I promise that I will do my best
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To serve my community and Australia
And live by the Girl Guide Law
As a Girl Guide I will strive to:
• respect myself and others
• be considerate, honest and trustworthy
• be friendly to others
• make choices for a better world
• use my time and abilities wisely
• be thoughtful and optimistic
• live with courage and strength
‘Taps’
This version is sung after sunset.
Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the sea, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
Goodnight.
‘Daylight Taps’
This version is sung before sunset.
Thanks and praise, For our days,
’Neath the sun, ’neath the stars, ’neath the sky.
As we go.
This we know.
Goodnight.
‘World Song’
(Sung to a marching beat; the tune can be heard on http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/global/ wagggs/world_song.asp)
Our way is clear as we march on, And see! Our flag on high, Is never furled throughout the world, For hope shall never die! We must unite for what is right, In friendship true and strong, Until the earth, In its rebirth, Shall sing our song! Shall sing our song!
All those who loved the true and good, Whose promises were kept, With humble mind, whose acts were kind, whose honour never slept; These were the free!
And we must be, Prepared like them to live,
To give to all,
Both great and small, All we can give! All we can give!
Girl Guides Australia
Hub Hyde Park
223 Liverpool Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010 www.girlguides.org.au
First published in Australia in 2013 Girl Guides Australia
Reprinted 2019
Reprinted 2021
Copyright © Girl Guides Australia 2023
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission by the copyright holder.
ISBN 9780732293802
Design and illustrations by Karen Carter
Printed in Australia
Girl Guides Australia: www.girlguides.org.au
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts: www.wagggs.org
My name is:
I joined Girl Guides on:
I am a member of Girl Guide Unit.
The Unit is part of District, Region.
chapter title 4
About Me
We meet at [place]:
On:
Time:
My Leaders and helpers are:
My Leaders’ contact details are:
Do you like making friends? Do you like trying something new – food, games and skills? Do you love having fun? Then Girl Guiding is for you!
You are part of the biggest group of girls and young women on Earth! There are more than ten million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in many countries
You have also joined a group of Girl Guides called a Unit. Your Unit will meet regularly, with adults who are called Leaders. Have you written down your Unit name and your Leaders’ names and contact details in the front of this book?
There may be other Girl Guide Units in your area. They belong to your Guiding family too.
Your Patrol is your Girl Guide team. You will do activities together, you might work on challenges and badges together, and you will definitely have fun together!
My Patrol is:
My Patrol badge looks like:
Draw your Patrol badge in this circle.
8 Welcome to Girl Guides
The members of my Patrol are:
My Patrol Leader is:
My Patrol Second is:
Other special things I know about the girls in my Patrol:
All Girl Guides make the Girl Guide Promise when they are ready. You may have made your Promise previously, in which case you might like to renew your Promise now. If you have not yet made your Promise, then you will need to learn about the following seven special things that all Girl Guides know.
1. Understand the Girl Guide Promise and the Guide Law
Once you make the Girl Guide Promise you will try to do your best to keep it.
That’s why you need to understand the Promise before you make it. Your Leader and Patrol Leader will help you to learn and understand this and the Guide Law.
The Girl Guide Promise:
I promise that I will do my best To be true to myself and develop my beliefs To serve my community and Australia And live by the Guide Law
This is the Guide Law:
As a Girl Guide I will strive to:
• Respect myself and others
• Be considerate, honest and trustworthy
• Be friendly to others
• Make choices for a better world
• Use my time and abilities wisely
• Be thoughtful and optimistic
• Live with courage and strength
With the help of your Patrol, set a challenge for each part of the Law. Share your completed challenges with your Patrol or Unit.
2. The Girl Guide uniform Girl Guides wear a uniform to show they are part of a group. You and your Guide friends look fantastic when you all wear your uniform correctly and with a smile. Can you think of some of the benefits of wearing a Girl Guide uniform?
Girl Guides work hard to earn badges and wear them proudly on their sash. Other badges can be added to your Girl Guide bag, camp hat or blanket.
Look at the badges that other Girl Guides have on their sash. Ask them how they earned these badges. Begin working on your own!
This is a special sign all Girl Guides make with their right hand. A Girl Guide gives the sign when she is:
• making or renewing the Promise
• watching a flag being raised or lowered
• being presented with a badge or award
• wearing her uniform while singing the National Anthem at a Girl Guide event. Your Unit may use the Girl Guide sign at other times too. Check with your Patrol Leader and write down these other times in the space below.
The three fingers remind us of the three parts of the original Girl Guide Promise:
1. Exploring your beliefs and being an active community member.
2. Helping other people.
3. Keeping the Guide Law. It takes practice to get the sign right, but keep trying. You’ll get it!
A Good Turn is something you do to help someone else, such as your family, a friend or a neighbour. It’s something extra or different that you are normally not expected to do. Doing a Good Turn will make you feel great too! Collect some Good Turn stories and share your favourite stories with your Leader or other Girl Guides.
Your Patrol is your team, so get to know every member. This way you’ll be able to have lots more fun together. Prepare a list of questions you might ask your new Girl Guide friends. Be prepared to tell them about yourself.
6. Do the Girl Guide handshake
Girl Guides always shake hands with their left hand. African warriors carried a spear in their right hand and their shield in their left hand. When they met friends they would put down their shields and they would shake hands with their left hand.
Girl Guides are not warriors, but we shake hands like this to show we are friends with all other Girl Guides. Practise the handshake.
7. Understand the Girl Guide Motto
The Girl Guide Motto is Be Prepared. This means you should be ready for anything. The skills you learn in Girl Guides will help you to Be Prepared. Does your school have a motto? What is it? What does it mean?
