in this issue… colour your world 2014

Girl Guides of Canada – Guides du Canada | Alberta Council | www.albertagirlguides.com

Blue-PrintGirl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada enables girls to be confident, resourceful and courageous, and to make a difference in the world.

WINTER 2014

A message from the Provincial Commissioner...............2

Guiding Mosaic 2016 .....................................................4

Museum Memos .............................................................4

National Service Project: Operation Earth Action ..........5

Membership Pins ...........................................................6

Why not switch it up! ......................................................6

Appreciating our Members ............................................7

Patrol Guiders at Camp ..................................................8

Leave No Trace ...............................................................9

MDGs and World Thinking Day ................................... 10

Help! I need ideas ........................................................ 10

Being a Provincial Safe Guide Assessor in Alberta ...... 11

Program Pull-Out ......................................................... 12

Survey says? ............................................................... 14

Saving our planet can be fun!...................................... 16

Girl Guide Cookies: Where Does the Money Go? ....... 17

Fundraising and specific requirements for Travel ........ 18

How can PR help save our planet? ............................. 19

Scholarships ................................................................ 20

In this issue…

Colour Your World 2014Come experience the world!Do you have dreams about travelling around the world? What if we told you that you could do it in 7 days and without even going on a plane? Join us at Colour Your World.

Colour Your World is a week-long event for girls who have just completed their third year of Guides. It will be held from July 27 to August 3, 2014 at the Alberta Guide House in Edmonton. Girls from across Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon will spend a fun filled week together getting to know each other and exploring the world around us.

The event focuses on learning about the international side of Guiding by trying food, dances, games and crafts from around the world.

With only 20 spaces available, don’t delay - apply today!

Application form and instructions can be found at www.albertagirlguides.com or by emailing [email protected]. Applications should be sent with payment to the Provincial Office by April 30, 2014. The registration fee is $210 (including GST). This fee has been reduced from $300 by the generous support of Alberta Council.

ImagIne more guIder ConferenCe may 23-25, 2014Come join your fellow Guiders from Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories in Edmonton. We will be staying at the University of Alberta and there will be an opportunity to be involved in a wide variety of trainings as well as attend the banquet where we say good bye to Margaret Utgoff and her provincial team and welcome our new Provincial Commissioner. The trainings will include New Guider training, Wild Rose, arts, enrichment and OAL. There will be something for everyone and the opportunity to try new activities!

Cost is $265 per person for shared rooms.

More information will be coming out in the new year.

We look forward to meeting all of you there and seeing how we can “Imagine More” for our futures!

Guiding en Francais – Tracy Burton, Alberta Program Adviser

Are you running a group that requires French language books? Thanks to the Quebec Provincial Council, there will be a limited number of French program books available. Due to the generosity of Alberta Council, these will be available at the same cost as the English language books with Alberta Council picking up the extra costs. There are Brownie books currently available and the Spark and Guide books should be available in early 2014. You can order these through the Alberta Provincial office. There is only a limited supply of these so please consider sharing these wonderful resources. The current costs are $4.95 for the Spark books, $6.95 for the Brownie books and $10.50 for the Guide books. Please check with the Provincial Office when ordering as the cost of the books may change.

Girl Guides of Canada – Guides du Canada | Alberta Council | Blue-Print | Winter 2014 | www.albertagirlguides.com2

A message from the Provincial Commissioner

Happy New Year Everyone!I hope you all had a bit of a break over Christmas and the Holiday season and had a chance to visit with family & friends. My husband, Dima, & I travelled to Ottawa to spend Christmas and New Year’s with my mother and my brother and his family.

New faces on Alberta Council:

• Twyla Jenkins – provincial Camping Adviser

• Kerri Scholz – Yukon Area Commissioner

• Teri Lee Ondrik – Peace River Area Commissioner

• Leeanne Smith – Calgary Area Commissioner

• Nyna Marr – Parkland Area Commissioner

At the October, 2013, Alberta Council meeting, the decision was made to add the position of provincial Safe Guide Adviser to the membership of Alberta Council. This aligns Alberta Council so that the provincial adviser, for each of the National Networks, is a member of Alberta Council. This change was effective immediately. Pat McWilliams and Enidd Isaac currently share this position as co-provincial Safe Guide Advisers. And, effective January 1, 2014, Bev Burton will become Chinook Area Commissioner.

Standing Committee Workshop2013 was a Standing Committee Workshop (SCW) year (held every second year). This Workshop brings together all of Alberta Council (as well as the corresponding Area Advisers). This year, during the third weekend in September, we had 121 participants attend the SCW at Camp He Ho Ha, west of Edmonton. It is an excellent opportunity to do some future planning when we are all together. During the Workshop each Standing Committee and Area Council had an opportunity to discuss ways they could address the strategic priorities contained in the 2013-2015 National (nation-wide) Strategic Plan. My sincere appreciation to Susan Sarrasin and the provincial Standing Committee Advisers for all of the hard

work that went into planning the weekend, as well as to Annie Desautels and Carol Banks who volunteered to be the event coordinators for SCW 2013 and did a simply wonderful job!

We had asked the SCW participants to bring any extra craft supplies they might have in order to donate these to the units in High River and Calgary so seriously affected by the flood-ing in late June. The response was overwhelming – boxes and boxes of supplies were donated – thank you everyone for your generosity.

membershipI can now say that Alberta Council (Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon) will achieve a “six-peat” – increased membership for a sixth year in a row!!!! Congratulations everyone!!

member SubsidiesSpeaking of Member Subsidies, I would like to share with you the final numbers for our Member Subsidies allocations for 2013. As you know, $0.75 from each case of cookies sold in AB/NT/YK beginning in 2012, is to be allocated to Member Subsidies. For Alberta Council (AB/NT/YK) the allocation is disbursed as 40% for individual Member subsidies (girl and adult Members) and 60% for meeting space rental costs. In 2013, we sold 90,445 cases of cookies (sandwich and mint) which translated into $67,833.75; $27,133.50 for the individual Member subsidy portion and $40,700.25 to assist with meeting space rental costs. In March 2013, we disbursed $7,370.00 for individual Member subsidies and $19,317.15 to meeting space rental costs. Then in November 2013, we will disburse up the remaining $41,146.60. [We must use 100% of the monies from the Member Subsidies allotment every year]. The next deadline for submissions for Member Subsidies is March 1st – please check with your district and area commissioner as to their deadline for submissions from the units/districts.

Centennial rockI would like to tell you about the front entrance renovation project. Alberta Council wanted to commemorate our 100th anniversary of Guiding in Alberta by erecting a Centennial rock. However, there were some repairs that first needed to be done to the front entrance and we wanted to ensure that the front entrance to Alberta Guide House was accessible for people with mobility issues. I am happy to tell you that in late September the area in front of Alberta Guide House was repaved and a lovely rock installed. Thank you to Kathy Batty for researching the commemorative rock, and to Fennie Fraser

Standing Committee Workshop at Camp He Ho Ha. Photo by Marguerite Ubbing.

Girl Guides of Canada – Guides du Canada | Alberta Council | Blue-Print | Winter 2014 | www.albertagirlguides.com 3

for overseeing the renovations to the front entrance. We held the “grand unveiling” on October 19th with girls from Edmonton Area providing sing-ing and then Edmonton Area Council gave us a special cake for our cele-bration. It encompassed the “Three Cheers for 100 Years” logo, the quilt project label, a photo of the new rock and the centennial pin which was given to each adult Member in AB/NT/YT this fall.

2014 marks the 100th anniversary of guiding in Yukon – our best wishes to you as you commence your celebrations!

I want to begin by saying a very sincere thank you to all of the District Commissioner and Screeners for the enormous job they did since June getting our Potential Members (PMBRs) through the Screening process. Over 350 Potential Members have been screened since June – a record number and at this point in time we are down to a mere 15 – we have never accomplished this before. The new process whereby BackCheck (our third party screening company) will take over the reference checks as well as the Police Records Checks (PRCs) will be early in the new year so I hope the workload on the Commissioners and Screeners will taper off. We will still be responsible for the Interview and the submission of the A1 and with ensuring the PMBR has read Orientation to Guiding, but that will be a lot less than also being responsible for the reference checks as well.

The National office offered us an amazing opportunity; to piggyback on the order of Friendship Flyers that will be included in the winter issue of Canadian Guider. For those of you who have been Members for some years you will recall that we used to have Friendship Flyers every year in time for Thinking Day. Alberta Council made the decision to order sufficient Friendship Flyers for girl Members to each receive one. The Friendship Flyers have lots of information about our connection with WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) as well as activities to promote Thinking Day (February 22nd). Canadian Guider is circulated to all adult Members and Rangers which is why we wanted to order sufficient copies for our girl Members as well. We are assured that the Friendship Flyers will be at the provincial office in late 2013 so that there will be sufficient time to get them out to the Areas in time for distribution for Thinking Day. Please let your Commissioner know if you found the Friendship Flyers useful.

