PLUS: Health Promotion Day 2021 Help Plant a Tree And more!!
A RUNDOWN OF ALL THE EVENTS FROM CGI’S SECOND VIRTUAL CAMP 2020 Vol. 4
Guider’s Link
CONTENTS Chief Commissioner's Message 3 Noticeboard 4 Virtual celebration of Global Guiding 6 Development 14 Health Promotion 16 Cygnet Section 18 BrigĂn Section 20 Guide Section 22 Ranger Section 24 International 26 Chief Commissoner Award 32 Training 34 Tree Planting 38 Our Lady of Lourdes 40 Around Ireland 42 Contacts 47
Don't forget to send your photos and articles for the Guiders Link to: communications@girlguidesireland.ie. Closing date for the next issue is 6th January 2021 2 Guiders Link Vol. 4
CHIEF COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE Hello everyone I hope you are all keeping safe and well. Little did I think in the last Guider’s Link that we would be still in the midst of this pandemic in October 2020, but here we are and as I write this waiting to see if we will be put into Level 5. The resilience of our Guiders and youth members never ceases to amaze me and once again on behalf of CGI I thank you all for being who you are. Reflecting back on the past 6 months, I have tried to find the positives of the situation and of course there are some – the additional time we have had to spend in our homes, discovering the beauty of our gardens and the beauty of our locality on our daily walks. The resilience of people and the ability of people in both voluntary life and professional life to reinvent themselves, some of us have re discovered the joy of cooking and improved greatly on our IT skills. All of these positives are great but in no way take away from the serious side of COVID-19. I know we have thanked our frontline workers previously, but just again to reiterate how much we appreciate all of them and the fabulous work they do. As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we pray that we will get the ability to live with CVOID and to discover a new normal, all the new words we have learnt this year! I hope you all enjoyed our Celebration of Global Guiding. Many thanks to Michelle and Suzanne for all the work they put into this fabulous event and of course to our ever-present background team of Nicola, Eoin and Rob. To everyone, especially our own Guiders who contributed to the festival, it was excellent. We hope the event opened some new activities and interests to you all. 2021 is the International year of Peace and on behalf of myself and the NEB we hope that 2021 will bring you all peace in your lives. For 2021 apart from Peace I hope you find kindness, kindness in your heart and soul. Be kind to the people you meet as you never know what is going on in someone’s life, your kindness could help them get through another day. On the other hand, your lack of kindness could be the final thing with them. So, a smile or a kind word go a long way towards improving someone’s daily life. If we can pass anything to our youth members it should be one of the Guide Laws: “A Guide is KIND to everyone and respects all living things” This is an important Law and one we should be determined to teach our Cygnets, Brigini, Guides and Rangers and one that we as Guiders should make part of our every day life. Have you joined the Development Team yet for ‘A cuppa and a Biscuit’, make your drink and grab your favourite snack and meet up with Guiders from around the country. It is a chance to chat, get ideas and to discuss the same issues we are all experiencing. I look forward to seeing some of you there. So as we leave 2020 behind us and look forward to 2021, can I once again thank you all for the work you do day in and day out with our young people. To my other National Officers and to the members of National Executive Board my heart felt thanks, a lot of people aren’t aware of all the work that is going on in the background but it is very much appreciated and is reflected in the wide programme we present to our youth members. Many thanks also to Nicola, Eoin and Rob who are always there to support us in our work. This year I am sure they raised their eyebrows more than once at the mad ideas we presented, but as always they made them workable, so thank you. To all of your families best wishes for what I hope will be a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas for all. I look forward to seeing you in 2021 , hopefully in person but if not, definitely on screen! Take care of yourselves Yours in Guiding, Emily McCann Chief Commissioner chiefcommissioner@girlguidesireland.ie www.girlguidesireland.ie 3
NOTICEBOARD UPCOMING NATIONAL EVENTS (PROVISIONAL) WAGGGS Advocacy Campaign Stop The Violence – 16 Ways in 16 Days CCA 2020 Projects Due In CCA 2021 Application Closing Date Thinking Day Youth Forum
November 2020 8th January 2021 11th January 2021 22nd February 2021 7th March 2021
RESOURCE DATES World Kindness Day Children's Day International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women International Day of Persons with Disabilities International Human Solidarity Day
13th November 2020 14th November 2020 25th November 2020 3rd December 2020 20th December 2020
GARDA VETTING/ACCESSNI: IT IS THE POLICY OF THE CATHOLIC GUIDES OF IRELAND, THAT REVETTING/REAPPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL VETTING BUREAU/ACCESSNI, WILL BE CARRIED OUT EVERY 3 YEARS.
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NEWS FROM THE BOARD
REGISTRATION In light of the challenges faced by Units in the current pandemic, CGI will postpone the collection of registration fees until January 2021.
