Calming the Camp Nerves

We at Brownies know how stressful a first camp can be! Nerves and anxiety everywhere. To help, I've made a list of my top ways parents and Guiders can help to calm homesick and anxious campers.

For Parents:

• Don't transfer your own anxieties onto your Brownie! Sometimes our own nerves come across pretty clearly. A girl who might not have been nervous might become nervous when she sees your own anxieties! Give her a smile and be reassuring leading up to camp. If she expresses her own nerves, talk through them together.
• Help her pack... but don't pack for her. Part of the camp experience is gaining a sense of responsibility and independence... and it starts at home! When a Brownie packs her own things, she knows what she brought and where it is. She can take control of herself and will feel more prepared for camp than if you were to simply drop her off with a bag of mystery things lovingly packed by mom. 
• Don't linger at drop-off! The longer you wait around, the harder it becomes for your girl to imagine her new home (for two nights!) without you. See her over to her bunk, give her a hug and kiss, and tell her you'll see her on Sunday! Then scoot! (She can show you all those things she's excited about just as easily on Sunday morning!)
• Talk to your Guiders. If your Brownie has expressed some nerves, please tell us. We'll be on the lookout during camp to make sure she stays as happy as can be. 
• Know limits. It's possible your Brownie really isn't ready for camp. Only you, together with your Brownie, can make that call! If she really isn't ready, that's okay too. We'll look forward to working with you and with her to get her to that point.

For Guiders:

• Watch for isolation. If a Brownie starts to feel excluded and left out, homesickness may start to set in. If you know a girl is susceptible to homesickness, keep an extra special eye on her to make sure she is having fun with the other girls.
• Prepare for bedtime. We all know that the hardest time for a homesick Brownie is bedtime. Talk to the girls a week or two before camp about their bedtime routines. What do they need to fall asleep? Special stuffie? Special blanket? Do they need to have a story read to them or quiet time to read by themselves? Do they listen to music before bed? These are all easy things we can recreate at our camps if we know about them! 
• In the moment. When homesickness happens, deal with it calmly. Don't dismiss her feelings. Listen to anything the girl wants to share, but if she's not feeling particularly chatty, change the subject. Ask her questions about her stuffie friend, her day at school, or her latest family vacation. The more she talks, the more she will calm down.
• Strategies for stress management. Bring extra stuffies. Our homesick girls get to snuggle with a special friend (the owl from our toadstool, or even a leader's stuffie!). The extra friend reminds her that she is not alone! Another activity that can work well is to give the girl a sheet of paper and some markers or crayons. Ask her to draw a picture about how she is feeling, or to write a letter to her parents telling them how she feels. Tell her she can keep the drawing under her pillow and give it to mom and dad on Sunday morning when they pick her up. 
• Know limits. Sometimes girls really aren't ready. Know when you can work through a moment of stress, and when you need to call home.

Holy Moly Guacamole, Enrollment Time Already!?

Wow! The first four weeks of Brownies have FLOWN by! Next week (October 8th) will be our official Brownie enrollment. If you've never been a Brownie before, this might be a new concept. Here are a few handy tips to get you ready...

What is enrollment? Enrollment is our annual ceremony used to officially induct all our new girls as Brownies. Until now, they have been attending our meetings as honorary Brownies, learning all the ins and outs. Four weeks later, our girls have learned their Brownie promise, law, motto, and handshake; they have learned the Brownie circle song; and they have joined a Brownie circle! With these new experiences under their belts they are ready to make the Brownie promise in front of an audience!

Why is enrollment important? Enrollment is important because it is a chance for our new girls to show what they have learned so far, and a chance for our older girls to take on a leadership role. This ceremony is a serious milestone at every level of Guiding, and our families are welcome to attend and to celebrate this special moment.

How should we prepare? Girls should prepare by practicing their promise, practicing their handshake, and coming to the meeting dressed in full uniform (t-shirt, sash, and scarf). Our new girls will get pinned at the enrollment ceremony, and have their Brownie scarves tied on by a leader.

