As State Commissioner, I have had so many opportunities to support Guiding. Ways in which I never thought would be possible, in much the same way as I had so many opportunities as a Leader to support the girls who came to experience Guiding. Girls who were looking for fun,
friends and adventure. This year we have not been able to offer as many girls that opportunity, but I wonder if now is the time to be doing so?
Growing Guiding
I don't need to extol the true benefits of Guiding to you, leadership development, teamwork, learning by doing... building the confidence of girls and young women. Guiding offers the skills that girls and their parents are looking for after the year we have all had. I ask you to take another
look at the resources we have available to see how you might use them to offer Guiding to your local community so they too can experience Guiding and find
a Place to Grow. To find this resource, click or tap on the Marketing & PR button in
My GuideBook. It's at the bottom of the row of Guide Blue buttons that you will find below your name.
Guides@Home and Cyber A.C.E.S
As you have been accessing
Guides@home resources (which offer a vast array of ideas for online or face to face Guiding) you will have noticed the new Cyber A.C.E.S challenges, a collaboration with Palo Alto Networks®.
Palo Alto believe protecting our digital way of life is a privilege, and with that privilege, they strive to educate the world on all aspects of cybersecurity.
Through the Cyber A.C.E.S. (Activities in Cybersecurity Education for Students) Program, Palo Alto's goal is to demystify cybersecurity through interactive learning and equip youth ages 5–17 with resources to have safer online experiences, become good digital citizens, and maybe even pursue careers in cybersecurity.
Each tailored challenge offers Leaders and facilitators:
- Introductions: Explanations of the topics and suitable development level
- Vocabulary lists: Quick reference guides for the Leader
- Activity instructions: Materials lists, sample scripts, and more
- Pro tips: Notes for Leaders to accompany activity instructions
- “Try this at home”: Follow-up activities for parents and Guides
We have a proud history of making sure the girls in our care are safe. We have always adapted to change and to do what is needed to continue to make sure girls and young women are safe. Guiding provides a unique opportunity by having a safe space where girls can openly discuss ideas and engage their peers to gain a deep understanding of how to keep themselves safe in the world in which they live 24/7, the digital world.
So please, access these programs so that you can lead the way for your local Guiding community, and maybe learn some things to keep you and your loved ones safe as well.
Centenary Celebration Camp
Last week I spoke about Centenary Camp, I do understand that at the moment everyone will be wondering if it will go ahead. I ask you to have confidence that the Planning Committee are very aware of the challenges that are going to be faced, but we are also very aware that we need to have planning and registrations underway as we cannot plan a camp of this size at the last moment.
So, please go out and start talking about it to girls and parents, who I think are all looking for something to aim for, and there is nothing quite like a large Camp, especially when it is linked to a celebration such as the Centenary of Guiding in NSW. Registrations will open soon, with a contingency plan and refund policy in place.
Guide Handbooks Usage Survey
Girl Guides Australia are currently reviewing Guide Handbook usage across Guiding in Australia. Below is a link to a survey which will take approximately 2 minutes to complete and will give insight into how Guide Handbooks are currently used at a Unit level.
This survey is to be completed by Friday, 2 October, so please
click or tap here to participate.
Lark in the Park, Free and Online!
Are you or your Guides one of the 220+ already registered for this highly anticipated Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT event for girls aged 5–10 that is coming to you virtually in 2020 at no cost to members? Registrations close 11.59pm Monday 21 September.
Now in its third year,
Lark in the Park returns with a new array of activities offering fun, friendship and adventure. Once registered, there are some amazing pre-event challenges ready to be participated in as individuals or with Units straight away.