The closing date for Registration is
Friday 29th January 2021
BANK TRANSFERS MADE TO NATIONAL WHEN MAKING PAYMENTS BY BANK TRANSFER, PLEASE USE THE BANK DETAILS PRINTED ON THE INVOICE GENERATED BY OGM ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR CENSUS. PLEASE ENSURE TO INCLUDE THE INVOICE NUMBER IN THE REFERENCE/NARRATIVE SECTION OF THE BANK TRANSFER SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THE PAYMENT IS RECORDED AGAINST THE CORRECT UNIT.
If you are unsure, please contact the National Office Thank you for your cooperation Eileen Mc Carthy National Treasurer
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26 -27 SEPTEMBER 2020 6 Guiders Link Vol. 4
As everyone probably knows by now, we recently held our second virtual camp. The weekend Sept 26 and 27 was our Celebration of Global Guiding and it was epic!
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CGI’s International Celebration of Global Guiding | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7
Firstly, we have to acknowledge the help we received, because there’s no way we could put on such an event without the help of a lot of people. The staff in National Office were, as always, amazing and so helpful. Then of course our volunteers, it’s always so heartening when you send out a text, email or phone request asking for help, the amount of people who are willing and eager to help is astounding. We had leaders from around the country all willing to help; from those who volunteered to lead and to sing at the campfire event on Saturday night, to those who worked on and sent in videos showcasing different areas and skills in guiding, we couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. Another aspect to these virtual camps is the interaction from the girls themselves, how many photos, videos and comments come in. Some photos are sent to the unit leaders and they may not have permission to share them to the national page, but they do let us know that their girls are taking part, and that’s what it’s all about. This time around we also called on our guiding sisters worldwide to help, and they certainly came through for us. Suzanne our International Commissioner, and Gillian, Deirdre and Yasmin, our JLS ladies (take note of the international opportunities afforded to our young leaders!) all got in touch with friends and contacts and the results were brilliant. With contributions ranging from facts about their countries, to songs, dances and crafts, it was lovely to see the different videos and how each one of them were willing to engage to make our weekend a success.
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CGI’s International Celebration of Global Guiding | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7
We had contributions from, or about, 16 different countries around the globe; from Europe, Australia, the Americas and Asia, and we even managed to showcase some of our own Irish culture with some Irish dancing and St Bridget’s Cross making, courtesy of Catherine and Maria. Throughout the day we also had a number of quizzes and challenges and these were all hotly contested with a large number of units getting involved in the fun and sending in photos and videos; again some were sent to the unit leaders but they were passed on. And thanks go to all the unit leaders, and leaders, who spread the word and encouraged their girls to take part, and who took part themselves. A special mention for Lucan who were super-fast on all the quizzes! www.girlguidesireland.ie 9
CGI’s International Celebration of Global Guiding | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7
As well as the international element to the weekend, we also had some good old-fashioned guiding skills on show, and one of the first videos of the day, and one that certainly made a big impact on lots of people was Nicola’s demonstration on how to pack your rucksack for camp. A great video with so many hints and advice and something to remember for when we can go on camp again. Another skills video from one of our leaders was Joan’s brilliant display of knots; again, something we should all be reasonably proficient at, but not all of us are, and Joan is certainly top class, and again another ideal video to show at one of your meetings on outdoor skills. On Saturday evening we had our campfire, which is always the most anticipated part of any camp, physical or remote, and it was glorious mayhem as usual. From some of the girls not understanding that everyone could hear them speaking to their own leaders, to the difficulties faced when everyone is singing the same song but at slightly different times or tunes. There were lots of laughs, some frozen faces, and one very poignant “when is girl guides coming back, I miss it” which made it all worthwhile. Maria, Deirdre, Marion and Norma coaxed us through a range of campfire favourites and it was a perfect end to our day.
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CGI’s International Celebration of Global Guiding | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7
The occasion was not lost on WAGGGS, who re-tweeted most of our Tweets and who commented on some of our posts. We also had some contributions from Board members of WAGGGS, like an opening message from Paula from Europe Region, some #neckerflip challenges and the beautiful When We Shine song as part of our Guide’s Own on Sunday morning.
We were also delighted to include other elements of guiding in Ireland. For example CIGA, where Yvonne gave us a short presentation about who CIGA are; and IGG, when their Chief Commissioner Amanda joined our own Chief Commissioner in reading reflections at the Guide’s Own.
