Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Extra-curricular activities

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

Flip

1 2 ··· 35 36 37 38 39 40

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:

rivierliedje · 13/09/2015 18:47

I'm finding being guider in charge and starting a new job a bit of a difficult combo at the moment. I don't want to short change the girls by not planning meetings properly. I've just got to get used to it I guess.

I've just laid out my camp blanket on the floor and have about 20 badges to sew on plus two neckers. I've laid it out nicely, but didn't have the heart to start sewing.

Groovee · 13/09/2015 20:18

Delegation is how it works. Next week my young leaders are running the meeting.

AlbusPercival · 16/09/2015 15:47

Don't forget sometimes they love a night of just playing games and singing songs.

It doesn't have to be a perfect pinterest meeting every week!

EduCated · 16/09/2015 17:28

Yup, had planned loads for our first night back, then ended up singing the same silly song over and over for 45 minutes because they were properly rolling on the floor laughing! Sometimes the simplest things are the best

madwomanbackintheattic · 16/09/2015 17:41

Boo. I have no guiders for two units. Am just about to email all the parents and tell them if no one steps up, they won't run this year.

I'm no longer the DC. But our DC hasn't quite got her act together, so if I don't do it, we're going to be left with two units full of parents wandering around town not having a scooby what is going on. Sigh.
I think my best hope is to try and amalgamate them into a multi-branch unit (it's our local equiv of rainbows and brownies) and hope we get enough volunteers to run one meeting a week. Any other ideas? We've been running ads in the local rag, and had an open house for anyone interested last week. Nada.
In other news, our guide unit didn't send out their welcome email, so everyone called me last night to find out why there was no one at the hall (answer - they start next week...) so today I am mostly sending apology emails and begging emails. And politely requesting that existing guiders contact their parents.
At the moment I would settle for any meeting lol, let alone a Pinterest one!

Groovee · 17/09/2015 07:22

We told our Brownies that there was a baby Owl on the way. They were so excited. ????We let the young leader do her night. She did a brilliant presentation via her laptop. Was really impressed. She's going to make a fab leader. Sadly we'll lose her as she's doing a gap year then moving away for uni.

AlbusPercival · 17/09/2015 07:22

Oh dear Mad! That sounds like a lot to happen at once. Hopefully you will get soe wonderful volunteers soon.

It is only me and some Mums at the moment, and they are great, but their daughters are turning 9, and I do wonder what will happen when they go to guides.

Groovee · 17/09/2015 11:56

Mad, hope you get it sorted!

AlbusPercival · 21/09/2015 14:23

I have had 20 new enguiries on join us today!!

I think they have all come from the local rainbow unit as they will never get into rainbows, but not entirely convinced I will ever have space for them all either! What do I do?

Groovee · 22/09/2015 07:16

I only ever get one at a time, do they come in order of who applied first?

rivierliedje · 22/09/2015 13:14

Wow 20 new enquiries. Sounds like you need to find some leaders and open a new unit!

AlbusPercival · 22/09/2015 19:08

haha yeah, i already have 30 girls so cant go any bigger!

Groovee · 23/09/2015 08:41

Having to miss our Tesco visit. They think I have mumps X

Becles · 23/09/2015 21:49

It's official, despite one no show and two non returners,we have 8 new girls this term.

madwomanbackintheattic · 24/09/2015 03:42

Yeah I would be doing a block email to all the parents as a recruiting drive... I'm always at a loss as to how many people would rather be disappointed and moan about there not being enough spaces, but won't bite the bullet and volunteer on behalf not just of their own kid, but twenty others. Sigh.

I have 5 new girls - we are up three from last year, yay!

Groovee, I am still lol that your main thought is missing the tesco visit, not having mumps (obviously, not at you having mumps, just the priority system involved)

Groovee · 24/09/2015 07:27

I missed out on candy floss grapes! So devastating . The girls were well behaved and the photos look fab.

Great news on the new members.

3 of my girls are doing a coffee afternoon tomorrow missing that too! Also missed the Krispy Kreme trip with guides on Tuesday

lucysmam · 28/09/2015 14:23

Hello

I'm placemarking for a read later on - will be back to bug you all with a gazillion questions I'm sure .

AlbusPercival · 28/09/2015 16:18

How did your first week in charge go Lucy's mam?

lucysmam · 28/09/2015 17:21

Hello Albus, it went well! Their little faces dropped a bit at the suggestion of dropping show and tell to find out about what they've been up to but hopefully it'll give us more time to actually 'do' iyswim.

I've been sorting through two very jumbley folders of paperwork and activities for the past couple of days hoping to find my reg number to sign up on Go, but no luck finding it

MissFenella · 28/09/2015 17:42

looking for some advice.

I have a parent who won't go, her dd started rainbows and so did mum. I have told her that she can leave DD now as she has seen how swell she settled she told my assistant she would keep coming.

Do I tackle her head on or leave it and tell her to nicely bog off after a couple of weeks?

MrsFionaCharming · 28/09/2015 17:55

I think you get her details for Go, and ask what size uniform she'd like!

lucysmam · 28/09/2015 18:18

I'd make use of her if she's there anyway!

None of our parents will even entertain the odd session & look at me gone out when I mention that without another leader we won't be running come March next year

MrsFionaCharming · 28/09/2015 18:45

I'd also point out to her that if she's planning to help on a regular basis she'll need a Guiding DBS.

AlbusPercival · 28/09/2015 20:21

Wow lucysmam, you need to work on that.

At the beginning of term I email out a list of which parent is helping which week. If they can't make it they swap with another parent but i do not acilitate it.

It is now just accepted as the price of sending your daughter to brownies.

I make it clear Mum, Dad, Granny, Grandad Aunty etc all welcome.

They offer a massive range from general supervision, playing the piano, running a zumba session and tidying the cupboard.

Its awesome

lucysmam · 28/09/2015 20:56

Really, that's interesting Albus!

I shall work on establishing myself as 'IN CHARGE' for the rest of this half term & then start sending notices out about helping with sessions in that case.

Do you give them a choice or just tell them it's expected?

I don't think it helps that the woman currently running the groups is a bit about it now & the sessions have been mainly of the cut and stick variety with the girls running riot.

I'm just about to print some sheets for tomorrow night on my shiny new printer & email the Brownies leader to check they're not using the main hall so I can introduce some variety into the games they play.

Flip

1 2 ··· 35 36 37 38 39 40

Swipe left for the next trending thread