Congratulations to Catherene Rondeau, a Brownie Guider in Tamarac Area. Each Area was able to submit the name of a Brownie Guider and Catherene was selected by Alberta Council to attend the Disney Institute Training in Toronto, November 22-24, 2913. The Event was sponsored by Ontario Council. They generously invited each provincial council to send a participant to this wonderful training.

Happy Thinking Day to all of you.

margaret utgoff Provincial Commissioner, Alberta Council

Everything you wanted to know about finances and were not afraid to ask.Question:The penny is gone from our lives but not from store receipts, how do we record receipts with an odd cent balance?

answer:Recording transactions in the financial workbook for receipts ending in odd cents can be a challenge depending on how the receipt was reimbursed or posted.

If a purchase is cash and the receipt ends in an odd cent, the receipt may have the rounded amount in brackets or it may show that change given is for the rounded total not the actual amount.

For example, the receipt total is $4.32 underneath may show ($4.30), and the amount of change given will be $0.70, or it may just be the receipt total and nothing else. So reimburse people the rounded amount not the actual receipt amount, this may mean that they have paid a couple of cents more than they are being reimbursed or are getting a couple cents more, we are talking such small amounts.

To avoid this problem, cheques should not be written for reimbursement that do not end in round cents, but of course, this sometimes may be missed.

Therefore, if a cheque is written in odd cents and is cashed, post the odd cents to bank charges under expenses, whether it is income or an expense. That way you can track on one line what this actually amounts to at year-end.

Of course, a cheque written to a vendor ending in odd cents is fine as they will not cash the cheque but deposit it.

The AB GGC Financial Workbook has been updated and is on the Alberta website. There are now two workbooks one for single units and the other for multi-units (this workbook can also be used to track travel accounts, etc.).

Please send it your questions to Lorie Coghill, Alberta Provincial Treasurer.


Guiding Mosaic 2016National has announced that the next Guiding Mosaic Camp will be held here in Alberta at Camp Woods, Sylvan Lake. How exciting for us to be able to show Alberta to girls from across Canada and around the world!

At this time we do not have many other details. In the past, the participants at this camp have been Pathfinder and Ranger aged girls. This means that girls currently registered as Guides and Pathfinders would be the correct age in 2016 to attend the camp.

So how can we as Guiders in Guide units and Pathfinder units help to prepare our girls to successfully participate in this unique camp.

1. We can let our girls know that this opportunity is coming up and encourage them to remain in Guiding. There are many Guiders and girls who have participated in past GMs, and would be pleased to be invited to your unit to tell the girls about their experience.

2. Try to provide as many tent camps as possible for your unit. At GM, the girls will be living in tents for the entire camp. It is important that they learn to set up their tents, be able to keep their belongings stored properly, be able to keep themselves and their belongings dry in all types of weather, and show respect for their tent mates and their belongings.

3. Encourage your girls to attend the upcoming provincial week long camps, or hold week long unit camps. Girls may do very well at a weekend tent camp, but can they live in a tent for longer than that? Living in a tent for 7-10 days at GM will be easier for girls who have already participated in a long-term camp.

4. There are some skills we don’t often do at our unit camps, but may be needed at GM. Do your girls know how to use a solar shower? Can they wash their hair in a basin? How do they brush their teeth without a sink with running water? These are just a few of the things that can be practiced ahead of time at your unit camps.

5. There will be swimming and boating activities offered at GM and the girls will need to complete swim tests in order to participate in these activities. To avoid a last minute panic to get these done, why not do them now and get them entered into iMIS. The swim tests are good for five years. Arrangements can often be made at your local pool for the lifeguard to test the girls. In our unit we usually have a unit swim night and get everyone tested, followed by a fun swim. Let non-swimmers know this will be needed for GM so they have time to take some lessons before camp. Submit either the WA2 or WA3 to your iMIS home to get the swimming tests for swimming and boating entered into iMIS. Adults also will need the swim tests if they wish to participate in water activities.

There will be many further announcements coming from National over the next two years. Watch for them and share them with your girls. I have been to the last three GMs, and know you will have a great time at this next one.

museum memos – Janet Allcock on behalf of the Archives Committee

did you know….?Every Area now has a set of its own historical uniforms.

If you have an event coming up, why not borrow them and have a Fashion Show or a display of uniforms from the past. Add to the interest by displaying some of those scrapbooks or photo albums you have stored in the basement.

How do you borrow the uniforms? If you live in Michener, Peace River, Tamarac, Parkland, NT, contact the archives committee via the Provincial Guide Office. In all other areas, contact the Area Commissioner.

a big thank you…!We have had an amazing response to our request for uniforms. As a result we now have a much bigger collection. We have plenty of some styles and not as many as we would like of others. Some have gone into our permanent collection, some are on display and some will be used for Fashion Shows. If you still have uniform items to donate please contact Janet at [email protected] before you donate them. We are especially interested in complete uniforms with a history attached to them (e.g., who wore them and when).

other items of interest…We also welcome Guiding memorabilia, scrapbooks, and photo albums (especially if the photos are notated).

above all—we want visitors…Our Open House in July was very successful, with Guiding members and members of the public of all ages coming to see our displays. We are open whenever the office is open and if you can’t visit then, please contact Mary at [email protected] and we will open up just for you.


Guide GuidersATTENTION!

The Provincial Camping Committee is delighted to announce a tent camp opportunity for your Guides.

duCK TaLeS Will be held at Camp Woods, Sylvan Lake, Alberta. August 10 - 16, 2014

It is open to all Guides going into their 2nd or 3rd year of Guides in September 2014.

A quacking great week to enjoy outdoor cooking, tent camping, canoeing, swimming, archery, geocaching, crafts and making new friends with sister guides from all over Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Girls will register independently (not as a patrol).

Watch future ANY NEWS for registration details. A blast email will be sent to all guides in the next month or so.

Thanks for letting your Guides know about this great tent camp coming up.

National Service Project: Operation Earth Action – Tracy Burton, Alberta Program Adviser

Did you know that Operation Earth Action has been extended to 2014 as well? There is a new badge for the 2013/2014 Guiding year. So, even if you have already become earth warriors, you can continue to do this and earn a badge too!

There are many great activities on the national Girl Guide website that you can use, or you can come up with your own innovative way to help save our planet for future generations. Please make sure that you pledge what you as an individual, unit, district or other group are going to do and then log in your activities. The impact we can make on our planet is immense, so get out and be an agent of change for our earth!

Have you built a toad house before? Here is an idea, from the website, that is “toadily” easy!

Supplies:• One 8-inch terracotta flowerpot (the toad house)

• One 8-inch wide, 2-inch deep (or larger) terracotta saucer (the water source)

• One 24-ounce bag polished pebbles

• One 4-ounce tube glue or small container of grout

• Newspaper or cardboard to work on

• Small garden trowel

STep 1 – Assemble the above items and ensure the pot is clean and dry.

STep 2 – Choose your pebbles.

STep 3 – Place the pot upside down. Start gluing stones to the pot, working upwards. Do small 2-inch-square sections at a time because that glue will set very quickly! Only glue stones onto one half of the pot. The other half will be set into the soil. Finish by turning the pot right-side-up and adding a row of stones around the very top of the pot and just inside the rim. Let dry.

STep 4 – Select a spot for your toad house, letting the criteria mentioned above be your guide. I placed mine amongst the dense azaleas in front of my house. It’s a sheltered and some-what damp spot. It’s close to the front porch light, so there are plenty of insects fluttering around at night. It is also right by a water spigot, so that refilling the water saucer is easy.

STep 5 – Plant your toad house. Dig a shallow hole using your trowel. Place the pot on its side in the hole and fill it halfway with soft soil and leaves. Fill the saucer with water and place it nearby. You’re done!

Source: http://www.diylife.com/2008/04/11/avant-yard-toadily-easy-toad-houses/

Gone Home

Clare Hill Calgary Area

Clara mcdonald Edmonton Area


Membership Pins – Marion Rex, Provincial Membership Adviser

At the beginning of every Guiding year, each Member should be given her membership pin so that she can wear it proudly for the duration of the year. In many areas, milestone years may also get acknowledged at Thinking Day, advancements or year-end banquets. The following ladies have given forty- five and more years to Guiding, taking positions as unit Guiders, commissioners, advisers, committee members and whatever else came up needing to be done. Our sincere thanks for the many years of service you have given to Guiding.

Congratulations to these women who are celebrating membership year milestones in 2013 - 2014 year:

Why not switch it up! – Donna Leonard Robb, Provincial Training Adviser

now that meetings are running routinely, why not switch it up! Take the girls outside for winter activities that are fun and educational.