You will make the Girl Guide Promise at a special ceremony. You can help plan your ceremony by doing some of these things:
• finding a special place to have the ceremony
• arranging things so it is a special time
• inviting special friends and family
• selecting music and having a sing-along
• including symbols, candles, stars, balloons and/or a campfire
• reading a favourite poem or quoting some words by a famous speaker.
This is how your Promise Ceremony might go:
Leader says: ‘We invite you to join us.’
(Your Patrol Leader will walk with you to your Leader.)
Patrol Leader says: This is [your name], who wishes to become a Girl Guide.’ Leader says: ‘[your name], do you understand what it means to do your best?
Are you ready to make your Promise?’
You say: Yes. I promise to . . .
You make the Girl Guide sign while saying the Girl Guide Promise. Your Leader will pin the Promise Badge onto your left collar, and you will both shake hands (with your left hands).
After you make your Promise, you will be given a Promise Badge. Your Promise Badge is worn on the left collar point of your Girl Guide uniform.
If you don’t have a collar, wear it on the left side of your Girl Guide shirt.
The date I made my Girl Guide Promise:
Girl Guides do lots of things together. You and the other Girl Guides in your Unit plan what you would like to do in your Unit meetings and at camp. The Leaders, other Girl Guides and helpers will help you achieve your plans. In deciding what to do, you need to know about the Australian Guide Program (AGP).
Four Elements and seven Fundamentals
The AGP has four Elements and seven Fundamentals that help Girl Guides decide what to do.
The four Elements make up the tree in the AGP symbol.
Self
Promise and Law
Outdoors Service
World Guiding Guiding Traditions
The four Elements are:
Physical: Growing fit, healthy and strong.
People: Making friends, sharing, caring and understanding others.
Practical: Learning helpful skills.
Self: Becoming stronger, braver, kinder and more skilful.
The seven Fundamentals are written beneath the tree. A Girl Guide:
• strives to keep the Promise and Law
• enjoys the Outdoors and looks after the environment
• gives Service to others
• learns about people from different countries through World Guiding
• shares in Guiding Traditions
• learns Leadership skills
• is a member of a Patrol.
The next seven chapters of this handbook help you explore the seven Fundamentals.
The Australian Guide Program shows you how to plan activities in five easy steps, called the AGP Process. You can follow these steps to plan a Patrol activity, a badge challenge, a family outing or anything else you need to plan. Your Leader will help you with the steps at first. But as you grow older, you will be able to follow them by yourself.
Discover Discover what you and your Girl Guide friends would like to do. Talk about all your great ideas and share your views.
Decide Decide what you will do. Do you all want to do the same thing? If not, can you mix a few of your ideas into one activity?
Plan Plan the activity. Make sure you have everything you need.
Do Do the activity. This is the best bit. It’s when you put all of your planning into action! Remember to make sure everyone gets a go and is having fun.
Evaluate Evaluate how your activity, challenge or event went. Was it fun? Did everyone have a go? Would you do things differently next time? Your Leader can help you with this step.
What is a challenge? For some, swimming the length of the pool or playing a musical instrument is a challenge. A challenge is a goal that makes you do your best – it’s all about the effort you put in. Challenges encourage you to try different activities, learn new skills and meet new people. They also make you feel proud of yourself and your achievements.
Discover You could make pizza, learn to play the violin or learn to swim backstroke.
Decide You will learn to make homemade pizza.
Plan Find a recipe for the dough; work out what toppings you want; get the utensils; ask an adult for assistance if required.
Do Follow the recipe and make your pizza. Share your pizza.
Evaluate Ask yourself how you went. Was making pizza a challenge for you? Did you have fun? Was your pizza tasty? Then tell your Girl Guide friends about your challenge. Listen to what they say. Decide if you should try something harder next time; for example, making homemade pasta. Read ‘Thinking about badges and awards’ on page 28 for more information on how to evaluate your challenges.
There are many ways a Girl Guide can be rewarded for her achievements:
• a special outing
• a hug from a good friend
• smiles
• certificates
• stickers
• badges and awards.
Girl Guides can earn lots of different badges and awards. The Look Wide book is full of challenges for you to earn badges. Explore badges encourage you to explore an interest or topic. The Create badges enable you to create your own challenges around a topic – you might choose to do a few smaller challenges, or set yourself a large challenge that will take all year to complete. The Achieve badges show that you have gained specific skills and knowledge on a topic.
You can also work towards the Junior BP Award from the age of seven. You need to complete two challenges from six of the Fundamental areas – a total of 12 challenges. Once you have completed six challenges, you are awarded the Bronze Endeavour to recognise this achievement. Have a look at the Aim High book for more information.
Turn to Chapter 8 ‘Discover a Challenge’, which will help you further explore the Elements of the AGP.
Before you start working on any badge or award, talk to your Girl Guide Leader or Patrol about what you are planning to do and why it is a challenge. They will help you with your ideas.
After you have finished your challenge, you need to evaluate how well you went. Have you really challenged yourself? Have you done your best? There are two parts to evaluating a challenge. First, think about the challenge yourself. Then find out what your Guide friends think about it. Your Leader will help you.
Here are some questions you can think about:
• Did I have fun?
• Did I do my best?
• Did I do it with other people?
• Did they have fun?
• Am I proud of my achievement?
Here are some questions your Girl Guide friends might ask you:
• What did you do?
• What did you enjoy the most?
• Did you do your best?
• What could you have done differently to make it better?
• Have you learnt any new skills? What are they?
Have a go!
You want to earn the Hands Create a Challenge badge because you made a homemade pizza where you had to knead the dough with your hands. You really enjoy making things and you think this challenge would be fun.