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CGI’s International Celebration of Global Guiding | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7
When our camp ended we not only had messages of thanks and congratulations from our own members and their families here in Ireland, which of course is very much appreciated, but we also had messages from guides all over the world who had popped by throughout the weekend to take part. We’ve even had some queries from different countries on how to go about running such a camp, and can they use some of our videos, so we were obviously doing something right! All in all, a lot of hard work went into putting the weekend together and we’re really happy with how it turned out. Again, thanks to everyone who contributed, to our office staff and of course a very special mention to Eoin and Rob, whose techie wizardry made it what it was. All of the videos are now available on our YouTube channel, so please feel free to use them as you like. There’s lots to learn and plenty of the videos can be used as part of your meetings if you wish. Finally, just in case anyone is unaware, there is a badge available for all those who took part in the camp, and all you need to do is to contact the National Office at admin@girlguidesireland. ie and say how many badges you want for your unit and we’ll arrange for those to be sent to you. Thanks again everyone, and we’ll see you all at our next camp!
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CGI’s International Celebration of Global Guiding | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 - 2 7
50808 IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR IRELAND:
a FREE 24/7 text service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for people going through a mental health or emotional crisis - big or small. From breakups or bullying, to anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings. The aim of 50808 is to provide immediate support in the short term and connect people to resources that will help them into the future.
CGI are delighted to announce that we have become a Keyword Partner for 50808. Here’s how it works: • Text the word GUIDING to 50808 • A trained Crisis Volunteer is available to you 24/7 • All conversations are anonymous, unless the texter wants to give their name • Text 50808 is available to both adult and youth members of CGI in the Republic • This is a free service to our members as 50808 is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) CGI will receive anonymised data and insights which will help us to improve our own development and to provide relevant training and supports to our members.
text about it
text GUIDING
50808
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DEVELOPMENT The National Development team has been meeting continuously since April 2020. We worked on designing and developing the Development Survey followed by the analysis of that survey. So far we have listened to your responses and have completed or are working on the following outputs from the survey Completed • Feedback from the survey was presented in the previous Link edition • Recruitment & Retention Booklet Review • Programme Ideas/initiatives for a hybrid model of Guiding on OGM In Progress to 31st December 2020 • • • •
Retention - Storrow Roadshow for those interested in joining the Storrows or those Guiders who have girls interested in joining. Engagement - Support for our Leaders – we are organising a ‘Cuppa and a Biscuit’ on Zoom, no agenda, just come along and share your thoughts. Volunteer Skills Group (output from the Survey) – how do we share these volunteered skills for the benefit of the organisation the ‘What, When and How’ concept. Continually working on retention and recruitment initiatives, focusing on our strengths, opportunities, threats and weaknesses.
January 2021 onwards • Retention - Flexible Guiding Model • Recruitment - National Recruitment Campaign
SUPPORTING OUR VOLUNTEERS
A CUPPA AND A BISCUIT CATCH UP VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM NO AGENDA
• October 2020 Monday 12th at 8pm • December 2020 Tuesday 8th at 8pm • February 2021 Wednesday, 17th at 8pm • April 2021 Thursday 15th at 8pm • June 2021 Friday 18th at 8pm
A National Development Team Initiative
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VOLUNTEER SKILLS GROUP ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SHARING YOUR SKILLS?* IF SO, JOIN US ON *A follow up initiative from recent responses on the Development Survey
TUESDAY 10TH OF NOVEMBER AT 8PM ON ZOOM For further information contact development@girlguidesireland.ie
A National Development Team Initiative
STORROWS UPDATE Well the summer has come to an end and there’s an Autumn nip in the air but fear not, the Storrows have a winter programme lined up for the chilly evenings ahead! Starting on the 10th of October we’ll be hosting a Netflix Party showing of the film Enola Holmes so bring your popcorn and treats. On the 19th of October the Storrows Roadshow will be taking place so you can find out more about who we are and why you might like to get involved. Cold weather also means spooky season is nearly upon us and to celebrate the Storrows will be hosting a Fancy Dress Bingo on the 1st of November with prizes up for grabs. November also means Thanksgiving for our friends across the water in the US, however, never ones to let geography deter us, the Storrows will be hosting a Friendsgiving on the 26th of November. Bring your favourite dinner and break bread with us over Zoom! Lastly, December means Christmas and this year will be the first annual Storrows Christmas Party. At the moment we are planning for it to be online, however, depending on government guidelines at the time that may change. In other news one of our fabulous Storrows has been making and selling masks on Depop! Megan Dempsey of Summerhill Guide Unit has been making gorgeous masks to make sure everyone can stay safe and stylish. The masks are made from sustainable materials and there are lots of patterns and colours to choose from. If you’d like to buy a mask you can email Megan at megandempsey200@gmail.com and she can email you the available patterns. The masks cost €4.50 each plus €2 postage. Lastly, the CGI Page Turners! We’ll be having a meeting in October to discuss a book of people’s own choosing. It can be something you read recently or your favourite book of all time. We’d love to have more people joining the discussions so swing by with a cup of tea for a chat.
