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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

Guiders' staff room - tea, wine, chat and optional dancing around the toadstool

991 replies

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 03/03/2009 21:57

Thought it might be nice to have a place to swap ideas and experiences. Shall we do introductions first?

My name's MadBad and I've been a Brownie guider for about 5 years.

OP posts:

MaudantWit · 02/02/2015 16:35

I'm sorry, too. If I had scrolled back through the thread I guess I would have seen you're already a leader. In that case, I'm sure your existing uniform will be enough and take whatever bedding makes you most likely to get something approaching a decent night's sleep (I never sleep well on pack holidays). Other usual things to take are a pencil case full of felt pens, sellotape and a stapler and a torch. I'm sure the event leader will have a much longer list, but that's probably coming out of the Brownie cupboard.

lucysmam · 03/02/2015 21:08

I've heard back - just waiting for paperwork to be organised

Now, other than stocking up on , what else do I need to know?

RueDeWakening · 03/02/2015 21:47

lucysmam just be prepared - they will wiggle their wobbly teeth at you every sodding week, ask you to tie their shoelaces, need a combination of sympathy and tough love regularly, finish the most complicated activity in about 5 seconds flat and take an entire meeting to do the simple ones, need help with cutting out, reading instructions, writing stuff down. Don't blink when all of them except your own daughter call you mum :o

Rainbows are lovely well, mostly they're lovely. When they're not being horrors...

lucysmam · 03/02/2015 22:02

thanks Rue, my youngest regularly calls me either Dad, Nanna, or Miss Rarely Mum!

Becles · 04/02/2015 08:16

Rue wow.

Let me know if you ever fancy a trip with us covets stamina and magical rejuvenating powers

Groovee · 04/02/2015 21:07

Had a scientist visit us, we extracted DNA from a kiwi fruit. Then she told us about her job. We had a great night.

Pancake making next week

lucysmam · 04/02/2015 21:35

Groovee, that sounds interesting. I didn't even know a kiwi had dna

Becles · 05/02/2015 11:27

Groovee that sounds so much fun. Love the idea.Where did you source your scientist?

Groovee · 05/02/2015 17:32

The scientist happens to be involved with our Gang show which DD's guides leader is as well. I was helping when she visited guides, so asked her to come along.

We had some strawberries before at guides but this time was kiwi fruit.

JulieMichelleRobinson · 07/02/2015 21:05

Thought I'd stick my nose in and say hi - I'm popping in to local volunteers' meeting next week. Former Brownie and Guide and have wanted to get involved again, but not sure if my working hours are conducive. At the very least I figure I can help out on an occasional basis and/or behind the scenes.

FlorenceMattell · 07/02/2015 21:13

Hi Julie

I'm sure you willl be very welcome. Speaking as a brownie leader we can always do with help. Even if you could only commit to outings, holidays and occasional meeting you would be welcome at our unit.

Groovee · 07/02/2015 21:19

Now Julie beware, it's only an hour a week...

JulieMichelleRobinson · 07/02/2015 23:43

Groovee,

It was more than an hour a week when I was PL. I know what I'm getting into. ;-)

Becles · 08/02/2015 17:14

How's the weekend treating you all?

Prep for a promise ceremony this week. Introducing membership cards and also encouraging badgework at home. Not sure if the team will be happy with that. Eek.

Groovee · 08/02/2015 17:24

We're doing pancake day this week. Not my idea and I notice the leader concerned who begged to do it, hasn't offered to get anything, so will be me again.

Still trying to get subs out of girls. It's the parents who have the money but forget every week.

Becles · 08/02/2015 18:15

I feel for you. Joy of parents.

Saw a tip on t'internet about pancake batter, apparently you can use an old squirty ketchup bottle to minimise the mess and get easy pouring.

Need to finish off my ketchup first and will feedback.

Groovee · 11/02/2015 22:39

Well I had to cancel our meeting this week. One leader has to work away every 4 weeks and the other leader was too tired to come and help. I've never had to cancel at short notice before. My work head was on that I need 2 adults. Dh says next time he'll sit in the corner to stop my tears. I just couldn't face tracking down another leader at short notice then trying to lead the whole night as we couldn't have done the pancakes and my fibromyalgia has been so bad that trying to sort out another activity for the evening.

TywysogesGymraeg · 13/02/2015 20:53

Groovee we always rope in a parent or two if we're short on leaders. They are usually more than happy to help, even at short notice. We post on FB and text them all. Had to do it tonight actually as only 2 of our 4 Leaders could make it.

lucysmam · 13/02/2015 21:16

I haven't heard anything since the initial email back asking when it's convenient to discuss paperwork etc . I'd hoped to be able to join in when the girls went back after half term too.

RueDeWakening · 14/02/2015 07:28

Half term, a week off Guiding! Oh no, hang on, I've got Brownie holiday, a Rainbows trip, and Division Thinking Day event to fit in - leaving in an hour, must get my camping chair out of the garage...

Still, only an hour a week, right?!

Groovee · 14/02/2015 17:49

I could have asked other guiders but I was so deflated that it took me the 10 minutes I had to make a decision to find all the girls details, send the emails and text everyone. My usual back up was having surgery, so not available.

A lot of brownies get dropped off by carers and collected by parents so a parents help is not feasible.

Lucysmam, I'm sure you will hear soon. I know it's hard to wait.

TywysogesGymraeg · 14/02/2015 19:27

I'm sure parents/carers would make the effort if the alternative was cancelling the meeting. We find the best approach s to let parents know when their daughters join that they may occasionally be called in to help. A lot of them don't realise we are volunteers, and are usually happy to pitch in when they realise we don't get paid.
Sometimes the best approach is to phone a friendly parent directly and ask them to help, or their DP or a grown up daughter - anyone really.
Brownies love it when their parents help out.

Groovee · 14/02/2015 22:30

With less than an hour's notice it would have been difficult. As I said the girls get dropped off by their child carers as parents commute and often aren't in the same town as us.

In all the years I've been doing brownies, I have never had to cancel ever. I spoke to a few local guiders who said they would have done the same and my DC has said the same. Because it's not a regular occurrence (it better not be) then a one off in 4 years at this unit isn't too bad.

Becles · 16/02/2015 00:00

Groovee It's a tough one because you're still replaying the what-ifs or if-onlys.

Once in four years is an amazing feat - you can only do as much as you can within your allocated hour a week.

Minisoksmakehardwork · 21/02/2015 19:45

Groovee. I hope you're not beating yourself up now about it. Once in 4 years is amazing. Especially at such short notice.

Our district celebrates thinking day today. I love our giant get togethers, even if I did completely fluff the rainbow promise have made a note next time I need a 'thinking day' folder. All the random pieces you need to recall like promises, the correct words to 'this little guiding light' (I swear we were singing 3 versions), explaining taps and such to rainbows.

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