Try an outdoor scavenger hunt that allows the girls to explore nature in their own neighborhoods. Most often we organize scavenger hunts in warmer weather, but winter presents new options for the scavenger hunt list. Create the list based on things the kids might find during the winter months. Take a walk around the area ahead of time to get some ideas. Things that work well include a melting icicle, pinecones, an animal track, a frozen puddle, a plant seed pod or a bird. The girls then search the area for the items checking each one off the list as they find it.

Another simple activity that requires little work is to go to a hardware store and collect paint swatches in shades of white, beige, brown and green. Have the girls find things around their meeting place match the colors on the swatches. Of course they don’t collect the items, they only look and compare.

Guider trainings offer the perfect opportunity to learn from resource people and other Guiders. In 2014 we will be holding a Guider Conference on May 23 - 25, 2014. The conference will be held in Edmonton at the University of Alberta. At the Annual Dinner on May 24th we will be installing our new Provincial Commissioner. Mark your calendar now and plan on attending this event with other Guiders from your district or area. Be the first to meet the new Provincial Commissioner and the Chief Commissioner. Please note that the Guider Conference replaces the Multi-Faceted event for 2014.

Girl Guides of Canada is a learning organization—be a lifelong learner.Everyone’s membership needs to be acknowledged! Whether

you are a commissioner, committee chair or guider, have you presented your 2013-2014 Membership pins yet.

45 Years

Margaret Lamont Calgary Area

Anne Brown Chinook Area

Karen Gehring Chinook Area

Faye Greenslade Edmonton Area

Barb Emerson Edmonton Area

Doreen Latham Peace River Area

Roberta Fehr Tamarac Area

50 Years

Sue Fortunka Calgary Area

Anne Bennett Calgary Area

Nancy Rutt Chinook Area

Sue Schroder Edmonton Area

Gail Armstrong Parkland Area

60 Years

Evelyn Smith Calgary Area

Barbara Graham Calgary Area

Lorene Rose Peace River Area

65 Years

Eileen Stannard Edmonton Area

Susan Still Calgary Area

I Belong!Have you received your I Belong crest yet?

If you haven’t already received it, it should be arriving very soon. If it doesn’t arrive soon, check with your iMIS home. This year’s crest celebrates our youngest members—those adorable Sparks who bring so much laughter to the meetings. Unfortunately, it is the last crest in the series that will be funded by provincial council. The membership committee is looking at a new membership initiative.


Appreciating our Members – Marion Rex, Provincial Membership Adviser

It’s that time of year again—time to start thinking about awards that will probably be presented in the spring. Be sure to thank Members for the time and talents that they share with Guiding. You can do so with both formal and informal awards. I’d like to give a special thanks to EVERY MEMBER in Guiding. All of you help to provide Guiding experiences for both girls and women. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with Girl Guides of Canada—Guides du Canada. We are fortunate to have so many dedicated guiders in Alberta. Our Guiding program would not be possible without your ef-forts.

provincial and national awards deadlinesRemember, if you want to apply for a Provincial Award (Medal of Merit or Alberta Rose Award), be sure to get your applica-tions in to your area awards adviser so that she can pass them on to provincial for approval. The provincial deadlines are; September 1st, november 1st, January 1st, march 1st and June 1st.

Be sure to leave yourself plenty of lead time so you can meet the area deadlines prior to the dates above. awards needing provincial and national approval take three to four months to process.

Introducing a new way to give recognition!At least one GREAT Guider sign has been distributed to each area. Some areas loved the idea so much that they’ve ordered more. Imagine one day a Guider coming home to find this 3’ x 2’ sign planted on a metal stand in her yard. In her mailbox, she would find a book with a special note written to her telling her why someone thought that she deserved this recognition. This GREAT Guider then gets to:

• Enjoy the moment!

• Think of someone in her area that deserves that recognition.

• Write a note in the book and plant the sign in her yard within the next two weeks.

This “pay it forward” idea will replicate itself over and over again. Congratulations to all those GREAT Guiders out there. Some of them are as follows:

• Congratulations to dawn Wilson of Calgary area Congratulations on being the first Guider in Calgary to receive this honour! She brings so much to Guiding through her energy and enthusiasm for tackling any kind of event all while wearing a huge smile. She serves as a unit guider, a district treasurer, a mom, a daughter, a pal and a confidant! No matter what’s happening, she can be counted on to help, even under short notice. Congratulations Dawn—you’re the best!

• Congratulations to donna Bareham of Chinook area Donna Bareham is a Great Guider in Chinook Area. Donna just completed her 5-year term as Co-Commissioner of Clarke Hall District. Her sunny disposition made her district a fun place. She always encourages her Guiders to plan wonderful programs for their girls. Donna has been in Guiding for many years. She has been a Brownie, Guide and Pathfinder leader, a district secretary, and a district commissioner. Recently has taken on the role of area membership adviser. She is one of the reasons Guiding is Great in Chinook Area.

• Congratulations to Carol moeller of provincial Council Carol Moeller is an amazing guider who handles a plethora of responsibilities with efficiency and effectiveness, taking care of mountains of paperwork with ease. She is committed to helping girls and guiders—especially in the area of camping, facilities, and publications that support the Guiders in their role as leader. Because of the impact she’s had in her job as area facilities adviser, area secretary, deputy area commissioner, provincial secretary and deputy provincial commissioner, Guiding in Alberta has been in very good hands.

In 2013-2014, alberta Council increased for the 6th year in a row.

We increased membership by 5.5% to 14,752 members total.Thanks for what you’ve done to help us grow!


Patrol Guiders at Camp – Twyla Jenkins, Provincial Camping Adviser

Many larger camps such as SOAR and GM have participants come as a patrol. Each camp decides what size their patrols will be, but the most common size seems to be 8 girls and 2 Guiders. These Guiders are referred to as Patrol Guiders.

Since these large camps have staff and session leaders, many Patrol Guiders wonder what exactly will their job be at these camps. The simple answer is that they look after their patrol of girls. Of course this is more involved than it at first appears.

Before Camp:Each camp handles the paperwork differently. They may ask the Patrol Guiders to collect and send in all waivers, health forms, program choices, etc for the whole patrol. Or they may get each girl to send in her own forms directly to them, and the Patrol Guider just needs to check with the families to ensure they did this. In either case, I recommend that the Patrol Guider keeps a copy of all forms to bring to camp with them, as at times in the past, forms have gone missing!

The Patrol Guider also needs to obtain tents and other group equipment, and make arrangements for packing and transporting it.

Depending on how well the Guiders know the girls, it can be helpful to have a pre-camp. This gives the adults and girls a chance to meet and talk about the upcoming camp; and to go over the camp rules and expectations, as these may be different from the unit camps they are used to. The girls can also practice packing, setting up tents, and other camp skills.

If your patrol is fundraising, you must submit the necessary paperwork and keep track of the finances. Don’t forget to order extra cookies!

during camp:This is when some Guiders feel that their work is done and they can now sit in a lawn chair and visit. However their job is just starting! As camp begins, the Patrol Guiders need to go over the camp rules (yes- again!), and check out the site with the girls so they know where to find everything. The Patrol Guiders need to check daily (or more often) to ensure that the girls are keeping their tents tidy, are looking after their belongings, and are prepared for poor weather. If patrols are doing their own cooking and cleanup, the Guiders need to supervise this.

Guiders should check with their girls each day to make sure they know where their activities are located and that they have the proper clothing, hats, sunscreen and other equipment needed for the activity. At large camps it is not

always possible to run back to the tent if they forgot something.

Often, while the girls have sessions, there are special sessions for Guiders to attend. These are usually wonderful and should never be missed. Patrol Guiders may also be asked to assist at girl sessions that need extra help.

An issue at these large camps is free time for Patrol Guiders. It is important that Guiders take some time for themselves. Sometimes there is an ‘adults only’ tent to go to for relaxation and visiting with other Guiders. Sometimes Guiders may be able to leave the site for shopping or laundry. Or, best of all, there may be adult shower time! Whatever the adult free time is, it must be arranged around the girls’ activities. At no time may all the Patrol Guiders go off for free time and leave the girls at the tent site unsupervised. Usually one Patrol Guider stays with the girls while the other has free time, and then they switch. Sometimes it is possible to ask other Guiders to stay with your girls while both Patrol Guiders take a short time off.

after camp:The tents and other camp equipment must all be cleaned, maybe repaired, and returned to the proper place in a timely manner.

If you have fundraised, there are financial statements to prepare.

The girls should be sharing their experiences with other groups. As Patrol Guider, it may be necessary for you to remind units to invite the girls to a meeting so they can tell about the camp. The Patrol Guiders could even arrange an opportunity for everyone in the district to come and learn about the camp.

Most importantly, Patrol Guiders need to remind the girls about Thank You notes. They need to thank the organizers and staff at the camp, those that helped with fundraising, and anyone else who helped them to attend this exciting camp.

Being a Patrol Guider is a great job as you get to experience the girls’ excitement first hand. You are the person they come running to, bubbling over with enthusiasm, to share what they did in a great session. You get to see them learn new things and have new experiences. You watch them become more self reliant as they learn to look after themselves. You see their self confidence grow as they meet people and make new friends. Being a Patrol Guider is one of the best jobs at camp.

