You might think that sitting down and working through accounts, presentations and reports would be the negative aspects of a programme like Holiday Brownies but far from it.
Listening to the thoughts of the leaders who worked on it showed that far from this being a programme centered on 7 year olds it has made as big if not a bigger difference to the young adults who worked on it. They have listed the many benefits they have gained from it.
They also took time to reflect thoughtfully on what could have gone better and what they would do differently next time. Finally they have been thinking hard about the messages to share with others, both adults and student-age leaders to promote similar events throughout the country.
I am looking forward to hearing them speak at our County event in 3 weeks and then going wider with it.
We're delighted you are interested in this project which we hope will get more girls into Guiding in Gloucestershire and having a great time. Please feel free to share your comments. I will be using this Blog to record the way we have gone about it so that if others are interested they can use or improve the process
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Claims
Now starting to get organised to settle the claims from the event. Mileage and food for the volunteer leaders, mileage for other helpers. Still feel like we are well within our proposed budget but shuld get to the bottom of it tomorrow I hope.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Join Us?
Have now contacted each leader or local commissioner who provided us with contact info for girls or in whose area the girls were. I am hoping they will assign them to our unit so I can complete their registration and then transfer them to the units they want to join, but we'll see.
The good news is that I do have their annual subs in for 2014 already so hopefully units will not hesitate to take them right up to 21 February as they won't have to worry about next year's membership payment.
The good news is that I do have their annual subs in for 2014 already so hopefully units will not hesitate to take them right up to 21 February as they won't have to worry about next year's membership payment.
Photos and more
Just received some amazing photos from Russell, the region photographer who spent nearly 2 days with us capturing many special moments.
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Finally emptied the car
and filled my dining room with boxes. We need to get things sorted out soon so the boxes can be stored for next time.
Returned the shop box to the Guide Shop - it was good to show some Brownie merchandise to the girls, next year must persuade someone to let us have uniform there too.
Wrote some references for some of the leaders. Will post as soon as postal strike is over. Employers need to know how good these leaders are.
Washed our beautiful sunflower aprons. Fortunately the sunflowers are still on them.
Hid the nice bottle of Rioja one parent gave us from my husband so we can all enjoy it next time we are together.
Am wondering about changing one of my roles in Guiding to allow me to become a "Lones" leader for this group. Not sure I can cover everything on my plate plus this at the moment but that would be an interesting one to take on.
Returned the shop box to the Guide Shop - it was good to show some Brownie merchandise to the girls, next year must persuade someone to let us have uniform there too.
Wrote some references for some of the leaders. Will post as soon as postal strike is over. Employers need to know how good these leaders are.
Washed our beautiful sunflower aprons. Fortunately the sunflowers are still on them.
Hid the nice bottle of Rioja one parent gave us from my husband so we can all enjoy it next time we are together.
Am wondering about changing one of my roles in Guiding to allow me to become a "Lones" leader for this group. Not sure I can cover everything on my plate plus this at the moment but that would be an interesting one to take on.
Friday, 23 August 2013
You Learn Something New Every Day!
Or in our case lots of things! As we were loading up the car at the end of our 3 days I was asked what I thought the girls had learnt. My answer was lots! Now I've had chance to reflect on the programme I realise just how much everyone has learnt (leaders included).
The girls learnt how to look after cress, make a healthy packed lunch, pack an overnight bag, sew on a button, address an envelope, take photos on a digital camera, tie knots, how to sign the promise (not to mention all the games, songs and other activities we did!). They also learnt about Brownies and Girlguiding and what it feels like to be part of a bigger community of people.
As for the leaders? Well we're still learning!!
The girls learnt how to look after cress, make a healthy packed lunch, pack an overnight bag, sew on a button, address an envelope, take photos on a digital camera, tie knots, how to sign the promise (not to mention all the games, songs and other activities we did!). They also learnt about Brownies and Girlguiding and what it feels like to be part of a bigger community of people.
As for the leaders? Well we're still learning!!
2 days on
Accounts underway. Paper receipts, scruffy notes, cash and cheques sorted out. Over to Charlotte to make sense of it and beat the Spread sheet. We'll keep the annual membership money separate as that will either be paid back to units if the girls join or sent off in February.
Phoned the paper to get another article in about the end of the event and promise ceremony. Lisa the reporter who did such a good job for us on the first one is happy to do the next which is good as she already has the basics.
Russell is sorting through the pictures for us so we have some great ones to post.
All the girls postcards have gone off to Julie and Gill. They're at wellies and wristbands so we don't expect to hear their reaction until next week but I think it will be a good one.
Spoke to our external supporter who is still going round telling everyone about it.
Got all the photos and video clips sorted out. Fortunately it turns out we have an expert video-editor in the leadership group (why am I not surprised?) who will turn the random clips into something lovely
Where do you go to get 300 photos printed at a reasonable price? Once upon a time you could take a disc into a shop but it seems to be almost 100% upload now and I am not sure I have the bandwidth to do it from this house out in the country....
Still haven't unloaded the car - maybe tomorrow
Part of our evaluation process...