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EXERCISE/ DANCE ROUTINES
STRESS MANAGEMENT
MEDITATION
RELIEVING GUIDING PRESSURE/SUPPORT WITHIN CGI
SELF ESTEEM AND APPRECIATION RECIPES FOR BUSY GUIDERS
FUN & LAUGHTER PHYSICAL/ MENTAL/ EMOTIONAL
RESILIENCE
WORKING REMOTELY
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
LEADER’S GET TOGETHER
YOGA
IT’S GOOD TO TALK
SUICIDE AWARENESS
BEING ACTIVE
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H E A LT H PROMOTION D AY 2 0 2 1 Following on from the success of the Health Promotion Day h e l d i n J a n u a r y t h i s y e a r, w e a r e g o i n g t o h o l d a ‘Vir tual Health PromotionDay for Guiders’ register no later than Friday 11th December email admin@girlguidesireland.ie
BUSY PEOPLE/ TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES
LEAVING TIME FOR ME
CARDIAC HEALTH
Saturday 16th January 2021
OUTDOOR/ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Guides… It’s a healthy thing
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CYGNETS FEEDING OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS As the seasons turn and the weather gets colder it can be harder for some birds to find the food they usually eat so here is a rundown of some of the foods that birds like as well as some of the rules for feeding them.
Nuts Peanuts are the most popular food for garden birds and attract a wide range of species. Be sure to buy from a reputable supplier as mouldy peanuts can kill birds. When feeding during the spring and summer ensure all peanuts are fed from a mesh peanut feeder, as whole peanuts can be harmful to young birds.
Seeds Black sunflower seed is a highly nutritious and popular food for birds, especially the tits and finches. It has a higher oil level and energy value than the striped-shell variety of sunflower seed, often sold alongside, which tends not to be as popular with the birds, although they will eat it. ‘Mixed Wildbird Seed’ is often sold at a seemingly good price but often doesn’t attract the birds; much of this mixture is either wheat or corn and, apart from pigeons, few garden birds can digest this food source.
Fats Don’t waste any fat! It’s a nutritious food for garden birds. Lumps of suet may be hung out, and meat trimmings, bacon rinds and table scraps will also be eaten gratefully. The large ‘Fat Balls’ which can be bought in pet shops often prove highly popular - you can also make your own home-made version by pouring melted fat over bread or cake scraps to make ‘bird cake’. This can be made even more nutritious if some seeds, nuts, oatmeal, grated cheese or dried fruits are added. Use half a pound of fat per pound of dry ingredients. Coconut shells and yogurt cartons make suitable moulds.
Fruit Often overlooked, fruit will attract several species of bird which may not otherwise visit your garden. Apples and pears cut in half and placed on the ground will attract Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, and in particularly hard weather they might bring in Redwing and Fieldfare. Spearing cut apples onto the ends of branches will also attract Blackcaps. Smaller fruit such as grapes will also be taken. A coconut sawn in half and hung upside down from the branch of a tree is welcomed and much enjoyed by the tits.
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Grain-based foods These are always available in the kitchen and include bread, biscuits and stale cake. Modern processed bread is not suitable for wild birds and should be avoided where possible. Grated wholemeal bread should be moistened slightly, as this makes it easier for the birds to swallow. Moist bread is also less likely to blow away or be taken off in pieces by the larger, more aggressive birds. Maize flakes, oat flakes and even puppy meal are other valuable food sources. In very cold weather, cheese scattered on the ground beneath bushes should attract wrens and help them through difficult conditions.
Rules of Feeding 1.
Feed regularly: don’t put out lots of feeders and then forget to refill them. Birds can become dependant on a food source during harsh weather.
2.
Only use fresh peanuts and seed. Do not feed mouldy, wrinkled or wizened peanuts or seed.
3.
Ensure fresh water is always available for drinking and bathing. An upturned dustbin lid with a stone in it is often all that is required. Be sure to remove the ice in cold weather so that birds can drink.
4.
Birds often feed on the ground below a feeder. Make sure that there is no shrubbery nearby that could conceal a cat, and try to keep all feeders at least 5-6 feet above the ground.
5.
Remember to wash all feeders and to change the water in the bird bath on a regular basis.
Can I feed all year round? Winter is not the only time we can help birds by feeding them - feeding between the months of April and October can also be helpful, as there is a great demand on natural resources due to the increase in hungry mouths to feed. Only put out peanuts in a fine mesh container so that parent birds cannot take large pieces that might cause young chicks to choke, and avoid fats completely. Safe foods to use at this time of year include sunflower seeds, pinhead oatmeal, sultanas, raisins, currants and mealworms.