Work through the rest of the AGP Process to Decide, Plan, Do and Evaluate another challenge using your hands!
Decide
The Girl Guide Promise is a very special part of being a Girl Guide. It helps you to make a positive difference to other people. As you grow older, your Promise will grow with you. At first you may find small ways to keep it. But with time, you may want to do bigger things to keep your Promise.
What do Guides do?
When you make your Promise, you will try your best to keep it.
Girl Guides around the world make a Promise, and this means all Girl Guides, wherever they live, are aiming for the same ‘personal best’. This also means Guides can trust each other to try their best in all they do. The Girl Guide sign is a reminder of the original three-part Promise.
Let’s look at the Promise in more detail.
‘I promise that I will do my best’ In Girl Guides, you will do lots of activities and try many challenges. Sometimes you will need to try again. Doing your best is about trying your hardest every time.
‘To be true to myself and develop my beliefs’
Being ‘true to myself’ is about helping others, making positive decisions and forming good friendships. You may believe in a religion or you may explore your beliefs through your family and community traditions. It is a very personal choice and can mean different things to different people. Most faiths and beliefs have common values for us to live by. Some values are here for you to think about.
Truthfulness Are you always honest?
Do you think about the rights of others?
Can you think of any others?
‘To serve my community and Australia’ There are many ways to help others, such as doing a Good Turn or working on a service project. You could:
• be friendly to a new girl at school
• visit an aged-care home
• participate in activities for other groups in your community.
To serve Australia, you can follow Australia’s laws, be a good citizen and look after the environment. What can you do towards the Hands Create a Challenge to serve your community or Australia? Write down something you could do.
‘And
The Girl Guide Law helps us to put our Promise into action. By striving to do your best to live by the Law, you will be the best person you can be.
The Guide Law gives us a set of values to live by – at home, in your community and online. You can use these values to make good decisions about how you treat other people. Most importantly, a Girl Guide always treats others as she would like to be treated. Can you find photos or pictures that best show each part of the Guide Law? Paste in the photo that you like the best.
Paste in your photo here.
Using technology
Technology (like computers or mobile phones) helps us to communicate, find things out, play games and make friends. But it’s important you use technology safely. Here are some safety tips for when you’re online:
• Always ask a parent, teacher or Guide Leader before using the internet. Follow all of their rules
• Do not tell anyone on the internet your name, address, school or phone number
• Use a nickname when playing games
• Do not open emails if you don’t know the sender
• If you see something that upsets you, show it to an adult.
Spending time outdoors is a large part of being a Girl Guide. You can play games, learn new skills, go camping, have adventures and have lots of fun.
Girl Guides care for the environment. Resources are an important part of the environment. They are natural objects or materials that humans use to make their lives easier.
Some examples of resources are: • wood • sun • wind
coal • minerals, such as iron ore • oil and gas water.
We use these resources to get the following benefits: • heat
food • light • electricity
buildings
furniture
technology.
By using our resources wisely, you will be looking after our planet. Can you think of six ways to save electricity and water in your home? Write each idea in a light bulb or water drop below, then try to do these things at home.
A fantastic way to cut down on waste and help your garden grow is by making compost. You could use this as another challenge for the Hands Create a Challenge.
Save vegetable scraps from the kitchen. Layer them with grass clippings and leaves in a pit. From time to time, shovel some soil through the mixture. In three months, your compost will have turned into rich soil for the garden.
Choose one from the following Create a Challenge badges for Air, Fire, Nature, Trees or Water that encourages you to reduce your impact on the environment.
Try growing your own vegetables. If you don’t have a garden, try saving water by using a timer for shorter showers. Try to calculate how much water your family could save in one day, one week, one month and one year.
Going for a walk or a hike is a fun way to enjoy the outdoors. What are you going to do on your walk or hike? For example, you could hike through a park to spot birds, animals and flowers.
Think about what you need to take with you. Is it going to be sunny or cold or wet? How long are you going for? Some items you might take are illustrated here. Make sure you wear practical clothes. Most importantly, wear comfortable enclosed shoes.
Also make sure that an adult goes with you, and that another adult (who is not going) knows where you are going and what time you expect to be back.
* Personal first aid kit
* Refer to Chapter 3 ‘Service’ for a complete contents list for a f irst aid kit.
Write or draw about a hike that you have been on with your Girl Guide friends.
Was it fun? What did you see?
At camp or at a Girl Guide meeting, you may get to cook on an outdoor stove or open fire. Here are some tips for safe cooking:
• Tie your hair back
• Do not play near a stove or fire
• Use mitts for taking pots and billies on and off the stove or fire, or get an adult to help If there is an accident:
• call an adult for help
• stay calm, and
• if a person is on fire, get them to Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll
If food isn’t stored or handled properly, people can get sick from food poisoning. Make sure you wash your hands regularly and store food safely. There are many different ways of cooking outdoors, such as with a solar oven or tin can. Can you find any other ways?
Learn how to light and put out a match safely (make sure an adult is with you).
Practise lighting a candle.
Try cooking this food outdoors – a damper twist, a sausage or some noodles.
Work on the Fire or Food Create a Challenge or Outdoor Trefoil 1 Achieve a Challenge.
When you are outdoors it is handy to know some knots.
Reef knot
The reef knot is used for tying together two ropes of the same thickness. It lies flat, holds well and is easily untied. It’s a great way to join two short skipping ropes to make one long one.
The clove hitch is used for attaching a rope to a pole or branch. A clove hitch can be tied in several ways. Here is one way.
A round turn and two half hitches is good for tying the end of a rope around a post or tent peg, and through a ring.
