!

If you aren’t already a member of the Facebook guiding groups, I highly recommend them for ideas and advice, only vetted members get in (you send a picture of your membership card) and the admins are so knowledgeable. The Brownie leaders group is amazing. Good luck with your ongoing guiding adventure, and DM me if you want any further support. The friends I’ve made via the Facebook groups are cherished.

Another one here who had a slightly disappointing pack - crafts crafts crafts, occasional activity. And same seasonal crafts each year too. Brown Owl was lovely and kind but DD was bored senseless and didn't last much longer than a year.

My DD is in Rainbows and so far she has:

Done some crafts and games
Visited the Fire Station
Visited Mountain Rescue
Gone on walks around the lake
Went to the seaside and visited RNLI and learned about how important it is not to litter on the beach etc.
Learned very basic first aid with a member of St John Ambulance
Visited a local wildlife centre and seemed to learn everything about and enjoyed cockroaches the most

She loves it and like a PP has said, mine is also jealous that the Brownies do litter picking.

My DD did Pilates at Brownies recently. They go on nature walks including berry picking, they've done drama, they built a bug hotel, researched Brownies around the world and visited an OAP lunch club that I can remember. They do loads and I'm so grateful to the leaders; DD absolutely loves it.

She went to a different Rainbow pack which was dire. They got badges all the time for colouring in and basic crafts. They rarely left the building. The leaders were unenthusiastic and one barely looked up from her phone. Makes all the difference.

@andtheresaw

From the training we gathered that we aren't supposed to complete a whole theme in a term. We can complete a skills builder (manageable in a term as it's only 5 activities). The UMAs across a term should be picked from various themes to provide a balanced programme.

So the Brownies can achieve their skills builder and interest badges and over time will gain enough UMAs to start getting the theme badges, but this won't happen until they have been in Brownies a year or so. You have to track it all on GO which is the tricky bit!

If you did a theme badge per term there would only be enough for 2 years but they are at Brownies for 3 years or 4 in some cases.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will definitely have a look at Facebook groups for guiders :)

DD loved using air rifles, I think it did her the world of good too.

I have a son in cubs and a daughter in Rainbows, there is a lot of. Craft , biscuits, colouring etc but that’s why I send dd. She has SEN and she loves the gentle nature, she wouldn’t cope at all in Beavers. The girls all seen very happy, largely enjoying socialising

There's a lot more to Brownies and being the main leader than people see. Someone earlier was disparaging that her daughter's unit "only go away a couple of times a year - just for overnights". Anyone who's done a GAW or residential knows the stress and planning that goes into doing just one night.

Great to have your amazing enthusiasm, but take it slowly as you've probably got the finances and risk management stuff to get your head around, on top of the programme. As the main leader,the buck stops with you even if you delegate AND as Brownies should be about 60% girl led you may be surprised by what they choose to do.

The Facebook groups: we love girlguiding UK and girlguiding brownie leader support group would be ace for you.

There's a small group of guiders on MN too

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extra_curricular_activities/2775707-guiders-staff-room-part-3