CHRISTMAS DESSERT SANDWICH (BACKWOODS STYLE) INGREDIENTS 2 slices bread (Brioche preferably) Butter Chocolate Spread Caster sugar (for sprinkling)
Sliced apple Cinnamon (optional) Sultanas For an alternative and to make a Rocky road sandwich use small marshmallows Tin foil
METHOD Lay down double thickness of tin foil to cover one sandwich Sprinkle caster sugar and Cinnamon on the tin foil Butter one side of the bread and put butter side down on the tin foil Spread chocolate spread on the other side Cover chocolate spread with sliced apple and sultanas (or marshmallows) Butter top slice of bread – butter one side and chocolate spread the other side Place the chocolate side down so the butter is up to the tin foil Wrap well in the tin foil Place in the embers of the fire and turn constantly Open and enjoy (be careful the contents will be hot)
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BRIGÍNÍ EASY ADVENT CALENDAR WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• 12 red and 12 green strips of card 4” x 1” per person • White card shape for top, e.g. star, bauble, Christmas scene, etc. • Glue or sellotape for joining the strips • Sweet or piece of chocolate, optional.
WHAT TO DO. 1. Glue or sellotape a green strip into a circle 2. Put a strip of red card though it and glue or sellotape into a circle. 3. Continue using all the strips in alternative colours to form a chain. 4. Decorate whichever shape you are using for the top 5. Stick the chain to the top. 6. Stick the sweet or chocolate to the back of the bauble, optional. 7. Starting on the 1st December one link is removed from the chain each night. 8. When the last link is removed the sweet or chocolate is eaten.
WINTER SCAVENGER HUNT 1. Pinecone 2. 3 Different Leaves (to be found on the ground not picked) 3. Something beginning with the letter ‘D’ 4. Twig 5. Bark rubbing 6. Acorn 7. Feather 8. Something brown 9. Drawing of a wild flower 10. Stone suitable for decorating 11. Berry 12. Unusual item 13. Something shiny 14. Plait made of grass 15. Shoe lace.
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SLEEPING
SANTA One Brigin is chosen to be Santa and wears a Santa hat. It is Christmas Eve and Santa has fallen asleep in his chair. As Santa snores loudly the other Brigini creep up on him. Hearing them Santa wakes up. Anyone he sees moving is out. Santa falls asleep again and the game continues. First Brigin to reach him is the new Santa.
SNOWBALL/ MARSHMALLOW THROW: EQUIPMENT: A bowl or paper plate per girl. 10 Marshmallow per girl. • Put 10 Marshmallows in each bowl and each girl holds her bowl on her lap. • The girls then throw marshmallows into each other’s bowls for a set time (2 minutes). • The winner is the girl who has the least mallows in her bowl. • This could also be played in rounds with the girl with the most in her bowl in each round being out.
CHRISTMAS WORDSEARCH
K L B D Z P B D O B P T O B G
R E E D N I E R B J I G Q Y X
CARD CAROLS CHRISTMAS CRACKERS
E I T X L V B M O V J Q A H Z
T I G N I D D U P I N V Y P B
Y Z D X C R A C K E R S H L E
V H C N E W C P I T L Z L O I
E P H M L A J E B Y Q P T D P
ELF HAM PRESENTS PUDDING
I S Q S F I Q G D Y Z D Z U R
M Y I K S A M T S I R H C R E
A S E A I P O A Z A T N A S S
H Y R K O A R Z P G E J B I E
F J L Z R W K M B M I A D E N
REINDEER RUDOLPH SANTA TREE
N N E H A U C A R O L S R C T
V W T R E E T Q V P P H A N S
F H E F T B B K P X G F C K B
TURKEY
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GUIDES
WIRE CHRISTMAS TREES Just wrap some 12 gauge decorative wire around a Styrofoam cone, creating a Christmas tree shape. However, once you carefully pull the wire off of the cone, you realise it’s a bit trickier than it looks. Yes, it’s incredibly easy to wrap the wire, but the finesse comes with trying to get it to stand on its own – it’s kind of like a slinky. It can take a few tries to get it to stand but just keep the rings at the bottom closer together and it will work. Use your imagination to decorate and make a stunning present for someone.
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GRATITUDE ADVENT CALENDAR YOU WILL NEED • • • • •
Sticks, bought or foraged (quantity depends on how long they are and how many levels you want to make). We will make 5 levels in this example. 25 3-inch cardboard squares Number Stamps Red & White Bakers String Tools: Scissors and punch
METHOD Make your calendar shape by attaching sticks in five rows with baker’s string or ribbon if you prefer. (See picture). Next make your 25 squares. On one side number them 1 – 25. On the other side write something you or your family are grateful for. Punch holes in squares and attach them to your calendar. Each day during December turn a square around and remind yourself what you are grateful for. Can be put away and used again.