Double overhandloop
a go!
Clove hitch Round turn and two half hitches
Overhand knot
Overhand knot
Reef knot
Overhand knot
Overhand knot
Try using lolly snakes or long, cooked noodles for tying these knots. Have a race with another Patrol. Work on the Rope Create a Challenge. For another challenge towards your Hands Create a Challenge, make a Rope Man.
Use rope or thick cord (approx 5–10mm in diameter); cotton or non-slip cord is best. You will need three 50cm lengths – one for the head and body, one for the legs and one for the arms.
A compass is a handy instrument when you are outdoors. It uses the Earth’s magnetic field to show directions. Girl Guides use it on hikes to help them find their way.
There are four main directions: north (N), east (E), south (S) and west (W).
The compass needle always points north. If you know where north is, you can work out all the other directions.
In what direction does the sun rise?
In what direction does the sun set?
There are more directions between these main ones. North-east (NE) is halfway between north and east. South-east (SE) is halfway between south and east.
What direction would north-west (NW) be?
What direction would south-west (SW) be?
Here’s something worth noting: north and south always come before east and west, so it’s always north-east, not east-north.
Have a go!
Compass Chair
1. Form a compass by placing one chair at each of the eight compass points.
2. Nominate a ‘leader’, who will call out the compass points at intervals – W, SE, N and so on – as she leads the others around the outside of the compass (chairs).
3. Once the ‘leader’ calls out a compass point, everyone must race to the chair at that point. The first person to the chair sits on it until the game is finished.
4. Everyone else follows the leader, and repeats steps 2 and 3.
5. When a point is called twice, the first girl to that point sits in front of the girl in the chair.
6. The first Patrol to have all members seated wins.
Try finding south using the stars.
1. Find the Southern Cross and its two pointers.
2. Draw an imaginary line through the length of the Southern Cross and a line midway between the two pointers. Where the two lines cross, drop a line to the horizon and that is south. Can you now work out where north is?
Camping is fun when you are with your Girl Guide friends. Your Leader might take you on a weekend camp, where you will sleep in a bunk or share a tent with other Girl Guides.
At camp, you can enjoy lots of outdoor activities. You might go on a hike, cook over an open fire or try an obstacle course. While you are away, you will work together in your Patrols to help run the camp.
Practise putting your sleeping bag in and out of its storage bag.
Practise packing your clothes using a kit list. Tick off each item after you have put it in your bag. That way you’ll know what you have packed and where it is. It also makes it easier when you pack up at the end of camp.
Work on Camping Trefoil 1 Achieve a Challenge.
The outdoors is a great place for adventure activities. You can:
• go roller skating
• learn archery
• challenge yourself on a low ropes course
• go kayaking or canoeing.
To a Girl Guide, service means helping other people. It could be by doing Good Turns or working on larger service projects. Your reward is knowing you have helped another person or a group of people.
Here are some service ideas:
• help keep your school tidy
• make activity books for a doctor’s surgery
• take part in ANZAC Day, Clean Up Australia Day or National Tree Planting Day
• collect old blankets and towels for your local animal or wildlife shelter.
Remember to check with your parents or Leader before participating in any service project.
First aid
You can Be Prepared by learning some basic first aid skills. First aid is looking after someone until medical help arrives. Ask your Leader if you can practise these skills at Girl Guides.
Before starting any first aid, always get an adult to come and help you. Make sure you wash your hands and put on gloves if they are available.
1 2
Sit the person down. Make a pad from a dry, clean piece of material.
Burns
Get an adult to come and help you.
Place it over the wound and push down f irmly to stop the bleeding.
The adult who is helping you will need to complete any further treatment if required. 3 * *
1 2 3 *
For a small burn, soak it in a container of cool clean water.
For a large burn, place it under cool running water for at least 10 minutes.
1 2 3
Sit the person down and have them pinch their nose on the f leshy bit. Get them to lean forward slightly and breathe through their mouth for at least 10 minutes. You can place a cool, wet face washer or towel on the back of their neck. When the bleeding has stopped, tell the person not to blow their nose, as this could start the bleeding again. 4 *
‘000’ (triple zero)
The emergency number for Police, Fire and the Ambulance in Australia is ‘000’ (triple zero).
The person who answers your call will ask which State you are calling from and then which emergency service you need: Police, Fire or Ambulance. They will then put you through to the right emergency service. When the second person answers, they will ask you some questions. Listen carefully and answer as best you can. Do not hang up the phone until they tell you to.
Personal first aid kit
It’s a good idea to carry a small first aid kit whenever you go on hikes or do other Girl Guide activities. Your supplies could be in a small container, such as a soap box or a snap-lock plastic bag. Supplies can include:
Money
Antiseptic cleaner String
Safety pins
Tweezers
Scissors
*Band-aids
Cotton balls andNotepad pencil
Triangular bandage
* Note: you can f ind instructions for applying a band-aid in Guide Handbook 1.
Have a go!
Try the Be Prepared Explore a Challenge or Emergency Trefoil 1 Achieve a Challenge.
Gauzepads
Gloves
Mobile phone
You can make a difference You can make your life and other people’s lives better. You can make a difference in the world.
If you could have one wish, what one thing would you change to make the world a better place? Girl Guides don’t just wish for things to change – we take action!
Try to finish these sentences:
My town/suburb would be a nicer place to live in if
I think our world would be a better place if
I believe I can make a difference by
Making a difference in this way is called ‘advocacy’. Advocacy is about making a change in the world for the better.
You can use the AGP Process when developing an advocacy project. Check out the example on the next page.