When a large camp is announced, please consider being a Patrol Guider. The girls can’t attend without you!


Camping Adviser WorkshopThis workshop is open to all District and Area Camping Advisers. Come and exchange ideas with other camping advisers, bring your questions and concerns, and learn something new to take back to your council.

Sessions

1. What’s new in camping equipment? See the latest and greatest.

2. How to repair and maintain camp equipment

3. Plant identification

4. Satellite phones, SPOT beacons—Discuss the pros and cons, how to use them, and see them in action

5. Medicine River Wildlife Center—Meet with a resource person from the Center. What do they do, and what programs do they have to offer for kids?

6. Orienteering using maps and compass

Plans include some drop in activities - a resource fair, camp crafts, photo scavenger hunt, archery, canoeing, and lots of time to meet and chat with other camping advisers.

We will also have a meeting to bring everyone up to date on this year’s camps, and to start planning for next year. Bring your ideas!

date: April 25-17 / 14

Location: Pine Lake Christian Camp. A waterfront campsite on Pine Lake. Sleeping will be on bunk beds in cabins. Please indicate on the registration form if you must have a lower bunk. Indoor plumbing and showers are available.

Cost : $75. This event is being subsidized by Provincial Council

deadline to register: March 28/14

To register: Fill in the Provincial Event Registration Form found on the website under ‘Forms’. Send the form and fee to the Provincial office.

Kit lists and maps to the camp will be sent out after registration.

We always have a great time when we get together. Come join in the fun!

Leave No Trace – Twyla Jenkins, Provincial Camping Adviser

My husband and I were hiking in the mountains this summer and noticed that despite all the education done in recent years, there is still litter along some hiking trails. We think that by now everyone must know how to look after and preserve out natural areas. But obviously not.

We still need to teach our girls the importance of the Leave No Trace principles to reduce our impact on the environment.

The basic principles of Leave No Trace are:

1. Plan ahead and prepare

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces

3. Dispose of waste properly – pack it in and pack it out

4. Leave what you find

5. Minimize campfire impact

6. Respect wildlife

7. Be considerate of other visitors

Girls from Sparks to Rangers can have discussions and do activities to help them learn the basic principles and understand the importance of following them in order to preserve our environment for the future. You might consider taking the girls for a hike and look for examples of things that have a negative impact eg. litter, destruction of trees, campfire rings. Cleaning up a park or highway ditches can also teach the girls how much less work it would be if everyone cleaned up after themselves, rather than leave it for others. Probably the best way to teach the girls is by example. Be a positive role model. If the girls see you putting your garbage in your backpack instead of on the ground, they will likely copy you.

We in Alberta are lucky to have wonderful wilderness areas to enjoy. But damage to the environment is difficult to correct. So it is up to everyone to do everything possible to prevent damage in the first place.

You can arrange for a Leave No Trace course for your Guides, Pathfinders or Rangers; or a PEAK course for Sparks or Brownies. Many of our camping advisers are Leave No Trace trainers and would be happy to come and do a program with your girls.


MDGs and World Thinking Day – Philippa Wagner

At the Millennium Summit In 2000, the United Nations established eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). All members of the UN and many international organizations (including WAGGGS) committed to working towards these goals with the hopes of achieving them by 2015.

The eight goals are:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

• Achieve universal primary education

• Promote gender equality and empower women

• Reduce child mortality rates

• Improve maternal health

• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

• Ensure environmental sustainability

• Develop a global partnership for development

If some of these themes sound familiar, it is likely because the MDGs have formed the basis of the WAGGGS themes for each Thinking Day since 2009. The theme for 2014 is “education opens doors for all girls and boys” and supports MDG2 - achieve universal primary education.

did you know…?• 66 million girls in the world do not go to school (UNESCO).

That’s even more girls than all the girls in Canada, Mexico and the United States combined!

• There are 33 million fewer girls than boys in primary school. (Education First)

• In some places, there are 90 students to one teacher. (Global Campaign for Education)

• A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of 5. (UNESCO)

• A girl with an extra year of education can earn 20% more as an adult. (The World Bank)

• Girls with 8 years of education are 4 times less likely to be married as children. (National Academies Press)

• 14 million girls under 18 will be married this year. That’s 38,000 girls today. (UNFPA)

For each of the themes since 2009, WAGGGS has developed an activity pack which they post on www.worldthinkingday.org (WAGGGS even produces a crest you can order online!)

For 2013 and 2014, GGC also adapted the activity pack and those can be found on National’s website (the 2014 version should be ready by the end of the year). Don’t forget to look through the older activity packs, you will still find relevant activities to complete with your units.

Canadian World Friendship FundJust a reminder that units who make at least a $5 donation per member to the Canadian World Friendship Fund are eligible to purchase the 2014 edition of the CWFF Crest. To order the crest, see Alberta Council’s website. Let the girls in your unit develop a creative way to raise the money!

Please email [email protected] if you would like ideas that other units have done or have a great idea to share.

I need some ideas! – Tracy Burton, Alberta Program Adivser

program pull-outThe Provincial Program Committee is putting together a new section in BluePrint called Program Pull-Out. These are instant meetings for all branches. These are designed to be able to be used for a whole meeting and to have minimal preparation for them. We hope that you enjoy our first edition, “Environment” theme.

Bright Ideas SectionOn the Provincial website, www.albergirlguides.com, you can find ideas submitted by fellow Guiders. These cover a wide range of topics and ideas. You can also submit to this section if you have some of your own bright ideas that you would like to share.

Special needsGirl Guides is an inclusive organization for girls and women of all abilities. Each girl is unique in her own way. As Guiders it can sometimes be difficult to know how to work with each of these abilities to inspire girls to become courageous and strong women. There is information on the Provincial website to help with working with girls of all abilities. You can also contact the Special Needs Adviser at [email protected].

HELP!


Being a Provincial Safe Guide Assessor in Alberta – Jocelyn Rogers

Earlier last year I was appointed a Provincial Safe Guide Assessor for Yellow Activities. I could never have imagined how gratifying this position would be.

The first great piece of the equation are the Assessor Co-Advisers, Pat McWilliams and Enidd Isaac. They are the most wonderful and supportive people to work with. I had met them at GM2010 when we worked in the Health & Wellness Team together, but I’ve really gotten to know them through this position.

However, I am also receiving wonderful words from the Guiders – some of whom are submitting Safe Guide forms for the first time ever. When I got my first few files, and I was responding with what seemed like a “litany” of “things to do”, I wasn’t sure what the Guiders’ reactions would be. I have been pleasantly surprised in that I have not received a single negative response. Instead, the responses I have been receiving are more like this:

• “Thank you for being so patient with me. As you may have noted, this is my first time filling out these forms!”

• “Thank you for reviewing and revising my forms so quickly. I appreciate that you did so. I have completed the revisions and the new forms are attached. I look forward to hearing from you.”

• “Thank you so much for your notes. I have made all of the corrections you have asked for. For a home contact I have left it blank for now. I will ask one of our unit assistants tomorrow evening if they can be our contact and I will add her to the form. I have indicated both K. and A. as first aiders so hopefully everything is correct now. I must say that you do a great job catching errors, thanks so much for a great job!”

• “Hi Jocelyn, I think/hope I have it all completed now! Thank you for your patience and let me know if there is anything else. I get my best ideas from other Guiders so I am glad we were able to offer up something that your group may like…” (I had asked this Guider if I could “borrow” her sleepover idea for my own unit because I thought it was so fantastic, and something I had never thought of.)

• “Hey there Jocelyn, Just wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic sleepover! Great amounts of fun and very little sleep were had by all. Thanks again for your help putting our Safe Guide stuff together and for the kit list (the flashlight idea came in very handy!). Have a great day.”

The Guiders in this province WanT to have all their “ducks in a row”, and appreciate any assistance they receive from us Assessors to make sure all of their Safe Guide forms and risk management planning are done thoroughly and correctly. My “to do” lists are actually appreciated, and Guiders are not bothered by them at all. They are just happy for the assistance. So when I say, “Could you please change this?” inevitably the response is, “Sure, no problem!”

And there is a side benefit: I am also a Unit Guider with Guides, and I get all kinds of great camp and sleepover ideas from the files I work on!

So my initial fears of Guiders hating my “to do” lists were completely baseless. This has turned out to be a very gratifying position, and I thank Pat and Enidd for all their support and “words of wisdom” along the way.

Suggested wording:• Are you an experienced Guider?

• Maybe you should consider joining our team.

Please contact the Assessor Co-Advisers at [email protected] if you are interested.

Olympic Arts Campprovincial girls arts Camp Tangletrees Campsite Pigeon Lake (Mulhurst side) August 10 - 16, 2014

Looking for a great activity to do during the summer, come and enjoy a week of the Arts, including Dance, Drama, music and many more activities as we explore the Olympics through the Arts. .