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RANGERS Hi everyone, I hope everyone is keeping well. In our last edition of Guiders Link we mentioned that our Ranger weekend may go ahead but unfortunately due to restrictions this was also cancelled. Hopefully we can back to our ranger programme in 2021.
Trish Derwin National Commissioner for Ranger Guides rangers@girlguidesireland.ie
ZOOM MEETING
On 16th September a zoom meeting was held to try and discover how our Rangers have been coping and how they have been staying in contact during Covid 19. We had representation from each region and it was very inspiring to see that the girls have been very active and they shared their experiences and ideas with us. We would like to pass this information to all our Rangers to help you stay connected. We also put forward the question of what the girls would like to learn during Covid-19 while we are waiting to get back to our usual meeting. What transpired is that the girls would like to learn, sign language, first aid, and powerpoint presentation we are currently researching how we can do this for the girls.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO STAY CONNECTED? Zoom meeting ideas:• Bingo •
Scavenger hunt
• Baking • Quiz •
Music Quiz
These are only a few ideas, your leader can help you find more great ideas on OGM. As Rangers are usually a small group within the unit it might be a good idea to link up with other Rangers in different units either regionally or nationally. The Ranger programme is being finalised and it is the aim that this will be set up where all Ranger can share ideas on how they run their Ranger section. We are also exploring the idea of setting up an Instagram Account for Rangers. We will keep you up-dated, ‘Stay Connected and ‘Stay Safe’.
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1. According to the poem, ‘The Night Before Christmas’, how many reindeer did Santa have to pull his sleigh? Eight, nine or 10? 2. What is traditionally hidden inside a Christmas pudding? 3. What is the name of the character in Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ who gets visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future? 4. A foreign city has donated a huge Christmas tree to the people of Britain every year since 1947, which is always displayed in Trafalgar Square. Which city is it? A) Munich B) Stockholm c) Oslo 5. *How many days are there on a traditional advent calendar? 12, 24, 31? 6. *In the song ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ how many gold rings does the singer’s ‘truelove’ give him? 7. There are 365 days in a year. What number day is Christmas Day? 8. Why did Father Christmas need Rudolf the Reindeer to use his large, glowing nose to guide his sleigh? 9. What is the last day of Christmas called? 10. Which plant, beginning with P is associated with Christmas? 11. What is ‘Happy Christmas’ in Spanish? 12. What’s the name of the ballet traditionally performed around Christmas each year? 13. Stollen is a cake with fruit and marzipan, traditionally eaten at Christmas and originating from which country? 14. Who introduced the Christmas tree to the UK? 15. What is a female turkey called? 16. Which unusual ingredient did Victorian cooks use in mince pies? 17. If you’re born on Christmas Day, what’s your star sign? 18. *When Santa got stuck up the chimney, his beard was all black, his nose was tickling, and what did he have in his sack? 19. *Because of the time difference, do the people of Australia get to celebrate Christmas Day before we do in Ireland, or after us? 20. What’s the fun name for the sausages wrapped in bacon traditionally eaten with the Christmas dinner?
CHRISTMAS
CROSSWORD
Across 1, What some Scottish people like to eat for Christmas Dinner. (6) 2, Who King Herod killed. (6) 4, Sound a cracker makes. (4) 7, The first Carol 'Angels _ _ _ _'. (4) 9, Hark the _ _ _ _ _ _ Angel Sings. (6) 10, What candles first represented on Christmas Trees. (5) 11, _ _ _ _ _ Peter who sometimes travels with St Nicholas. (5) 12, What Epiphany is known as in Spain, '_ _ _ _ _ _ de los tres Reyes Mages'. (6) 14, Another name for things like a Nativity crib scene. (4) 15, A decoration found in a lot of homes. (4)
Answers: 1. Eight 2. A coin 3. Ebeneezer Scrooge 4. Oslo 5. 24 6. Five 7. 359 8. It was foggy on Christmas Eve 9. Twelfth Night 10. Poinsettia 11. Feliz navidad 12. The Nutcracker 13. Germany 14. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert 15. Hen 16. Minced meat… eugh! 17. Capricorn 18. Soot 19. Before us 20. Pigs in blankets
CHRISTMAS QUIZ
16, The instrument that Silent Night had to be learnt to! (6) 17, Two of the legendary Wisemen had these. (6) Down: 1, Where a yule log is put to burn. (6) 3, People who started Wassailing, the Anglo _ _ _ _ _ _. (6) 5, The place where the thickest ice was found. The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. (9) 6, One of the gifts from the Magi. (4) 8, A plant you can kiss under! (9) 11, The 26th of December is also known as '_ _ _ _ _ _ Day'. (6) 12, Some people do this during advent to help them prepare for Christmas. (4) 13, Who told the Shepherds about Jesus? (6)
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INTERNATIONAL Hi, Hope everyone is doing well in these strange times. I hope you all enjoyed our amazing celebration of Global Guiding in September. Do not forget all these videos are now available on our You Tube channel so if you missed any of them why not head over and take a look. Thank you so much to everyone who helped us with the weekend. Although International Guiding is not quite what it was in these strange times there are still lots of WAGGGS programmes for you to discover. You will have received your newsletter with Team Girl and Stop the Violence / Guides against Bullying and I hope the ideas in these went some way to helping you plan your programme. Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and New Year Suzanne Lenihan International Commissioner international@girlguidesireland.ie
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD SPAIN: In Spain children only receive small presents on Christmas morning. Their main presents are delivered to them during the night of the 5th January for the morning of the 6th which is the Feast of the Three Kings. On the night of the 5th parades are held in most Spanish cities and towns. In the late afternoon the kings arrive in the town squares by many different methods, some by sleigh, on horseback and, on some occasions, by helicopter! ITALY: In addition to Santa Claus, known as Babbo Natale, leaving presents on Christmas Eve, on the 5th January a witch known as La Bifana, flies down the chimney and leaves gifts, such as candy and small toys, for children who have been well behaved during the year. If a child has been badly behaved they might only get a piece of coal or a piece of black candy.