Discover What is it that you want to change? Save our wildlife, making our local park better to play in or setting up a vegie garden at school.
Decide To save your local wildlife.
Plan Find a local wildlife shelter; organise the wildlife shelter ranger to speak to your school; organise a poster competition at school; talk to your local library about displaying posters; work out what message you want to tell people about saving local wildlife.
Do Listen to the ranger talk at school; run a poster competition; put posters up around your community and talk to people about saving your local wildlife.
Evaluate Do you think you have made a difference? Did you make other community members aware of the issues relating to your local wildlife? Is there more that you can do? Can you physically help the wildlife shelter?
Have a go!
Use the AGP Process to develop your own advocacy project. This could be used as a challenge for your Hands Create a Challenge.
chapter title 58
As a Girl Guide, you belong to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). There are more than ten million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 152 countries worldwide. Through Girl Guides, you join in fun activities that help you learn about people from other countries, their culture, beliefs and way of life.
WAGGGS is divided into five World Regions: Africa, Arab, Asia Pacific, Europe and Western Hemisphere. Within these Regions, WAGGGS own four special World Centres, in Mexico, England, Switzerland and India.
World Thinking Day
World Thinking Day is celebrated on 22 February each year. This is the joint birthday of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. Lord Baden-Powell was the founder of Girl Guides and Scouts.
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world celebrate this day usually by participating in a special celebration where we think and learn about Girl Guides all over the world. Money is also donated towards the World Thinking Day Fund to develop Girl Guiding in other countries.
WAGGGS has five World Centres; Our Chalet, Nuestra Cabaña, Sangam, Pax Lodge and Kusafiri, our newest World Centre in Africa. The World Centres are where Girl Guides and Leaders from around the world stay and meet people from different countries and learn more about Girl Guiding worldwide.
Nuestra Cabaña is in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Since opening in 1957, Nuestra Cabaña has welcomed guests from around the world and offered activites and programs from environmental activism to girls’ leadership.
2
Pax Lodge is in London, England. It opened in 1991. Pax is the Latin word for ‘peace’. There you can visit the World Bureau (WAGGGS’ of f ice) and also visit the site of the Crystal Palace Rally, where Girl Guiding f irst began.
Kusafiri is in the Africa Region. This centre opened in 2011 and moves between African countries for WAGGGS events.
4.Sangam, Indi 3 2 4 5
3 Sangam opened in Pune, India in 1966. Sangam means ‘Coming Together’ in sanskrit and since opening, it has been a place to grow, connect and have fun. There are opportunities to volunteer with local service projects. the local children. 4
Our
Our Chalet is in Adelboden, Switzerland, and was opened in 1932. It was the very first World Centre to open. In winter you can try different snow sports. In summer you can go hiking, boating or abseiling. 61
A ‘jamboree’ is a large national or international gathering of Girl Guides and Scouts. With the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI), you use a two-way radio or the internet to meet and talk to Girl Guiding and Scouting friends from all over the world.
JOTA and JOTI are held all around the world over the third weekend of October each year. There are lots of activities you can do to prepare for these jamborees.
Write down the names and countries of people you talk or chat to at JOTA/ JOTI. What other interesting things did you find out?
Girl Guiding has many traditions that we share with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. You will learn and use many of these traditions throughout your time as a Girl Guides.
1. Make the Girl Guide/Girl Scout sign
5. Share the World Badge.
The Symbols of the Movement are the things all Girl Guides share. Every country has their own special Girl Guiding traditions. But all have the following in Share the World Flag.
2. Share the Motto.
3. Share the World Trefoil. 4. Share the World Song.
7. Use the left handshake as a secret sign of friendship. 8. Do a Good Turn and give service to others.
Here are some activities you can do with your Unit:
• Make a birthday cake for Lord and Lady Baden-Powell on World Thinking Day.
• Learn about Girl Guiding in other countries.
• Dress up in international uniforms or national costumes.
• Try food and games from the four World Centres or other countries.
• Think of ways to raise funds for the World Thinking Day Fund, and put one into action.
Complete the World Explore a Challenge or World Guiding Trefoil 1 Achieve a Challenge.
Robert Stevenson Smythe Baden-Powell (also called B-P) was born in England on 22 February 1857. He joined the army and became a national
hero. While in India and South Africa, he used interesting games to train young men in military scouting. When B-P came back to England, he tried out his ideas on a group of boys. They enjoyed the games and outdoor activities and wanted to learn more.
In 1907, B-P ran a small camp on Brownsea Island for 20 boys from all walks of life. They camped in tents, cooked their meals, learnt outdoor skills and worked in Patrols. At night they sat around the campfire and listened to B-P’s stories. The Brownsea Island camp was a huge success.
The next year B-P published a book called Scouting for Boys. Soon boys from all over England began forming Patrols and looking to adults to be their Scout Leaders. Scouting had arrived!
Our story
Girl Guiding actually started itself! On 4 September 1909, a small group of girls wearing Scout hats and carrying hiking sticks joined more than 10,000 Boy Scouts at the Crystal Palace Rally in London.
They were a brave little group. The girls hadn’t been invited to the rally, but they wanted to be heard.
They were demanding to be Girl Scouts. They wanted to follow the same program as the boys!
B-P listened to these girls and realised something needed to be done. He asked his sister Agnes to take on the job. In the first year, 8,000 girls joined the movement called the Girl Guides. A few small but brave voices had changed the world for girls!
Today Girl Guiding is still making a difference in the lives of others.