Phoned the paper to get another article in about the end of the event and promise ceremony. Lisa the reporter who did such a good job for us on the first one is happy to do the next which is good as she already has the basics.
Russell is sorting through the pictures for us so we have some great ones to post.
All the girls postcards have gone off to Julie and Gill. They're at wellies and wristbands so we don't expect to hear their reaction until next week but I think it will be a good one.
Spoke to our external supporter who is still going round telling everyone about it.
Got all the photos and video clips sorted out. Fortunately it turns out we have an expert video-editor in the leadership group (why am I not surprised?) who will turn the random clips into something lovely
Where do you go to get 300 photos printed at a reasonable price? Once upon a time you could take a disc into a shop but it seems to be almost 100% upload now and I am not sure I have the bandwidth to do it from this house out in the country....
Still haven't unloaded the car - maybe tomorrow
Part of our evaluation process...
Thursday, 22 August 2013
After the event
So many people to thank, so many stories to tell but first the less exciting bits...
Just been through Join Us to update each girls' notes to show they have been enrolled. Started contacting local leaders too to try to expedite their entry into local units where they want that to happen.
Sorting through the receipts ready to work through the accounts with Charlotte
Starting to think about how we will honestly evaluate the programme so we don't forget to learn and apply some of the very useful lessons we got as we went along. However what we should remember is what it felt like to be part of the programme and what being a new Brownie is all about. Here's a picture which tells a thousand words.
Mums probably hope last night felt a bit more like this....
Reminder to self - I really must start to unload the car soon, but not today!
Just been through Join Us to update each girls' notes to show they have been enrolled. Started contacting local leaders too to try to expedite their entry into local units where they want that to happen.
Sorting through the receipts ready to work through the accounts with Charlotte
Starting to think about how we will honestly evaluate the programme so we don't forget to learn and apply some of the very useful lessons we got as we went along. However what we should remember is what it felt like to be part of the programme and what being a new Brownie is all about. Here's a picture which tells a thousand words.
Mums probably hope last night felt a bit more like this....
Reminder to self - I really must start to unload the car soon, but not today!
Congratulations!
After 3 days of Brownie fun we enrolled our 20 girls as members of 1st Gloucestershire Holiday Brownies (the first ever Brownies in the unit)! Not only did they learn the Brownie Promise and Law, they even learnt the Promise in Makaton so that they could make it alongside Tilly - a really heart-warming sight and a lovely one to share with their parents, friends and other members of Girlguiding!
A massive congratulations to all the girls and to everyone who supported us prior to and during the programme. So many people to thank! The journey doesn't stop here though - now to sort through all the photos and videos taken, write follow-up reports, finalise the accounts and share our experiences with the rest of the County/Region/Country!
A massive congratulations to all the girls and to everyone who supported us prior to and during the programme. So many people to thank! The journey doesn't stop here though - now to sort through all the photos and videos taken, write follow-up reports, finalise the accounts and share our experiences with the rest of the County/Region/Country!
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
And we're off
19 happy smiling faces and 7 leaders are all assembled, purple T shirts are on (one size does fit all - phew) and Holiday Brownies is underway.
Games to learn everyone's names kick of the session then everyone made beautiful name badges.
Sitters next as we are clearly going to be spending lots of time outdoors.
Now we are starting to learn about Brownies and everyone takes part in the Brownie story learning about the wise owl and meeting our cuddly owl.
The day concludes with outdoor games and then a pow wow under a parachute.
Exhausted leaders and energy to spare Brownies by 5PM!!!
A really useful review session looking at individual Brownies and their progress and behaviour through the day and then we headed our separate ways - Hannah and Charlotte for the kitchen and to make their beds the rest of us for home.
Tomorrow is another day - one extra girl is going to join us so we'll need to see how to integrate her and help her catch up on bits she has missed
Games to learn everyone's names kick of the session then everyone made beautiful name badges.
Sitters next as we are clearly going to be spending lots of time outdoors.
Now we are starting to learn about Brownies and everyone takes part in the Brownie story learning about the wise owl and meeting our cuddly owl.
The day concludes with outdoor games and then a pow wow under a parachute.
Exhausted leaders and energy to spare Brownies by 5PM!!!
A really useful review session looking at individual Brownies and their progress and behaviour through the day and then we headed our separate ways - Hannah and Charlotte for the kitchen and to make their beds the rest of us for home.
Tomorrow is another day - one extra girl is going to join us so we'll need to see how to integrate her and help her catch up on bits she has missed
Day 2
Well they all came back and raring for more.
Today everyone started by learning the Promise and Brownie Law.
Next a choice of low ropes or photography which produced some fantastic pictures taken by the girls themselves.
On the low ropes they took all the challenges and earned gems for showing skill and teamwork.
Everyone enjoyed lunch again on the grass in the sunshine - hats and sunscreen are definitely needed today.
Great excitement as we all appeared in the local paper and lots of copies appeared at Cowley for everyone to see.