Cost: $275 plus GST per girl which covers all meals, accommodations and activities

participants: Second year Girl Guides to Second year Pathfinders. A maximum of 50 participants will be accepted for this camp.

Please complete the Provincial Event Registration Form and send it with the registration fee to provincial office.

deadline: June 07, 2014

For more information, contact Kirstin MacLaren at [email protected] or 780-643-8795.

Guiders tell your girls today so they don’t miss out on a great week having fun with the Arts.


Program Pull-out – Theme: Environment

Sparksopening game: o deer

Half of the girls line up on one side as the deer and the other half as the environment. The environment and the deer girls face away from each other and choose either food (hand covering their stomach), water (hand covering their mouth) or shelter (hands over head). At the signal, the girls turn around the deer try to find an environment that matches them. If they do, the pair become deer. If they do not, they become part of the environment. As the girls play, they can see the change that is made when the deer and the environment do not match.

Spark openingactivity: recycle fun – piggy Banks

Using a recycled water bottle, make your own environmentally friendly piggy bank. Cut a slit on one side for the coins. Using pink construction paper, cover the outside of the bottle and make a round nose. Glue this on to the piggy banks. You can use recycled small tubes or thread spools for the feet. You can use a chenille stick for the tail.

game: Sardines

One girl (or a pair) are chosen to hide. The rest of the girls hide their eyes and count to 30 while the girl (or pair) hide somewhere in their environment. The girls then try to find them and hide with them when they find them. The game ends when all the girls are hidden together, like sardines.

Campfire:

Tall Trees – Our Chalet Song Book II page 27

The Cuckoo – Jubilee page 39

Weevily Wheat – Celebrate with Song page 128

I Like the Flowers – Musical Fun with the Brownie Pack page 11

Spark Closingprogram tie-ins: • Going Outside Keeper – Outside Active Games;

Additional Activities

Browniesopening game: o deerHalf of the girls line up on one side as the deer and the other half as the environment. The environment and the deer girls face away from each other and choose either food (hand covering their stomach), water (hand covering their mouth) or shelter (hands over head). At the signal, the girls turn around the deer try to find an environment that matches them. If they do, the pair become deer. If they do not, they become part of the environment. As the girls play, they can see the change that is made when the deer and the environment do not match.

Brownie openingactivity: recycle fun – make your own creation

Using any types of recycled materials, allow the girls to make their own creations. Have a “show” for everyone explaining what they made.

game: Sardines


Campfire:

Tall Trees – Our Chalet Song Book II page 27

Land of the Silver Birch – Jubilee page 15

The Cuckoo - Jubilee page 39

I Like the Flowers – Musical Fun with the Brownie Pack page 11

Brownie Closingprogram tie-ins: • Key to Active Living – Outdoor Action

• Key to the Living World – Reduce! Recycle! Reuse!

• Terrific Trash Interest Badge


Guidesopening game: o deerHalf of the girls line up on one side as the deer and the other half as the environment. The environment and the deer girls face away from each other and choose either food (hand covering their stomach), water (hand covering their mouth) or shelter (hands over head). At the signal, the girls turn around the deer try to find an environment that matches them. If they do, the pair become deer. If they do not, they become part of the environment. As the girls play, they can see the change that is made when the deer and the environment do not match.

guide openingactivity #1: recycle fun – robots

Using recycled materials, make your own futuristic robot. Share your ideas with the other girls in your unit.

game: Sardines


activity #2: How does your garden grow?

Learn about gardening by making your own small garden. Plant at least two different types of flowers or other plant in a small flower pot. Learn about how to tend your plants and watch these grow week by week.

Campfire:• Tall Trees – Our Chalet Song Book II page 27

• Land of the Silver Birch – Jubilee page 15

• Tree in the Wood - Songs to Sing and Sing Again page 58

• Somewhere There’s a Forest – Our Chalet Song Book page 46

• Taps

program tie-ins: • Recycling Interest Badge

• Gardening Interest Badge

Pathfindersopeningactivity #1: recycle fun – Cards

Using recycled papers, ribbons and other materials, make your own cards for whatever celebration or activity that you would like, such as birthdays or Thinking Day.

activity #2: How does your garden grow?

Learn about gardening by having a gardening expert visit or going to a greenhouse. Learn about the different types of soils and nutrients and how best to grow your flowers. You can make your own garden at home or have a communal garden with your unit.


• Tree Song – Jubilee page 25



• Listen to the Earth – Celebrate with Song page 54

• Taps

program tie-ins: • Up Close and Personal with Nature

• Creating a Garden

• Our Environment

Rangersactivity: How does your garden grow?

Combine learning about your environment with a service project. Learn about growing your own vegetables and plant a community garden. As your vegetables mature, donate them to a local food bank to help those less fortunate.


• Tree Song – Jubilee page 25

• Listen to the Earth – Celebrate with Song page 54



• Taps

program tie-ins: • Environment, Outdoors and Camping – Going Natural

• Service Within the Community


Survey says? – Sheila Morrison

Alberta Council uses four communications tools to get messages out to our membership. Most of the messages are directed to the adult members. Each tool has a specific purpose, and targets a particular audience with a niche message. Blue-Print is the provincial newsletter that is currently published four times a year, mailed to all Guiders and Rangers in Alberta Council, and contains resource information for Guiders. The magazine style makes it easy to keep and reference. ANY_GuideNews is the twice-monthly email newsletter that provides information on upcoming events and other news, sent out to all Guiders and Rangers with an active email in iMIS; it contains headlines, breaking news, and deadlines. Alberta Council hosts www.albertagirlguides.com. The website is designed to provide information and resources to Guiders, parents and the public. It archives the Blue-Print, and provides more detailed information on events and forms. It is the reposit of the council resources. The fourth communication tool is direct email blasts to targeted audiences, such as Spark parents or Pathfinders. This tool is used sparingly, when the other tools cannot get the message out in a timely or effective manner.

In August and September, we posted an online survey to get your feedback on the Alberta Council communications tools. Thank you to the 422 Guiders who participated. 30 percent were between 30 and 40 years old; 31 percent were between 41 and 55. Most wear two hats in Guiding. 62 percent use smartphones. 83 percent use Windows® PC. 95 percent use Facebook®. 26 percent use Twitter®. 49 percent use Pinterest®.

You like the Blue-Print’s magazine style and format, but would like to be able to reference it online. Most of you find the information within, useful, easy to read, and meets your needs. Here are some comments on other things you’d like to see it include:

• Anything to assist our Guiders in their various roles. Hints and tips, meetings in a box, etc.—ideas for unit meetings & camps; suggestions for field trips, etc.; things that have worked for other Guiders that they would like to share. This information is archived in the Bright Ideas section on the website. I’ll keep this in mind for future Blue-Print articles.

• Information on programs with outside organizations that we can apply to our units.

• Craft and activity suggestions. There are many online craft ideas, especially on Pinterest®. Maybe we can include some places to look in an article?

• More local items. It would be nice to feature a different unit in the province each month.

• It might be nice to see a report from units traveling inter-nationally, or a report from a Trefoil Member who attended an event. We had an equal number of comments asking us

not to print these stories. I think I should leave this to the International and Trefoil advisers to decide when there are great stories.

• Team building ideas for units; Focus on anti-bullying

• History to help new guiders understand the basics and traditions. That was the hardest part for me to understand as a new leader. Guiding 101

• Information on international and national camps coming up. News on WAGGGS World Conference. This is found on the national and WAGGGS websites.

• The articles presented are usually not relevant to me, or my unit. There is usually only 1 or 2 articles that apply to the level of guiding that I am assisting.

• The information in Blue-Print is useful. Sometimes it is a bit out of date (application deadlines have passed by the time I read it). Please look at ANY_GuideNews for upcoming deadlines.

97 per cent of you read ANY_GuideNews, mostly on your phone or computer at home. We didn’t design ANY_Guide-News to be a reference for you, but almost half of you like to refer back to old editions. Here are some of your comments on what you are reading in it:

• Theme ideas for upcoming holidays. This may be a good topic for a Blue-Print article. We could put the headline that it’s coming in ANY_GuideNews.

• Much of the content repeats from issue to issue. I would appreciate new content being highlighted, or less repetition. The submitters indicate how long they wish their headline to run.

• My iMIS number. The most common response!

• I believe this could be used as a way to refresh Guiders’ memories about Guiding traditions (Guides Own, formal campfires etc.) and camping requirements (3 bowl dish washing, camp site etiquette etc.). Possibly in Blue-Print as it might be too long for ANY_GuideNews.

• More new ideas to make it fresh for the leaders and up to date new crafts and changes in the programs. Much of this doesn’t meet the scope of headlines, events, or news. A change in programs would be announced with a link to more information.

• More training opportunities

• Highlights of activities/events from different Areas.