Joining in your Unit ceremonies is an important part of being a Girl Guide. You need to learn what is done for your opening or closing ceremony and for special occasions, such as a Promise Ceremony or badge presentation. Ceremonies
can be held indoors or outdoors, at the hall or even at a campfire. You could use candles, sparklers, streamers or music to make the event extra special. A good idea is to put your animal mascot or any other symbol that means something to your Unit in the centre of the circle.
Forming a circle is a good way to bring everyone together, to say hello and goodbye, to present badges or awards and to welcome new Girl Guides.
How does your Unit start each meeting? How does your Unit close your Girl Guide meetings? Perhaps you all have a special saying or sing a song together, such as ‘Taps’, a traditional Girl Guide/Girl Scout song.
Write or draw how your Unit opens and closes each Girl Guide meeting.
The Australian Flag, Australian Aboriginal Flag and World Flag are the flags used most often in Girl Guide ceremonies. Each of these has their own special features.
The Australian Flag The World Flag The Australian Aboriginal Flag The Torres Strait Islander Flag
1 Union Jack – our link to Great Britain.
2 Federation Star (seven points) – the six States and the combined Territories of the Commonwealth of Australia.
3 Southern Cross – a constellation of stars in the southern hemisphere.
4 Dark blue f ield.
1 Black: The Aboriginal people.
2 Red: The earth and the colour of ochre used in Aboriginal ceremonies.
3 Yellow: The sun, the constant renewer of life.
1 Green: the land.
2 Blue: the sea.
3 Black: the people.
4 White Dhari (traditional headdress) is a symbol for all Torres Strait Islanders.
5 A white five-pointed star, representing the island groups in Torres Strait and the white represents peace.
1 The gold of the World Trefoil represents the sun shining over the children of the world.
2 Three gold squares – three parts of the original Promise.
3 The blue sky.
4 WAGGGS’ commitment to peace.
Find large coloured pictures of the Australian and World Flags. Paste each flag onto cardboard. Cut each flag into smaller shapes to make a jigsaw puzzle. Mix up the pieces and try to put the flags together again.
Colour in the Aboriginal Flag. Find out the meaning of the parts of the Aboriginal Flag and when it would be appropriate to fly this flag.
Find out what your State or Territory flag looks like. Draw it below.
Campfires are special. You will have so many wonderful memories of the fire, the songs and friendships made!
Here are some tips to make your campfire extra special:
• Help your Leader build the campfire. Learn how to stack the wood properly
• Add magic by placing sparklers between the sticks
• Decorate the fire with pine cones
• Make a circle of candles or glow sticks around the fire.
To really enjoy the campfire, learn the words and actions of the songs you sing and find a sturdy stick to toast your marshmallows after the singing has finished.
Kim’s Game is a fun memory game you can play at Girl Guides. Being observant and having a good memory are two very useful skills.
Kim was a boy in a story about India who learnt to pay attention and improve his memory by studying precious stones and jewels placed on a tray.
Kim would look at the jewels for one minute. The tray was then covered and Kim had to remember and describe each stone.
Have a go!
Play Kim’s Game by yourself or with your Patrol.
Tie six or eight objects with different shapes to a string, leaving gaps between each one. Put a blindfold on a friend and let her follow the string and try to remember the objects she felt along the way.
A Whatsamacallit Tree. Someone hangs pictures of birds or flowers in a tree. Look at the tree for a set time. Then write down as many birds and flowers as you can remember.
Get the message across
Morse code, semaphore and sign language are all ways of communicating without talking. The phonetic alphabet (see table below) is used to spell out words and messages when it’s hard to hear or understand the other person. For example, if someone asked you to spell the name Jane, you would say: ‘Juliet – Alpha – November – Echo’. Your Leaders can help you learn more about these ways of communicating.
ALPHA NOVEMBER
BRAVO OSCAR
CHARLIE PAPA
DELTA QUEBEC
ECHO ROMEO
FOXTROT SIERRA
GOLF TANGO
HOTEL UNIFORM
INDIA VICTOR
JULIET WHISKEY
KILO X-RAY
LIMA YANKEE
MIKE ZULU
Practise the phonetic alphabet and take part in JOTA and JOTI.
Make up your own secret code that only the other members of your Patrol know. Pass on secret messages to each other.
A Guides’ Own is when Girl Guides come together to think about the Girl Guide Promise and Guide Law, and our values. You can remember things you are thankful for and think of ways you can make the world a better place.
A Guides’ Own is often held outside, maybe by a creek or beneath the starry night sky. It usually has a theme, such as outdoors, children, parents, rainbows, animals or colours.
You can participate by reading, acting in a short play, or singing or dancing.
Have a go!
Try writing a poem or learning a song for a Guides’ Own.
Join in a Guides’ Own by reading a quote, singing a song or acting in a short play.
In Girl Guides, you are always learning something new. People who challenge themselves and learn new things often become good leaders. Do you know someone who is a good leader? What special qualities does that person have? Why do you think leadership is so important for Girl Guides?
Girl Guiding activities help you learn new things – even something about yourself. You might learn a better way to do a task or how to use your skills differently. Always be positive and do your best. Next time you finish an activity at Girl Guides, ask yourself:
• What did I learn by doing that?
• Did I do the best I could?
What was the best part about what I did? Could I do anything differently next time?
Have a go!
Learncookingoutdoor
G o camping
Knowing what you want to do is a great way to be positive. Ask your Leader to explain how to brainstorm or mind map. Brainstorm or draw a mind map of all the activities you want to try at Girl Guides. Put your ideas up on a wall and see what you can achieve. Tick off each activity once you have tried it.
with my Patrol
In Girl Guides, you will be learning many skills. Once you have learnt a skill, practise it over and over to help you remember it. Another way to remember a skill is to teach it to another Girl Guide. Here’s how to do it:
• Get everything ready before you start
• Think about what to say
• Explain the skill you will teach – keep it short and simple
• Show how it is done
Practise the skill together. What skills could you teach another Girl Guide?
