Finishing A Week Early

[smallhobbit]

We were due to have two external activities to finish the term, but on Friday we learnt the planned trip to Lunar City, which we were sharing with another Brownie pack had been cancelled.  Lunar City is a large area full of various inflatables in the middle of Gloucester, and they had contacted our organiser to say the date was no longer available.  We were offered the following week, but that is within school holidays and although some of the girls could have gone, I feel like my involvement in Brownies is strictly term-time only.  I'm quite happy to have a shorter term anyway.

This week we were tree planting.  A member of the local environmental group came to visit and the Brownies were all able to plant tiny trees as part of a hedge which is being planted at one end of the playing field area.  They enjoyed digging the hole, placing their tiny plant in it, together with a cane for support and surrounded by a plastic tube for protection.  The tubes are spirally cut, so as the tree grows the tube expands.  It was a fine evening, although getting chilly as the sun went down - not that the girls noticed, but the leaders were starting to feel cold.

 


We finished up back at the hall, and after a game I was able to present the interest badges to those who had worked for them at home: several bakers, a number of performers (including two who had earned both badges), an artist and a grow your own.  In addition, girlguiding has started to award anniversary badges for those who've been members for a year or more, so I was able to give out some one and two year badges.
At the beginning of the year girlguiding announced there were some grants available for units who were in the less affluent parts of the country, who were increasing in numbers.  It turned out that our unit qualified, as it is based in one of the less affluent areas, and our numbers have increased noticeably with new leaders.  I applied and we received a £150 grant.  The funds had to be spent on girlguiding resources of benefit to the unit, but it's meant we could buy a complete set of resources for the new programme, together with a number of badges and some more books.

Glitter Owl decided she would leave at Easter, although she will return to help when Doodles is on holiday.  We won't see eye-to-eye on everything, but I do think it sad that she felt she was just a spare part, without a specific role within the unit.  However, she's going to Rainbows, which she prefers anyway.  A potential new leader-in-training came to join us for the tree planting and it looks as though she will continue.  Hopefully this will work out better - personality-wise I think she'll suit Doodles more, and I can go back to being a proper Assistant Leader.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Glad that you're sowing some environmental consciousness. We have something like Lunar City called Pump it Up, which used to be popular with birthday parties. Sorry about the leadership shifts but glad they have you to look for opportunities and additional funding.

[smallhobbit]

It's good in that it's local, so the girls will see the effect they've had.

It'll be good if it works out - I hope it does.

[corvidology]

Those badge designs don't look at all familiar to me but I do remember how much fun it was qualifying for them.

[smallhobbit]

When they did a complete programme revamp last summer they changed all the badges too, but syllabus and image. They're now much more tied into the programme, so the three pink background badges are all part of the Express Myself theme, whilst the purple one is Be Well theme.

[debriswoman]

Quite a variety of activities and interesting to see the new badges
Nice to have the grant, too:-)

[smallhobbit]

I'm still not entirely taken with the new programme, but the girls enjoyed themselves. The badges have a more corporate feel now.

The grant made a great deal of difference - it cost over £80 for the new programme resources.

[moth2fic]

In my last year of teaching we (the whole primary school) planted
baby trees on a local roundabout. I noticed recently that twenty years on, they still aren't really flourishing - possibly suggesting why there were no trees there in the first place?! I hope yours do well!

[smallhobbit]

That's a shame - maybe too much pollution?

Ours are at the edge of a playing field, so hopefully they're in a better place - providing the local youth let them be.

[moth2fic]

I'm sure the pollution on a busy roundabout has a lot to do with it! All the nice roundabout displays I've seen have relied on seasonal bedding, grown in council greenhouses. I thought at the time that the project was doomed but the school was enthusiastic and the Woodland Trust were funding it. Oh well. I remember the care and concentration the children put into the task every time I drive past.