We're excited to welcome all our new Brownies this week, and look forward to seeing everyone at the ceremony!

What's Happening at Brownies?

Well, we have one week to go before the first meeting!

There are lots of new brownies joining our unit and we're excited to meet everyone! If you've never been a brownie before, you might not know what to expect. What are brownies? What do they do? What if I don't know anyone?

Don't worry! We made you a cartoon to explain what happens...

Dressing for Success: Top Tips for Parents

I am often asked by parents how they can best be involved in Brownies. There are lots of great ways for parents and guardians to help. Expectations differ from unit to unit, but it is true across the board that parents and caregivers are an integral part of having a fun, safe, and happy year.

With the new year on the rise, I've compiled my top five ways parents can help make their Brownie year an amazing year! 

1. Read the emails! Reading the emails means everyone will be prepared for a meeting. If you don't read the emails, you might miss an important memo (and your Brownie might miss out too!).
2. Talk to your Brownie about Brownies! Ask her what kind of things she has been doing. Find out what she has enjoyed. Find out what she hasn't enjoyed. Is she nervous about camp? Is there a badge she really wants to work on? (Help your leaders by reporting back with your findings!)
3. Be supportive! We get it. Not everyone loves cookies. Even if you don't, your Brownie probably does! Help her sell her cookies with a smile. If she is interested in doing a badge, help her with what she needs.
4. Encouragement is key! Encourage your Brownie to try new things! This is an opportune time to take risks as all the girls are in a safe, supportive, and low-pressure environment. 
5. Be a parent, not a leader. Many parents expect that they will have to help at meetings or volunteer their time at camp. This is true for some units, but not for us! We, like many other leaders, discourage direct parent involvement. Girls flying solo are more likely to try and solve their own problems, work together, and take new risks. Brownies gain more confidence when they are able to "do it on their own" (and they will love telling you all about it!).

We are so grateful for amazing parents who care enough to ask about and consider the best ways they can support Brownies. With these top five tips, we'll be ready for another amazing year of Brownie fun!

S-s-s-summertime!

What do you think summertime means? For Brownies, it means a two month break from school and a two-month break from the fun, adventure, and challenges of Brownies! (Even without the weekly meetings, we're all still Brownies at heart!)

But what about your leaders? What do we do for two months? Well, we plan for the new year, of course! In the last two weeks we have: placed a MASSIVE order from the girl guide store (we're rolling in badges!), submitted paperwork to approve our fall camp, and confirmed the booking for our winter camp! It may be August, but we're already thinking about our plans for January!

We've been planning for weeks and can't wait to share all our exciting plans for you at our first meeting on September 10th. See you there!

If you haven't registered yet, please note that our unit is FULL for the 2014-2015 year. Please consider registering for one of the other amazing units in Guelph or beyond.

Unit Full - Wait List Only!

Wow! About 8 hours after registration opened up to new girls, our unit filled up!

You can put yourself on the wait list for next year, or check out one of these other great Guelph Brownie units!

Mondays

• 24th Guelph Brownies (Mondays, 6:30-8:00, Jean Little PS)

Wednesdays

• 8th Guelph Brownies (Wednesday, 6:30-8:15, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Norfolk St.)
• 13th Guelph Brownies (Wednesday, 6:30-8:00, Westminster-St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Victoria Rd)
• 33rd Guelph Brownies (Wednesday, 6:30-8:00, Taylor Evans PS)

Thursdays

• 26th Guelph Brownies (Thursday, 6:30-8:00, St. Peter Catholic School)

Registration Open to New Girls!

If you've been waiting to register, now is your chance! Girl Guides of Canada registration is now open to BRAND NEW girls who have never been a part of the organization before.

If you're already a member (returning to your unit, changing units, or changing branches) you can continue to register.

Register online today, and ensure your spot for September!

Registration!

Registration is now open to all current members for the 2014-2015 Guiding Year! If you're returning to the same unit, changing units, or changing branches, registration is open for you!

Register online today and reserve your spot for next year!