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I joined Brownies at the age of 6 and was an active member of the Lakeside Heights District through Guides, Pathfinders, Rangers and finally as a Leader for 6 years. Lakeside Heights was and continues to be a very active district with decidated leaders who make Guiding fun for the girls. My Guide and Pathfinder group was very outdoors focused, and we enjoyed several camps a year. This, combined with camping trips with my family developed my fascination with the outdoors, and specifically wilderness camping. To this day, being outdoors is my favorite way to relax, whether it's hiking, camping with friends or being on a lake in a canoe or kayak. My first backpacking trip was at the age of 14, to the Arctic Circle in Auyuittuq National Park (Canada's most northern park) on Baffin Island. It was very different from my previous camping experiences, in that the group was completely self contained and each of us carried part of the group equipment and food in addition to our own gear. The scenery was unbelievable and we could see first hand how glaciers crafted the valley. We climbed over moraine (debris left over from the passage of glaciers), crossed glacier-fed rivers (which was quite frightening at times!) and followed the valley to Summit Lake, where we then re-traced our steps to the park's entrance. I also attended some International camps in Massachusetts (1987), Echo Valley (1988) and Celebration '91 in England (1991). Each of these events has special memories and I met some friends who I continue to stay in touch with. Pathfinders and Rangers held more opportunities to meet friends from neighboring districts, and attend week-end camps with this age group. There used to be an annual event called Ranger Round-up, designed to form bonds between the final-year Pathfinders and the Rangers, and thus ensure that some new blood would go up to Rangers the following year. The Quebec Ranger Council also organised the annual Rant, which was like a moot, but organised by Rangers for Rangers, Venturers and Rovers (in Quebec, there are dry moots and wet moots – the younger sections are invited to dry moots as a feeder opportunity into Rovers). For several years, I was involved with the planning of the rants, and it's here I met my close friends Stephanie and Josee. We've had many good times at rants and moots, and some of my closest friends are people I have met in the Guiding and Scouting movements. Eventually, I moved from Rangers into the Scouting movement as Rover, but retained my ties with Guiding as a leader for Lakeside Heights district. In August 1996, due to circumstances described in our Scouting section, I made a permanent move to Vancouver. Once I found my feet there, I became a leader with the 3rd Vancouver Pathfinders, which was a very outdoors-focused group. Deb, Val and I would take the girls backpacking and wilderness camping in the nearby mountains. I would also occasionally help out my good friend Kimanda with her Victoria-based unit. It's funny how Guiding can follow you wherever you are in the world. In December 1999, my husband (although at the time he had only achieved boyfriend status) Marc and I decided to move to Australia for a year (ahem, it's now been 3...) and settled in Sydney. Within a few months, I joined Guides Australia and became a leader with the Earlwood 10+ Guides. Since then, Rosalie and I were very busy taking the girls to camp and planning our weekly meetings. Since introducing S'Mores to them at my first camp, they are now must-have camp food. It's funny how they were so young when I started with the group, and we've seen them grow up over the past 3 years. This past year, our group nearly doubled in size, and the girls were very enthusiastic, so we were able to do more with them. Our last camp of the year was in mid-December in Terrigal, and it was a beach-party themed camp. We were lucky than the beach was only a 10-minute walk away from the campsite, so most of the activities were done on the beach. Rosalie and I were a little more adept at maneuvering the paddle boats, although when it came to playing in the surf, the girls taught me a thing or two. We also held sand sculpture competitions, and had a hike to the skillion, where the girls decided to roll back down the hill while Rosalie and I watched. This was followed by a bbq lunch, a short hike back to the beach, and then more playing in the surf. With our stay in Sydney winding down to our departure at the end of April, I decided to finish up with the Earlwood Guides at the end of December. However, I am looking forward to attending a few meetings before we leave, and I know the girls are looking forward to our "Farewell Sydney" party. When we return to Vancouver in August, I plan to look into the new Treks program that Guides Canada has put together. It's focus is outdoor challenges, and it would be a nice change from the type of group I have helped out with over the past 12 years. Guiding links: |