Have a go!
Use your skills to run these short activities for your Patrol. Every member of each Patrol must tie a reef knot, clove hitch and round turn and two half hitches in a relay.
Pass on your knowledge by being a buddy to a new or younger Girl Guide. You could introduce her to other Girl Guides, show her where things are or teach her some of your Unit’s traditions. Teach a new campfire song or a new game.
Speaking and listening skills are important. Good leaders use these skills all the time. You will find them handy when you are solving a problem or making a group decision with your
Take turns – let the person speaking f inish before you say anything.
Speak slowly and carefully people will listen if they can hear you.
Listen carefully and pay attention – ask questions if you are not sure what the speaker means, look at the person who is talking.
As you grow older, you will be making many more decisions in your Unit. Sometimes this can be hard, especially when you’re part of a group. Remember, your speaking and listening skills will help you make a good decision.
Girl Guides love working together. It makes tasks easier and more fun. The best leaders work and share tasks with others.
Imagine the leaders of three different groups are giving these instructions:
2. We are going to make Marshmallow Snowmen today. I’ll read out the instructions and 1. We are going to make Marshmallow Snowmen today. I’ll make them all for you and you can clean up afterwards.
3. We are going to make Marshmallow Snowmen today. Ruchira, can you get the marshmallows? Lucy, please find the other ingredients. Peta, can you get the bowls, and Normala, can you read the instructions? We’ll do it step by step and help each other. At the end we’ll clean up together.
Which group do you think had the most fun? In which group did all the members have a chance to learn something?
Girl Guides may choose and vote for their own Patrol Leaders. A leader needs special skills so she can lead her team well. Which of the qualities here do you think a leader should have? Tick the ones you agree with:
Friendly
Good at everything
Well organised
Kind
Trustworthy
Oldest girl in the Patrol
Bossy
Full of good ideas
Has lots of badges
Enthusiastic
Listens to everyone
Beautiful
Only uses her ideas
Shares tasks with others
Sometimes Girl Guides will be chosen as the leader to run a game or activity. If you are chosen for this, use your leadership skills to help others.
Small groups called Patrols have always been a part of Girl Guides. Belonging to a Patrol is fun. You can play games, make new friends, help make decisions and join in activities. In a Patrol, everybody works together.
Patrols 82
Does your Patrol have a special name? Perhaps to show how special it is, you could:
• make a Patrol flag
• choose a Patrol motto
• design a Patrol logo
• make a Patrol activity box
• make a Patrol games book
• get to know the members of your Patrol.
Patrols work well together when each member does a different job. Activities will run smoothly and everyone will be involved. You can help your Patrol by thinking about what your skills and talents are. Are you:
• a good friend?
• helpful?
• creative and artistic?
• athletic?
• good at writing?
• dependable and reliable?
• good at organising equipment and games?
What activity can you do with your Patrol? How would you split up the tasks?
Thinking up ideas for your Unit program will begin in your Patrol, by everyone putting forward suggestions. Here are some things to consider:
• Are there any skills that the Girl Guides in your Patrol want to learn or improve?
• Do you want to go on a camp?
• Is there a special service project that you would like to work on?
• Are there any badges that your Patrol would like to complete?
Can you think of other things to do?
You then need to share these ideas with the other Patrols. As a Unit, you will decide what your Unit program will look like.
Each Patrol has a leader, called the Patrol Leader or PL. They are usually more experienced Girl Guides who have good leadership skills. A good PL is:
• friendly and well mannered
• organised and punctual
• able to make good use of time. Is this you?
A Patrol Leader can choose a Patrol Second, who assists and takes over if the PL is away or busy.
Patrol Leaders and Seconds wear stripes below the Patrol Emblem on their sash.
As a PL you help and encourage your Patrol in many activities. You also represent your Patrol when information is being given out or when decisions need to be made.
A Patrol Leader is expected to:
• represent the Patrol
• set a good example
• encourage all Guides help with activities be friendly to everyone.
a go!
PatrolLeader stripes PatrolSecond stripes
Collect leftover materials from other crafts, such as newspaper, a ball of wool, pipe cleaners, string, straws and empty milk cartons. The Patrol works together to make an imaginary sea monster, but each girl uses only her right hand.
The Discover a Challenge has ten levels, which are named after pretty Australian gemstones. This handbook has two levels: Amethyst and Garnet. Each level has four sections based on the Elements –Physical, People, Practical and Self.
You need to do ten challenges for each level to earn a Discover a Challenge badge: two challenges each from Physical, People, Practical and Self and two more challenges from any section. Your Leader will sign off each challenge when you have completed it.
Draw a star in the left-hand column to show which challenges you want to do. Before you start, talk about your choices with your Leader. You may complete some of these challenges with your Girl Guide friends at your Unit meetings or you may complete them at home.
Have fun!
Amethysts are rich purple gemstones. Some challenges at this level can also help you earn the Junior BP Award (◆). The minimum start age for this badge is seven years.
For one week, keep a diary of the fruits and vegetables you eat. You could use pictures and words in your diary.
Participate in an advocacy project about the environment. (◆) OR Earn Trees or Water Create a Challenge badge.
Go for a short hike with your Unit. OR
Have a go at a challenging outdoor activity you have not tried before. (◆)
Learn how to treat a blood nose and other bleeding. OR
Visit the Police, Fire or Ambulance station and find out what happens there.
CHALLENGE I WILL DO
CHALLENGE
Help to plan a Guides’ Own. (◆) OR Take part in a Promise and Law activity.