UKRAINE: Spiders and their webs are a sign of good luck, especially at Christmas time. Christmas trees are traditionally decorated with imitation webs in order to ensure that the next year will be a lucky one.
NORWAY: On Christmas Eve, Norwegians believe evil spirits came and look for brooms to steal in order to fly into the night. To stop this happening it is a yearly tradition for the female people in the houses to hide all brooms and mops in case a witch steals one and flies away on it.
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INDIA: Christmas in India for the Christian community is celebrated by going to midnight Mass and the giving of gifts. There are no fir or pine trees in India so they decorate banana or mango trees instead. Leaves of these trees are also used to decorate houses.
JAPAN: Instead of turkey Japanese people eat chicken from KFC. This started when KFC held a marketing campaign when opening take-away shops and the Japanese people came to associate KFC with Christmas. More than 24,000 barrels of chicken are sold during the Christmas season, which is 5 – 10 times more that any other month of the year. In Japan Christmas equals KFC! PHILIPPINES: Christmas is a very big festival in the Philippines and celebrations last all the way into January. Children leave highly polished shoes and freshly washed socks on their windowsills for the 3 Kings to leave gifts when they pass through the houses at night. The feast of the Three Kings (6th January) marks the end of Christmas. GERMANY: In Germany on the night of the 6th December Nicolaus travels by night on a donkey and leaves little gifts like coins, chocolate, oranges and small toys in the shoes of good children. He also visits schools and gives a treat to children who recite a poem, sing a song or draw a picture.
Happy Christmas in different languages: Ireland: Nollaig Shona Great Britain: Merry Christmas France: Joyeux Noel Italy: Buon Natale
Spain: Feliz Navidad Sweden: God Jul Norway: Gledelig Jul Germany: Froehliche Weihnachten Phillipines: Maayong Pasko
Christmas Facts: Yule Log:
Originated in Sweden
Christmas Card:
Originated in England
Christmas Tree:
The decorating of Christmas trees originated in Germany
Christmas Pudding: This also originated in England Advent Wreath:
Originated in North America.
Mince Pie:
These were originally savoury made with beef
Mistletoe: Advent Calendar: Christmas Cracker:
Dates back to Celtic times and was considered to bring good luck. Kissing under the mistletoe began in Victorian times. Was invented by a Munich housewife who was tired listening to her children asking how many days there were to Christmas. Originated in London made by a sweet manufacturer.
Elf on the Shelf:
This tradition only started in 2005
Nativity Play:
This was started by St. Francis of Assisi in Italy www.girlguidesireland.ie 27
GUIDING
AROUND THE
WORLD THAILAND 28 Guiders Link Vol. 4
They are called Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) Association of Thailand and were founded in 1957 Their promise is; “On my honour I promise: To do my duty to my country, my religion and the King, To help other people at all times, To obey the Guide Law.”
Their Guide Law is; 1.
A Guide's honour is to be trusted.
2.
A Guide is loyal.
3.
A Guide's duty is to be useful and to help others.
4.
A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other Guide.
5.
A Guide is courteous.
6.
A Guide is a friend to animals.
7.
A Guide obeys orders.
8.
A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.
9.
A Guide is thrifty.
10.
A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.