• This would be great 4 times per year. This may not be often enough to publish the deadline in a timely manner.

• Quick updates, notices and information. Just the way it is. Many of you understand the purpose of ANY_GuideNews better than the other communication tools.

• I often find the focus is on leaders running younger units.

• Not sure if I would miss it if it wasn’t there. Need to have a better idea of what I will get out of it to invest time in reading.

• I think the amount of issues does get to be a bit much especially when some of the material is just repeated on the national guide post newsletters as well—although I do


like that I know where to look for application forms for any of the provincial events. ANY_GuideNews may point you to other communications tools to get the details.

• I have to bring my computer over to my guider friend as she does not use one. She has no way to access this resource. Thanks for being a computer buddy!

The website has undergone some major reconstruction to conform to the national template. 56 per cent of you go there less than once a month, mostly looking for forms. 60 per cent said it was easy to find what you are looking for and 85 per cent find it easy to read and comprehend. It is your “goto” place as a Guider and you like the focus on archived information.

76 provided comments on the new website. We will provide all your comments to National as feedback on the new template. Here’s some of the comments you offered:

• Very national oriented. If I go to the Alberta website, I want to see Alberta information that is easily found.

• Can’t clearly identify who to call for what (i.e., who I contact for badges). Please talk with your District Commissioner regarding ordering badges. Many Districts have created their own processes to save on shipping from the National online store.

• Needs to be easier to find my group information. I have trouble finding where I need to go to get the roster for my group and to get my iMIS information. This is on the na-tional website, not the provincial site.

• Seldom on it to be honest. The first time I have really looked around it since linked to national. Very confusing to know if I’m on the national or provincial website. Provincial log/words should be much more dominant at top. Some info one would never find except by falling on it e.g. welcome booklet.

• National template makes it hard to find Alberta info, have to search/google most of the time to get what I want

• It should be the go to place for all Alberta Guiders, but it isn’t because it’s difficult to find things. As an event leader, I should not have to repeatedly send out information includ-ing registration forms when they are available on the site. It is just difficult for most to surf and find them, and they would rather just ask and have it sent to them rather than spend the time looking. Not user friendly, and very impersonal. It does not reflect on the greatness that is Alberta Guiding.

• It’s so clean and sanitized that we no longer appear friendly and inviting but rather cold and corporate.

• I looked around the website more in order to answer these questions. There is good material there so I will use it more and refer my Guiders to more than I have in the past. The Alberta Council logo or name needs to be more prominent so I know which site I am on.

The section of the survey on emails was meant to specifically reference the targeted emails that come with a special subject line and header saying who it was being sent to, but many of you included messages from District Council, Area Councils, and ANY_GuideNews in your comments:

• My unit assistants often don’t understand why they’re getting the information. This sounds like an opportunity to provide them with an orientation to the communications tools.

• Too many emails, with similar and/or identical subject lines and multiple topics in each message. This makes it difficult to find specific pieces of information later. The targeted emails and ANY_GuideNews have specific subject lines. Please remember your email etiquette when sending emails to your fellow Guiders.

• Not everybody knows their iMIS number offhand. We include the draw to remind you how important it is to know your iMIS number.

• There is so much correspondence in all of the different formats and I find that when I am being mailed/emailed so many different publications I tend to start to ignore many of them. It would be nice if you could coordinate all of these different publications to come out as a package—right now it is hard to keep track of all the different publications and who is sending what.

Alberta Council understands that as a Guider you are receiving information from National, Province, Area, District, and Unit. Because of that we are doing our best to use the targeted emails sparingly, include deadlines/events/news in ANY_GuideNews, provide Guider resources in Blue-Print and on the provincial website.

In the general comments, you shared some of your frustrations and your thanks:

• You have not asked me what my needs are. Your questionnaire seems to be lacking in depth (no surprises here) and in reality. Did you think about reclassifying your age groups so that you can ask the various groups questions which would deal with that group’s particular needs? After all a new Guider and an established leader of many years would atypically have specific needs, wants, and expectations from the magazines? Maybe the question should have read, if another media format is used, would items you are interested in be repeated enough? What items would you like to see on a Facebook® page? What items sent to you via Twitter®? How often? What items would you like to see in a magazine, in print or via another method of delivery?

• I find that everything I receive from Girl Guides is clear and the links to information work and are easy to use. I keep all material I receive in case I want to reference it at a later date.

• We are an awesome organization with leaders doing wildly fun things with our girls. What better format to share than through the Alberta level. Why not rah rah for us every once in a while. There is a place for rules/regulations/generic must know info but there needs to be a place for fun too.

Thank you for participating in our survey. It was helpful for us to learn if we are communicating effectively. The biggest lesson that we learned was to communicate where to find the information for which you are looking. Hopefully, this article has given you some new insights.

The winner of the survey iMIS draw is Kimberley Sinclair.


Saving our planet can be fun!Turn those old t-shirts into shopping bagsThis idea has 2 environmental benefits—it re-uses old t-shirts and can reduce the need for plastic shopping bags. Supplies required: heavy weight cotton t-shirt, straight pins, pen, dinner plate, scissors and a sewing machine.

Instructions:

1. Cut off the sleeves, leaving the seam attached to the body part of the t-shirt;

2. Place the dinner plate about halfway over the neck opening and trace with the pen. Cut along the traced line to make the opening;

3. Turn the t-shirt inside out and pin the bottom. Sew the bottom of the t-shirt shut, sew the seam again to reinforce;

4. Optional—create pockets from the sleeves by sewing them onto the bag; and

5. Go shopping with your stylish new bag! Consider selling them as a fundraiser for the CWFF (if you raise $5/member, you are eligible to purchase the CWFF crest available at from the Provincial Office).

Swap it out, glam it up (WTd 2012 activity pack)Think you need some new clothes? Instead of buying more, organize a clothes-swapping party and invite all your friends to bring unwanted clothing and swap it for a new look.

Learn how to recycle old clothes—simple sewing techniques can update your clothes and make them feel new again, without putting any extra strain on the planet. Ask someone in the local community who can teach you basic sewing skills, then teach your friends by having a clothes recycling corner at your swapping party.

Combine your swapping party with a recycled fashion show and charge a small admission fee to donate to the Canadian World Friendship fund (units raising $5/member can purchase the CWFF crest, see below for details).

Think you need a fire to make s’mores? Think again -try using a solar oven. (WTd 2012 activity pack)Many people across the world use the power of the sun to cook. Try making a solar oven out of an old pizza box and use it to make s’mores.

Supplies required: pizza box, aluminum foil, thick sheet of clear plastic, scissors, glue, black paper, tape and a stick. There are lots of pictures of this type of oven on the internet.

1. Measure three centimetres in from the edge of the box lid all the way round and draw a square;

2. Cut the top and sides of the square to make a flap, fold upwards along the uncut side;

3. Glue aluminum foil, shiny side out, to the bottom side of the flap, smoothing out any wrinkles;

4. Glue another piece of foil inside the bottom of the box and up the sides;

5. Tape black paper on top of the foil;

6. Tape the clear plastic to the underneath of the lid to seal the hole made by the flap;

7. Put your graham crackers inside the box and top half with a square of chocolate, half with a marshmallow;

8. Put your mini oven in direct sunlight, shut the clear lid tightly and use the stick to prop the flap open toward the sun; and

9. Leave in the sun until the chocolate is melted and the marshmallows are gooey.

Canadian World Friendship Fund Crest

The 2014 CWFF Crest is now available from the Provincial Office. The crest is earned by raising at least $5/member for the CWFF. If your unit raises at least that amount, email [email protected] to order the crest. This year’s crest shows the world how much you love our world!

Canadian World Friendship Fund CrestThe 2014 CWff Crest is now available from the provincial office.

The crest is earned by raising at least $5/member for the CWFF. If your unit raises at least that amount, email [email protected] to order the crest.

This year’s crest shows the world how much you love our world!


Girl Guide Cookies: Where Does the Money Go?girl guide Cookies: We love them!

The cookies taste great; they’re a long-standing Canadian tradition and they support our terrific organization, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada. You may be asking yourself; “When I buy Girl Guides Cookies, where does the money go?”

at the unit level:• Activities, outings, camps, celebrations, ceremonies and

other Guiding events, as well as the purchase of badges, crests, crafts, Unit supplies and program materials.

