Girl Guides of Canada

Girl Guides

Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada is the largest organization for girls and women in Canada with 120,000 Members – 100,000 girls and 20,000 adults.

Guiding activity in Greenstone

At present there are active units in the communities of Longlac and Geraldton.

Registration for the 2010-11 year is held in September but girls can join any time of the year. The Ontario Girl Guide annual fee for the 2010-11 year is $144.00. These funds make possible camping, training, program and international opportunities, and greatly enhance the quality of programming service and administration offered to our members. Registered members are expected to pay the annual fee. Applications can be submitted for subsidised payment of fees. There may be additional local fees for costs such as unit dues and meeting space user fees.

Goldpine District (Geraldton)

Unit meeting are held weekly - running approx. from late September until end of May.

Sparks Mondays 5:30-6:45pm - Community Recreation Centre
Brownies Mondays 6:30 to 8 pm - Community Recreation Centre
Guides Mondays 6:30 to 8 pm – community Recreation Centre

Geraldton Contact for more information – Elizabeth Brown 854-0708

Vision

Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada, the organization of choice for girls and women, makes a positive difference in the life of every girl and woman who experiences Guiding so she can contribute responsibly to her communities.

Mission

Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada is a Movement of girls and women that challenges Members in their personal development and empowers them to be responsible citizens.

Principles

Guiding is based on the ideals of the Promise and Law.
Guiding develops personal values and well-being, self-respect, and respect for others.
Guiding promotes fun, friendship, adventure, and challenges through new experiences.
Guiding celebrates pride in accomplishment.
Guiding develops leadership and decision-making skills.
Guiding teaches practical skills and teamwork.
Guiding gives service.
Guiding values the natural environment.
Guiding develops an appreciation of Canada and its diversity.
Guiding fosters cultural understanding and knowledge of the global community.
Guiding actively supports the worldwide sisterhood of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Promise

I Promise to do my best,
To be true to myself, my beliefs and Canada
I will take action for a better world
And respect the Guiding Law

Law

The Guiding Law challenges me to:

Be honest and trustworthy
Use my resources wisely
Respect myself and others
Recognize and use my talents and abilities
Protect our common environment
Live with courage and strength
Share in the sisterhood of Guiding.

Programs

Guides Canada welcomes girls 5-17+ years old into our different programs. All programs are led by at least two adult women. You can join any time of the year.

Sparks – ages 5 and 6

Go Sparks Go!

Sparks meet for an hour once a week to learn how to be a friend, play games, sing songs, and do crafts. The Spark Program provides fun activities that help Sparks lean how to “share and be a friend” and to discover new things about their communities, the environment, how to be healthy and more!

Brownies – ages 7 and 8

Brownies Can Do It!

Brownies spend a little more time together, about 90 minutes, once a week.

In the Brownie program, girls try new things, discover new interests and develop confidence in their own abilities, all while having fun. Brownies learn about their communities; active living; science, engineering and math; the arts and more! The focus is on fun and friendship but, at the same time, girls learn the skills they need to manage their activities and achieve their goals.

Guides – ages 9 to 11

Guides on the Go!

Guides meet once a week for about 1 ½ hrs. The Guide program caters to the energy and enthusiasm of this age group. Guides is a great place to meet friends and socialize, but the program also helps girls develop their life skills through fun activities. Choice and flexibility are emphasized as girls take on greater responsibility for planning their own activities.

Pathfinders – ages 12 to 14

Listen Learn Lead Live!

The Pathfinder program takes a “by girls, for girls” approach. Girls work together to decide which program activities they want to do and how they want to approach them, while leaders are always on hand for help and encouragement.

Pathfinders is all about participation and choice. Some girls may choose to work toward earning Guiding awards and badges while others might decide to focus more on the social aspects of the program. Either way, girls learn teamwork and interpersonal skills that help them grow into strong, confident young women.

Senior Branches- aged 15 to 17+

Senior Branches offers girls three different options: Cadets, Junior Leaders or Rangers. Cadets and Junior Leaders develop practical leadership skills by assisting in units of younger girls. Rangers participate in activity-based programs that they organize themselves, while leaders act as resource people who help them to achieve their goals.

By taking on these important responsibilities, girls gain skills and confidence that prove to be invaluable as they approach adulthood.

Adult Opportunities for Women 18 or 19+

Our Adult Members are women from all walks of life who believe that today’s girls can accomplish great things. Whether you can give an hour, a day, or make a regular weekly or monthly commitment, we welcome your enthusiasm and your talents!

Adults can serve as mentors and unit leaders for girls, share their skills by volunteering on a committee or task group, or simply make a statement that they believe in what we do by becoming a Member at large.

Cookies

Members participate in the sale of cookies to provide additional income for local Units and District activities.

Twice a year, Girl Guides across the country sell cookies as a fun way to support all Guiding programs and activities – but selling cookies is about more than raising funds. The cookie campaigns also provide girls with opportunities to earn badges and to have fun while learning new skills.

All proceeds from cookie sales are used to provide resources needed to create fun programs that are relevant to today’s girls and women.

Cookies help to pay for:

Fun, active and friendship-filled experiences for all our members
Innovative programs and activities
Opportunities for girls and leaders to attend events and camps.
Training and support for leaders
Well-maintained camps and properties

We sell the chocolatey mint cookies in the fall (October to December) and the chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies are sold every spring (from approximately March to June).

Sites to Visit

www.girlguides.ca