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

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

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.

We're planning on getting baking stuff as we have none from AK.

We did knots last night and made 100 birthday cards for a lady in Sheffield.

We never get anywhere near enough vouchers, but I always hope to get a session with a sports/dance trainer from SAK. This year, for the first time ever, I have a parent volunteer doing the counting and ordering. Yippee! And huge thanks to her.

The grand plan was to get the dance class, then save the other till next year. Gukl5 tripped friends, family and colleagues and now have double amount needed so awash with the blooming things.

@MyNightWithMaud

Yes, I am thrilled. This is the first time in years that I have found a parent willing to take on any task. Years ago, I had a lovely parent buying the refreshments every week, but that ended when the girl moved up to Guides.

Went to reccie the site for our first pack camp last night. very excited!

We only camped for the first time last year for BBB. They asked to go again so we're going to be starting off with a sleepover under canvas with a campfire, songs and baked potatoes.

What are you doing for tents?

Borrowing leaders and parents' tents. That way we know we have space to dry them out if necessary and it doesn't all fall to one person (muggins!).
Big fundraise next year to buy some if it's a success.
It should be fun. We miraculously have lots of adult support and there will be over 40 of us in total. Big campfire sing. Baked potatoes in foil done in the fire.

Taking the brownies to an outdoors night organised by county this week. Havîng a panic over nothing but my disability is playing up big time. The first time I went to the venue I crashed my car and cost £1500 of damage turning in.

Next week is promise night and the following week, we are off to Krispy Kreme for a tour.

We did Tescos Farm to Fork Trail this week. T'was excellent and the girls ate lots of cheese and fruit!

Wow. We've not done farm to fork yet, but high on the list.

Pack holiday this weekend, 28 girls....

Enjoy Pack holiday x

I'm going with the guides to tesco next week. I helped at guides last week and the scout Group Leader who use the same church as the guides, was a viscious woman towards the brownie guider. Having followed up her claims they were lies. So glad I don't have to be at the church next week.

On here for a grumble, sorry! We are taking 23 guides and Rangers to a local large scale camp [joint one with scouts] - and I am sorting out the paperwork.
Consent forms, guiding and camp specific one, health form ditto [but need 2 copies], menu checklist, clothes order form, kit list, 12 pages for each girl.
We go away regularly, camp every year and it's the same every time. I end up frantically chasing forms at the last minute.
We've tried going "paperless" and just emailing all the forms, but tying to sort out who can/can't open them and the list of excuses [no ink, wrong programme on their computer, the cat ate their mouse etc]. This time I am going to give everyone one paper copy AND email them.

I always say "no form, no go" but to the same few parents it makes no difference, I'll still be on the phone the day before we go....

The sheer volume of paperwork [don't mention risk assessments!] and the inability of some parents to cooperate is getting me down.

Why can't GG have simple, easy to open on line, forms? Why the need for 3 pages and ink heavy designs?

Why can't "those" parents get their act together and just fill the bloody things in?

Rant over, that feels better!

Very, I changed the way forms were filled in... I make them come to the hall or a meeting and fill them in. It has worked wonders. I've only once had to say sorry no forms, so your daughter cannot come.

Yes, we have the parents meeting on Wednesday - giving them the forms to fill in then. But it will be the same parents who "forget" the date, lose the forms, miss the [repeated] emails....
And it still won't help with the health forms, which are supposed to be filled in just a few days before the event in case of changes...

And the sheer amount of paper! Almost 300 pages!

I email out forms, requesting return by email or printed out. If I print out the forms, they are two pages to a side and double sided so take up a sheet of paper. I get away with about 50% less printing.

Kit lists and final arrangements are a pdf emailed out only with key information bullet points in the message.

Help! Brown Owl has just asked me to organnise an activity for tomorrow night relating to the Ladies World Cup. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm newly returned to Brownies and have gone completely blank.

Find out which countries are participating? Can you match the flags to the countries/find the countries on the map? Guess the country from its location/sillhouette?

Which of the participating countries have Brownies/are members of WAGGGS? What is their uniform? (you'll need to look that up!)

Get each six to pick a team... make the flags and then....

the mini-world cup of BLOW FOOTBALL!
www.activityvillage.co.uk/blow-football

Oh thank you! Blow football will definitely be happening. I'll steal DS's world map and do some cutout countries and uniforms at work tomorrow.

try this

Anyone else Big Gig-ing on Saturday?

Had a brilliant time at farm to fork. The food was great too. Just had a ball. Booked my brownies in too.

Hope those of you Big-Gigging aren't rained out. Our town summer festival and parade is today. It's supposed to rain right over the parade time... Brollies and waterproofs it is then :) am thinking my paper flames for the camp fire might not hold up though.

Booked a peer educator for two free being me sessions, so feeling very efficient. Now back to my accounts.

Can i join you ? I seem to have volunteered myself to become an assistant leader for DDs rainbow pack :D

Welcome Truffles!

Our term is over, another year done. Our trip to Krispy Kreme was amazing. Looking forward to a rest. 2 brownies moving on. And definitely 2 joining us in August.

Got some yummy chocolates from one of the leaving brownies. Her mum makes good choices lol x