• Your Unit Guider can tell you how cookie funds are used in your Unit.

at the district levels:• Assistance for camps, and events, provincial,

interprovincial and international travel

• Purchase of District supplies and equipment

• Subsidize trainings and workshops for Guiders

at the area level:• Advertising and Membership promotion

• Trainings for Guiders

• Cookie crests and PR material

• Girl events, such as Chief Commissioner Gold Award and Canada Cord Ceremonies

• Helps subsidize girl camps and activities.

at the provincial level:• Bursaries and scholarships for girls

• Training and workshops for Guiders, Advisers and Commissioners

• Girl Travel subsidies for provincial, interprovincial, national and international selected trips

• Large Provincial events, 2010 Rally and Campfire

• Our Provincial newsletter, The Blueprint

• Screening costs for volunteers (Police Record Checks)


Fundraising and specific requirements for Travel – Margaret Utgoff, Provincial Commissioner, Alberta Council

Alberta Council has worked very hard in the past year to align the various provincial council processes to the National Policies and Procedures relating to fundraising and to the particular requirements around trips/travel which involve the SG.8 – Travel Preauthorization. I wanted to highlight some of the changes and to let you all know where the information may be found.

It is the goal of Alberta Council to provide the tools needed so that all Guiders may easily access the information required to be in compliance with the National and Provincial processes.

For instance we have revised the Alberta Council fundraising procedures to show the deadline for applications for CIP Grants from the Alberta Government to be now at least 15-18 months in advance of a planned trip in order that the funds can be received in advance of the required “30 days after trip completion” deadline to submit the financial statement for the trip, along with any excess monies fundraised (other than from the sale of GGC cookies) as per the National Fund Development Governance Policy.

And we have adjusted the deadline to apply for Transporta-tion Assistance from Alberta Council to 45 days in advance of a trip where the transportation has been prearranged (such as an airplane) again, so that the funds can be disbursed in time to be accounted for on the financial statement due 30 days after the trip has been completed. For ground transportation, related to SG.8 travel, the deadline is now 10 days after the trip is completed so that again we can disburse the funds to the group that is travelling prior to the deadline by which the Responsible Guider has to complete the financial account-ing for the trip. It is not permissible to “reopen” the financial statements for an SG.8 approved trip which is why changing the deadlines was necessary.

Please remember that all FR.1s are now approved at the Area Council level, except for the few specific categories listed in the Alberta Council manual which require provincial council approval. The Area Commissioner will forward such requests to the provincial council.

I sometimes receive feedback about the new requirement that 25% of the funds being raised needing to come from the sale of GGC cookies. This is a true statement but in all things Guiding we are reasonable and if there are valid reasons for why it is proving impossible to meet this fundraising formula, and there is an approved SG.8 in place, then the Responsible Guider needs to make a “business case” to the Area Council giving the reasons why it is impossible to meet the 25% rule. The Area Council can then consider if the concerns given are reasonable, consider if the number of cases of cookies being ordered is being maintained, at the same level, year

over year, or increasing, and may then, if they feel it is appropriate, approve a lesser percentage that needs to be fundraised through the sale of GGC cookies.

As we know there are numerous processes that need to be followed when planning a trip (SG.8 approved) such as the production of Event Clothing and Merchandise, the Guidelines around fundraising contained in the Alberta Council manual, Transportation Assistance, and Financial Accounting after the trip is completed, we have decided to create a microsite within the provincial website, www.albertagirlguides.com so that the various documents, or links to the documents, will be in one place, making it easier to ensure the Responsible Guider, and the members of the leadership team, have the information in one, easily accessed, location.

Finally we have adapted a wonderful tool, developed by one of our Area Commissioners, for use by all the Responsible Guiders for Travel with an approved SG.8. It is the Trip Financial Accounting binder and Alberta Council approved the creation of these binders to be sent, without charge, to the Responsible Guider, who have their SG.8 Preauthorization of Travel from approved effective January 2014. We also made the decision to provide a Trip Financial Accounting binder to all Responsible Guiders with previously approved SG.8s for which the trip has not yet taken place. We feel this will provide support to the Responsible Guider from the outset of the planning for the trip so that all requirements for financial reporting will be laid out with various worksheets that will help keep track of the payments the participants make, the various monies fundraised for the trip, the allocation of fundraised monies to the participants and the expenses relating to the trip. This will allow you to have all the pieces in one place and will mean you can just send the Binder to the Area Commissioner within the 30-day timeline after your trip.

If you have any questions about SG.8 Travel financial accounting, please direct your questions to your Area Commissioner. Please don’t wait until after the Trip is completed to start organizing your receipts, etc.

I wish to thank all of the Guiders who plan these wonderful trips which give Guiding members unique opportunities to travel to new places, to experience new cultures, foods, activities, to meet with Guiding and Scouting members within WAGGGS, learn about the world around them and gain the confidence of being comfortable travelling independently and trying something new, perhaps a wee bit out of one’s comfort zone.


How can PR help save our planet? – Sheila Morrison

Our number one national strategic priority focuses on dynamic programming for girl greatness. To enhance the Unit Guider’s ability to provide great guiding experiences for girls, Alberta Council is focusing on three pieces discussed at the National PR and Communications network in 2013. First, Alberta Council set forth a social media strategy that is being communicated at Area and provincial trainings. The guide-lines are posted on the provincial website for you to access. Second, we are working to enhance the provincial and area websites. Third, using the above tools, we want to support public engagement in GGC programming.

Engaging the public in our programs, can be done in an instant by tweeting about the activities accomplished in your weekly meetings, or it can be done over a planning period by organizing an Area event in a public space with media attendance. Tuesday, April 22, 2014 is Earth Day. Let’s have a conversation on Twitter® about “saving our plant” and Girl Guide programming. Include #ggCaB, #ggCearthday, @ggCalberta, or @girlguidesofCan in your tweet so we can be part of the conversation.

Here are Some Things To discuss With Your unit.

Turn off Computers at night

Turning off your computer instead of leaving it in sleep mode, can save energy and dollars.

use Both Sides of paper

Cut your paper waste in half by using both sides of the paper. Set duplex printing as your printer default for a quick and easy way to accomplish this. Remember to recycle whenever you can.

recycle

What happens once you put your newspapers in the blue box or community recycling bin? Tour a local recycling plant. Find out how your community recycles. What do they recycle? What don’t they recycle? Is there a service project your Unit could provide or promote?

recycle old Cell phones

If the average cell phone has a useful life of about 18 months, and there are over 27 million wireless subscribers in Canada in 2013, then on average 1.5 million phones are retired each month. Sending the phones and their batteries to landfills can introduce toxic substances into our environment. Find a program in your community where you can recycle your phone.

Wrap Creatively

Reduce giftwrap waste. Reuse gift bags, and bows. Use old maps, cloth or newspaper as giftwrap. Decorate brown paper bags with stamps or markers to personalize your gifts. Create your own paper using old jeans or recycling other fibres.

Telecommute

Hold meetings via conference call, Skype®, or other meeting software. This could be your backup plan for those snowy winter evenings. Meet with Units is other provinces or areas this way.

Share Your activity

Tell us on Twitter® on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 about your Earth Day programming and how you enhanced Girl Greatness.

examples of Tweets you could send out:

What preparations are you doing with your unit for Earth Day? #GGCEarthDay

What activities did the girls like best? #GGCEarthDay

What ideas did they come up with to save our planet? #GGCEarthDay

Is your unit observing Earth Hour? #GGCEarthDay


ScholarshipsHelen CashmanIn her 11 years as a Girl Guide, Helen has participated in many amazing activities which include a trip to Iceland, representing Canada at Girls World Forum in Chicago, blogging for national Guides’ website and being involved in the national AGM in Calgary. She has achieved bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards and is planning a trip to qualify towards the gold medal. Helen’s leadership skills are evident during her high school while leading fund raising activities, serving on student council and volunteering at many events. She is a page in the Alberta Legislature and now has earned the duties and responsibilities as Speaker’s Page. She was privileged to receive the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in February 2012. Helen competes in Irish and Scottish dance and volunteers with young dancers. She is also a Junior leader for a Guide unit. Helen is certainly a role model and states “Guiding offers girls the opportunity to grow as citizens and leaders, to take on more challenging projects each year and to work with inspiring women.” She is interested in a career in law, economics and political science studying at the University of Alberta.

Katelyn Cook Katelyn has been member of Guiding for 13 years. She attended Guiding Mosaic in Guelph Ontario in 2010. Interaction with girls from all over Canada and the world who shared the same interests and passions as herself was remarkable. Katelyn noted the out trip to Niagara Falls allowed her to see an iconic part of Canada she had not seen before.

Additional extra experiences she had through Guiding include a backpacking trip along the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park with her Ranger Unit.

Although the trip tested her strength and endurance she learned valuable knowledge including proper food storage, lightweight packing, and leave no trace camping.

Katelyn’s Ranger Unit has bridged with two Pathfinder Units on a survival camping trip where they slept in hand-made shelter, went kayaking, did orienteering and we educated on the uses of native plants.

Katelyn has also experienced dragon boating, teepee camping and horseback trips through her Girl Guides career. Katelyn travelled to Pax Lodge and Our Chalet this past summer.

Katelyn noted her most significant achievement was receiving the Chief Commissioner’s Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, the Ranger Service project, the Cookie Challenge and the Commonwealth Award.

