Rainbows badges

[rubytwokids]

I've just sewn three badges onto DD's Rainbows shirt, which is all well and good, but neither dd nor I know what they are for. Can anyone enlighten us? First there was the unit title tape (self explanatory), then the 'Olivia badge'(??) and finally the 'Celebrate' badge. Celebrate what?

I asked dd what she had to do to merit them and she said, 'Nothing. I just went.' Do Rainbows really get badges just for turning up and how often? There isn't much room left around the lower hem of her polo shirt! What with those mentioned, the Surrey Lion and the '100 Years of Guiding' badge, we are fast running out of space. I believe we still have to accommodate the 'Birthday' badge and the 'Roundabout' badge. (I have no idea what the latter is for, either.) If we have to make room for additional random badges, I fear we are doomed. 'Today I remembred to breathe during Rainbows' badge, anyone?

Sorry - not actually criticising Rainbows, which I think is marvellous - just puzzled by the badges.

Hello, I'm a Rainbow Leader who has been involved with Guiding since I was aged 7. I know this topic is old, but I thought I could shed some light.

We charge 1.50 per meeting and we follow the school terms. We use a school hall for free so we simply open when they are and are closed when they are. Because of that the collective term price differs. For example, if it was a 6 week term then it would be 9 pound. However the price of a unit differs depending on where they are, if they have to pay rent on the meeting place.
My unit doesn't have a county badge, that's more of an old brownie pack tradition. You'll find most newer brownie packs don't have them anymore. The Olivia badge is called a 'fun' badge. If parents wanted to they could purchase it them self at their local Guide and Scout shop or online. My Rainbows don't receive the Olivia badge, simply because I save our money to do other badges.
There are roundabout badges based on the 4 bases of Rainbows (look, learn, laugh and love). Their fun to do, I let the girls have a look and the democracy picks what activities they want to do from each section. But we've done the Olympic Badge and the Rainbow 25th Birthday Badge as well as the Adventure 100 back in 2010. In the past we've also done the Royal Wedding badge.

At the end of the day its all down to the unit, its funds (because badges cost around 80p to 2.00 each) so if the unit doesn't have much money, then purchasing badges isn't an option. People forget that every February the unit pays a certain amount of money to Girl Guiding to keep the running of Girl Guiding Buildings and the running of the website...ect which takes a lot out of the funds. This year it cost me 300 pounds. Some units get parents to pay for their children, I don't in my unit however some will do. I make sure my parents are aware of the census cost and that's perhaps why around that time of the year we aren't doing badges.

At the end of the day, if you think your money is going to waste because your paying and they aren't coming home with very good crafts or they aren't coming home with badges then say something. Rainbow Leaders don't know they aren't meeting expectations. I know that if my parents weren't happy I'd like them to come and talk to me so I could ask for suggestions and try to improve.

Rainbows is Voluntary work, we don't get paid for turning up every week, planning all the times, sorting out the finances, ordering crafts, finding out new games. Looking after your children (which some parents can't push them through the door fast enough) but as well as that Rainbows offers an all female environment. Something that they don't get anymore. It allows girls to do girly things without a boy going 'oh that's girly. Can't do that' and it allows girls to play games that are usually male dominated. The Guide Leader (we have rainbows, brownies, guides and rangers all under the same name) has had an increase in girls from Asian families, because the families are aware and very happy with the all female environment.

You may concider asking the staff at the rainbow club first. They seem to be the people with the information.

Zombie thread!!!!

Also PMSL at the use of the word 'staff': Guuders are all volunteers!

Zombie thread but I'll give the most obvious answer - with Rainbows in particular - organize and layout the badges to cover the worst stains on the polo shirt.

Ever thought of attebding the group and talking to the organisers