The afternoon saw everyone starting on the Brownie skills badge - learning useful knots, how to pack a bag for an overnight and choosing foods for a healthy lunchbox.
Today everyone started by learning the Promise and Brownie Law.
Next a choice of low ropes or photography which produced some fantastic pictures taken by the girls themselves.
On the low ropes they took all the challenges and earned gems for showing skill and teamwork.
Everyone enjoyed lunch again on the grass in the sunshine - hats and sunscreen are definitely needed today.
Great excitement as we all appeared in the local paper and lots of copies appeared at Cowley for everyone to see.
The afternoon saw everyone starting on the Brownie skills badge - learning useful knots, how to pack a bag for an overnight and choosing foods for a healthy lunchbox.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Meet the team (and if you are reading this - don't forget to set your alarms for tomorrow morning!)
 |
Belinda |
 |
Charlotte |
 |
Hannah & Emily |
 |
Sam |
 |
Sian |
 |
Jess |
and their mentor
 |
Jen |
One day
Charlotte's off to the shops for the final set of supplies - lots of tea and coffee to keep us going as well as the cupcakes and ice-creams.
I've packed up my boxes ready for the morning and think I am almost ready so long as the alarm goes off....
Meanwhile trying to do normal Sunday things too.
Must remember I still have multi-coloured owls to cut out but that may have to wait until after the men's 4 x 100M world championship final
I've packed up my boxes ready for the morning and think I am almost ready so long as the alarm goes off....
Meanwhile trying to do normal Sunday things too.
Must remember I still have multi-coloured owls to cut out but that may have to wait until after the men's 4 x 100M world championship final
Saturday, 17 August 2013
2 days to go
My to do list has 21 things on it from remembering to buy and make something for my lunch to find poster paint and hope it is not one solid block.
Today's priorities are to make printable lists of names
Make sure the cameras are put on to charge
Check first aid kit
Download some food images from Google
Find American Brownie uniform and resources (I think it is somewhere in a bag in the shed)
...
...
...
Things ticked off recently - photographers, taxi transport, load video editing software onto laptop
Took Mum out for the day
Today's priorities are to make printable lists of names
Make sure the cameras are put on to charge
Check first aid kit
Download some food images from Google
Find American Brownie uniform and resources (I think it is somewhere in a bag in the shed)
...
...
...
Things ticked off recently - photographers, taxi transport, load video editing software onto laptop
Took Mum out for the day
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Press
Sent a short piece to the local paper with a view to getting them along next week to take some photos and do an article for us.
Last meeting
Really great to get most of the team together for a final check in before the big event.
We've got a fantastic programme with leads for all the sessions organised
We've got a special friend allocated for Tilly each session so she can have a great time
Jess, yet another young, enthusiastic leader has very kindly offered to be an extra pair of hands on the Monday when we are quite short of leaders
Final equipment tracked down so just the last minute ice-creams and so on to buy
T-shirts and tops sorted - we all have something that fits well and the purple T shirts look brilliant - a few spares just in case of accidents.
The craft pinnies decorated with sunflowers are sweet
and cress-planting is now underway
We've got a fantastic programme with leads for all the sessions organised
We've got a special friend allocated for Tilly each session so she can have a great time
Jess, yet another young, enthusiastic leader has very kindly offered to be an extra pair of hands on the Monday when we are quite short of leaders
Final equipment tracked down so just the last minute ice-creams and so on to buy
T-shirts and tops sorted - we all have something that fits well and the purple T shirts look brilliant - a few spares just in case of accidents.
The craft pinnies decorated with sunflowers are sweet
and cress-planting is now underway
Monday, 12 August 2013
Tunnels?
Spent the morning at Cowley taking delivery of the components for our new tunnel game. With any luck it will be built on Monday next week and be ready for games shortly afterwards. The new Brownies may get the chance to christen it....
Friday, 9 August 2013
10 days to go
Shopping finished (apart from Guiding stuff) - hopefully the local shop contact is back this weekend and can supply us in time.
The invites to the party have gone out to the parents and are just about to be sent to local leaders
Cameras and video cameras being checked ready for use
Now we've got a twitter account too so hopefully more people can follow us there (thanks Charlotte).
The invites to the party have gone out to the parents and are just about to be sent to local leaders
Cameras and video cameras being checked ready for use
Now we've got a twitter account too so hopefully more people can follow us there (thanks Charlotte).
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Our first qualified instructor
Congratulations to Charlotte on completing her low rope instructor training. 12 hours of on the site learning gives her this well earned qualification. Pass it on and you'll be getting an octant certificate or adding to your impressive Queen's Guide story.
Invites Away
The invite to the Promise Ceremony has now gone out to parents. It will be lovely to see lots of friends and family at the end of programme party and ceremony. Now we have to source vegetarian marshmallows for the S'Mores.
Shop, shop shop
Asda, Home Bargains and the scrap store saw our bargain hunters scour the shelves for all the lovely things we'll need. Baker Ross also has a big order in the pipeline. Now it is the badge books, badges etc. and the last minute food shopping to get and we'll be ready to roll.
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