Guiding provides girls with experience, opportunity, and friendship and congratulations Katelyn on receipt of an Al-berta Scholarship and your studies in Forestry at the University of Alberta.


darla frankDarla has been with Girl Guides for 11 years having had the opportunity to visit Our Cabana with plans to visit more centres in England and Switzerland. She is an accomplished young lady within her school as a member of student council, yearbook club, part of International Link Crew and a founding member of Young Blood for Life program which encourages young people of age and their families to donate blood. She volunteers at Heritage Park, food bank and continues to tutor. One achievement was being selected to participate in Heritage Youth Summer Research Program working on inflammatory Bowel Disease. Darla has attended many camps assisting with meals, plan games and organization of a camp. She has received the Canada Cord, bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and gold Chief Commissioner Award. Darla has passion for the environment and has time to play the violin. On the value of being a member of Girl Guides she says “the experiences you gain and lessons you learn, camps friendships and volunteer work are all aspects of Guiding life.”Darla is enrolled at Mount Royal University studying general science.

Lauren geeLauren states “Guiding challenges girls and women to be leaders within the community and teaches perseverance, goal setting, to try new things, cooperation and real life skills for the future.” She has experienced many of these in her 13 years as a Girl Guide and Junior Leader. Her patience showed as a tutor to a student having difficulty with his studies who was much improved in all courses. Lauren has volunteered at seniors’ forums, food bank, Hope Mission and as such earned awards: Ranger Service Award, Commonwealth Award, Chief Commissioners’ Award and bronze level Duke of Edinburgh Award. She loves travelling with France, Germany, and Austria on her list of countries already visited and has plans to visit England (Pax Lodge) Italy and Switzerland (Our Chalet). She is planning to attend the University of Alberta to study the sciences.

Katherine IsteadKatherine has been involved in Guiding for 20 years. The most special extra experience she has had was spending nine weeks in India volunteering and on her last day visiting Sangam and experiencing the acceptance and love from participants, from all over the world, at the opening ceremonies event at Sangam World Centre. What an experience!

Katherine is an international volunteer having worked in Cambodia, Thailand, India, Maldives and Peru to name a few. She also volunteers at home, the Calgary Zoo, Mustard Seed, Habitat for Humanity acting as a co-ordinator for many events. She enjoys running, travel and practices yoga; a way to cope with stress and find an inner calm. She has published a scientific paper, has a degree in Psychology, has teaching experience and owns her own company (CupKates). She notes of Guiding “Where else can you go to learn everything from fashion design to survival camping to marketing and budget-ing? Offering an incredible variety of activities and experiences, Guiding is the entity that allows girls and women to discover who they are and what boundless capacity the world holds”. Katherine truly has accomplished all of this. We wish her well in the next step in her career while studying at the University of Geneva, Switzerland in a postgraduate MBA program.

emily moloneyEmily is a 14 year member of Girl Guides of Canada having started as a Spark through all levels to Ranger and becoming a Junior leader. She has been a student union leader and a delegate at Gandhi Peace Conference and continues in a LEADS (Student Leadership Program) at NAIT where she is enrolled in Animal Health Technology. Emily is a community volunteer working at the +55 Games, Special Olympics and mural design and painting. She commits to youth development as a Sunday School teacher, a tutor, and youth program leader. Emily plans and researches her travel well, which includes many fundraising activities. While working towards her gold level Duke of Edinburgh Award a rigorous regime of exercise and group dynamics were in place when on a mountain in Hawaii. Emily states “that the true value of Guiding is the chain of mentoring it creates and supports. Guiding offers girls and women opportunities to be well-rounded citizens who never stop learning and contributing to their communities.” She truly exemplifies these qualities and we wish her success as she trains to be an animal health technologist.


Kimberly reichleThroughout her 14 years as a Guider, Kimberly has attended many provincial and international events including Guiding Mosaic, SOAR, Kiawa, Bonnet and Bloomers and Tall Tales. She has also been to Sangam, India as an adult member. All events have led to lifetime friendships and experiences. For 9 years she has participated in Alberta Girls Parliament, first as a page and rising to Premier and Speaker of the House. She loves everything outdoors no matter what the season. Kimberly obtained a diploma in Adventure Tourism Management at Queenstown College in New Zealand where she did conservation work before returning to Canada to continue her education at Thompson Rivers University in Tourism Management. She is truly a role model to many young guiders. Kimberly says “I wouldn’t be the person that I am today without Girl Guides, I’d like to think I’m a positive, energetic, enthusiastic person. Girl Guides has given me confidence to meet someone and have lasting friendships. She is working on completing both her Chief Commissioners’ Gold Award and gold level Duke of Edinburgh award.

alyssa ScheffelmairAlyssa is a cancer survivor who underwent treatments and in doing so found a passion. She has ventured on a second career by entering university pursuing a degree in nursing. During her first career choice in economics, she earned three scholarships and started to work in banking where she was known to be responsible, kind and passionate individual who cared for clients and colleagues. She has participated in Young Adult Cancer Canada, fundraising and attending a national retreat. She volunteers as a Big Sister and is an adult leader to a Sparks unit with 13 years in Guiding. She loves to camp and is currently in training for a 5K run. She smiles when she thinks of Guiding which “offers a place for girls to belong regardless of situation, a place to grow their confidence”. We hope she achieves her goal to work in pediatric oncology and continue her great work in Guiding.

Vanessa SchellVanessa is a role model for all Guid-ers but in particular to her Pathfinder unit whom she has been with since Sparks a total of almost 10 years of her 19 years as a Girl Guide. Her experience at Our Cabana formed friendship which exist to this day but also lead her to volunteer there five years later. Now she is leading her unit to Our Cabana so that they can be part of that same experience. Vanessa has a passion for the environment and showed this as a volunteer to plant trees at Camp Jubilee. She also has worked with children learning to read and children with developmental delays. Her career path has been in psychology, graduating with honours. Vanessa has done research at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and now finds herself enrolled in Master’s and PhD at Queen’s University in Ontario in the Clinical Psychology Program, with only six applicants being accepted. Vanessa comments that “Girl Guides has given her confidence, good sense and resourcefulness; it fosters your development into an independent, ambitious, hard working individual.” Vanessa exudes these qualities.

Cassandra Zacharias Cassandra has been a member of our Organization for 14 years. One of the extra experiences she had outside of the normal program work was volunteering for the Centenary Camp in Yorkshire, England. The trip was a learning experience – booking flights, navigating airports, and transit systems in foreign cities put every-thing she learned as a Guide and Pathfinder to the test. During the event she met girls from all around the world sharing cultural similarities and differences while sharing the shared connection of Guiding. Cassandra has stayed in touch with some of the participants and considers them life time friends. The skills learned in exercising her independence and making decisions that are best for her have is a skill she carries outside of Guiding; feeling confident in planning.

Publication Mail Agreement Number:

40009469

Alberta Council11055-107 Street NWEdmonton AB T5H 2Z6

www.albertagirlguides.com

You won’t want to miss this opportunity!A chance to meet Rangers from all over Alberta and beyond…

alberta girls’ parliament 43rd Session march 26 - 30, 2014

Are you a Pathfinder, Trex or Ranger, 15 to 18 years old at the time of the event?

Not quite 15? We also take two 14 year olds to be Sergeant at Arms and Clerk of the Assembly

We have the event for you; there is nothing else like it in Canadian Guiding!

WHereEdmonton, Alberta at the Providence Renewal Centre

WHoAlberta Council Girl Guide members and special invites to a few out of province Rangers, and 4H members

CoST$150 plus GST if you are a registered guiding member within Alberta Council’s boundaries; $200 plus GST if you are registered with another provincial council; and $250 plus GST if you are an invited guest from another organization (not Guiding). This cost includes all meals, snacks, activities, and four nights’ accommodation at the Providence Renewal Centre. The prices are varied based on various subsidy restrictions for the different groups in attendance but all groups are subsidized significantly. Alberta Council has subsidized this event.

TranSporTaTIonChartered bus Southern Alberta route starting in Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer and on to Edmonton

Also transportation from the airport or bus depots is included.

WHY

Increase public speaking and debate skills; learn about the parliamentary process; meet interesting motivational speakers chosen by the elected delegates; have fun with various participants from all over Alberta and beyond; complete your Duke of Edinburgh Residential requirement; shop at West Edmonton Mall; tour the legislative building; find out about different political careers; make lasting friendships; receive the AGP pin and crest designed exclusively for delegates; and so much more.

WarnIngSpots will fill fast and applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis so please don’t delay. We encourage a mix of new and returning girls and all successful applicants will receive an information package by February 2013.

moreYour parents, relatives and friends, AGP alumnae, Guiders and Units may come to any of the debates. Reservations are required for guests at the Parliamentary Opening on Friday evening and for the AGP Banquet on Saturday. Reservation information will be in your information package.

For more information about AGP, please contact: Shannen Hoffman, agp adviser by email [email protected]

in this issue… colour your world 2014

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