Do a Good Turn for someone outside your immediate family. OR Earn the Service Flash 1. (◆)
Participate in a game or activity about the four World Centres.
Help plan your Unit program.
Promote Guides in your community. For example, put up a poster in your school or local library.
Pack for a sleepover or camp and attend it.
Play a game using basic knotting skills. OR Apply an arm sling using a reef knot.
Play a basic compass game or join in a compass activity.
DATE CHALLENGE COMPLETED
LEADER’S SIGNATURE
CHALLENGE I WILL DO
CHALLENGE
Show how to tie your shoelaces. OR Plant seedlings and care for them. OR
Show how to light a candle safely using matches.
Make a musical instrument and play it for your Girl Guide friends.
Self
Participate in Unit decisions; for example, program planning. OR
Know your full name, address and phone number.
Attend meetings regularly for five weeks and wear your uniform correctly. OR
Participate in a service or community activity.
Lead a favourite game with your Patrol or Unit.
Invent a game or make a toy out of natural materials. Try out your game/toy with your Girl Guide friends.
DATE CHALLENGE COMPLETED
LEADER’S SIGNATURE
Garnets are usually deep red to purple but they can be found in every colour. Some challenges at this level can also help you earn the Junior BP Award (◆). The minimum start age for this badge is eight years.
DATE
CHALLENGE I WILL DO
CHALLENGE
Help to prepare a meal for your family. OR Find out about healthy eating portions and make a poster for your home fridge.
Participate in an environmental activity, such as a tree planting day, Clean Up Australia Day or Frog Watch. (◆)
Learn a new skill or improve an old skill that involves a ball, a rope or a hoop. Use your skill in a game with your Patrol or Unit.
Learn how to cross the road safely on foot and on your bike. Also learn three other important road rules. OR Know how to travel safely when using private or public transport.
CHALLENGE COMPLETED
LEADER’S SIGNATURE
CHALLENGE I WILL DO
CHALLENGE
Make a game or activity that explores one or more parts of the Guide Law.
For four weeks, do a helpful job that your Guide Leader has chosen for you. OR
Make a list of people in the community who help other people.
Know what WAGGGS stands for and name three member countries. Find out more about Girl Guides/Girl Scouts in each of these countries.
Organise and run a game that every member of your Patrol can play. (◆)
Participate in a State, Territory or national challenge or badge.
Find out how to send a simple message using morse code, phonetic alphabet, semaphore or sign language.
Make a hot drink and sandwich (or similar). OR Sew on a button or a badge.
Discover a Challenge
DATE CHALLENGE COMPLETED
LEADER’S SIGNATURE
CHALLENGE I WILL DO
CHALLENGE
Tie a round turn and two half hitches and a clove hitch. Know what they are used for. OR Show how you would treat a simple burn.
Help plan a Guides’ Own or campfire. (◆) OR Participate in a campfire. The campfire could be held at a camp or during your Unit meeting.
Make something you can wear.
Self
Think about one of your talents and show it to your Patrol. (◆)
Help to choose and plan a special Guiding event, such as a Promise Ceremony or Guides’ Own. (◆)
Organise and run a short activity that includes every member of your Patrol. (◆)
Spend the whole day without playing with any of your toys, watching TV or playing on the computer. Tell your Unit what you did instead.
DATE CHALLENGE COMPLETED
LEADER’S SIGNATURE
What has been the most exciting Girl Guide adventure that you’ve had so far?
What are the names of your new friends?
What new skills have you learnt?
Do you remember when you made or renewed your Girl Guide Promise?
How have you put your Promise into action?
You’ve reached the end of this Girl Guide handbook, but not the end of your Guiding adventure. There are still many more adventures to have, such as:
• trying new and different activities
• being a Patrol Second or Leader
• working with older Guides
• working as a Guide Helper with younger Girl Guides
• planning a Patrol activity by yourself
• working on the BP Award.
Talk to your Guide Leader about what’s next in your Guiding adventure!
‘000’ calls 53
advocacy 55–57
Australian Guide Program (AGP) 19–29
Baden-Powell, Robert Stevenson Smythe 66
badges and awards 13, 18, 26–29
bleeding 52
blood nose 53
burns 52
campfires 72
camping 48–49
ceremonies 68
challenges 24–25, 86–93
amethyst 88–90
garnet 91–93
Hands Create a Challenge 39, 45
clove hitch 44
compass 46–47
compost 39
cooking 42–43
Discover a Challenge 86–93
decision-making skills 79
environment 37–39
first aid 51–54
flags 70–71
four Elements 20
Good Turn 14
Guide handshake 16
Guide Law 11, 33–34
Guide Motto 16
Guide Promise 10, 30–33
Guide sign 13
Guide symbols 64
Guide uniform 12–13
Guides’ Own 75
Guiding traditions 63–75
hiking 40–41
history of Girl Guides 66–67
Jamboree of the Air (JOTA) 62
Jamboree of the Internet (JOTI) 62
Kim’s Game 73
knots 43–45
Leadership 76–81
learning new skills 77
make a difference 55–57
Outdoors 36–49
Patrols 8–9, 82–85
phonetic alphabet 74
Promise and Law 30–34
Promise badge 18
Promise ceremony 17
putting ideas into action 22–23
reef knot 43
rewards 26–29
right-handed sea monster 85
rope 43–45
Rope Man 45
round turn and two half hitches 44
Service 50–57
seven Fundamentals 21
sharing tasks 80
speaking and listening skills 79
teaching skills 78
technology 35
WAGGGS World Centres 60–61
World Guiding 58–62
World Thinking Day 59