MERIGOMISH – Girls Guides isn’t about running around in dresses and earning cooking badges anymore.
Instead, today’s Guide is more likely to be cooking over an open fire, building survival shelters and snowshoeing across fields.
“If you look at the advanced camper badge – it’s insane what you have to do, there are three pages of requirements,” says Mullen Boulter, 10.
Still, the sense of sisterhood between today’s Guides and all the women that came before them still exists as strongly as ever.
“You’re connected with the girls that came before you, even if it’s changed a lot,” said Jill Morrison, 12.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of guiding, and although it’s changed over the years to make the uniform a bit more casual, the things it teaches pre-teens is just as valuable as ever, says April Fraser, 12.
“I think it’s important because a lot of girls in the new generation aren’t growing up in a good way,” she said. “This is a good way to learn about the environment and how to grow up in a good way.”
It’s also a great place to make new friendships and develop new skills, added Jennifer Corkum, 12.
“You get to make lots of friends with girls from different schools and learn a lot of skills,” she said. “We go to camp every year, play games, get badges. And I think it really helps with leadership.”
Guiding certainly teaches you about being prepared, said Lauren Pretty, 11.
“We make crafts, yeah, but we also did a survival challenge this morning where we learned to make shelters,” said Pretty, as members of the Pictou and New Glasgow Girl Guide troops gathered at the Guide camp in Merigomish recently for a survival challenge day. “If I ever get stranded, now I know how to survive. Most people might not need to know this stuff, but if you ever need it, you really need it and now I have it. Basically, it’s all about coming prepared.”
Sarah Morrison’s favourite part is going camping.
“Before camp, I enjoy packing, because you wonder what you’re going to do with all the stuff they want you to pack,” she said.
It’s something the girls would like to see more young women try.
“I’d just like to say that Guides is awesome,” said Maisie Lowe. “Everyone should do it.”
If anyone would like more information about Girl Guides they can call 1-800-565-8111.