Their sections are; •
Littlebirds (4 - 6 years)
•
Bluebirds (7 – 11 years)
•
Guides (12 -15 years)
•
Senior Guides (16 -20 years)
They currently have 50,473 members. Thailand Games Takraw: The National Game of Thailand Takraw is a ball about the size of a grapefruit, and it’s quite hard. The Takraw is made from woven rattan. Players stand in a circle and pass the ball around, using their heads, feet, legs, and shoulders. They can’t use their hands. Thais love to play this game. Takraw games often break out on the street among strangers waiting for a boat or a bus. The game might draw 40 or 50 people before the boat or bus arrives to take away some of the players.
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ELEPHANT CRAFT The national animal of Thailand is the elephant so why not do this lovely craft?. This is suitable for both online and in person meetings.
MATERIALS • Sharpie pens • Paints (optional can use Sharpies for all) • Cardboard • Tin Foil • Glue ELEPHANT CRAFT INSTRUCTIONS Step 1: Get the girls to draw an elephant onto the cardboard using a black sharpie. Step 2: Squeeze glue over the lines. Step 3: Wait until the glue is dry then wrap up the cardboard with tinfoil. Step 4: Paint your design and allow to dry. This step can be done using sharpies but colours won’t be as vivid.
KRATHONG FLOATING BOATS Supplies: • Cardboard • Masking Tape • Tin Foil • Lollipop sticks and any other decorating items you’d like • Play-doh (optional: use it to secure the popsicle sticks that were holding up the sails) Directions: STEP 1: Cut a rectangle out of cardboard and fold in each side so it makes a “U” shape and use masking tape to hold it in place.
STEP 2: Cover the boat with tin foil, making sure to pinch ends together in a pointy shape to keep water from getting into boat.
STEP 3: Using lollipop sticks and whatever else you like to decorate your boat.You can use the sticks for oars and also to hold up the sails. It might help to place a small ball of play-doh inside the boats and stick the sail lollipop sticks into it.
STEP 4:: Test out the boats to see if they float! If you want to be more authentic in your Thailand Krathong Boat Festival, you can add a small candle to the boats and float them at night!
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COMPETITION TIME COULD YOU DESIGN OUR THINKING DAY ECARD?
Every year Guides all around the world send each other greetings for Thinking Day. This year we’d like you to design ours. All you need to do is draw a picture that sums up Thinking Day and includes our name CGI and logo or badge. Wording can be anything you like. The design should be landscape and rectangular in shape. Please send your entries to international@girlguidesireland.ie before the 10th of January 2021 including name, section and Unit for the designer. Winning design will then be made into our ecard Thinking Day greeting.
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CHIEF COMMISSIONER AWARD
Do you have Guides aged 12 or over by the 8th of January 2021? Have they completed or will they have completed their Bronze CHOICES Award by 8th of January 2021? Are they up for a challenge?
Then the Chief Commissioner Award is only a few steps away.... 32 Guiders Link Vol. 4
Make sure to apply, directly to the National Office, for their CCA CA pack by the 11th January 2021, please send one application per company. The application form is available on OGM or can be posted out upon request from the National Office.
Cost is â‚Ź10 per participant. Closing date for completed projects to be submitted is 24th September 2021. No late entries will be accepted. Successful candidates will be awarded their certificates and pins att the Award Ceremony Upon successful completion of all sections, the award will be presented at bronze, silver and gold levels. Please note, the challenges involved in the award can change each year so please ensure to follow the new booklet supplied upon application. For more information on the requirements, rules and what is involved in the award, check out the Guide Section on the CGI website, via About Us > What We Do > The Chief Commissioner Award
If you have any questions regarding the Chief Commissioner Award or would like to link up with another group who have previously taken part to find out about their experience, please get in touch and we will try to help you out. Contact the CCA team at cca@girlguidesireland.ie
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TRAINING Well 2020 has nearly come to an end and what a year it has been! As I watched on the News and YouTube about all those people who, with extra time on their hands, renovated their houses, made banana bread, learnt a language, got started on their Christmas shopping, organised their wardrobes etc- I decided that I would tackle a few things around the house that needed done. So my list consisted of 3 main tasks
•
•
Buy plants and soil and fill all my planters and containers. This was a great success and my front and back garden looks lovely still. My only regret is that I got a bit carried away and I have about 24 containers which take about 30 minutes to water every day- Ah well there wasn’t much else to do !!
•
Decorate my back porch which I did with a little help. It looks really good with new shelves and I even stencilled ivy around the top of it.
My third and definitely my biggest task was to tidy my study. Now before you roll your eyes I’ll let you in on a little secret- I taught for nearly 40 years, I’ve been a Guide Leader for 37 years, my study is linedwith books, things that might be useful at some time (does that sound familiar? ), presents bought by the children I’ve taught telling me what a great teacher I was and photos, packets and packets of photos obviously taken in the days before digital cameras or mobile phones.
I HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED THIS ONE!!!!! I’ve come to the conclusion that I am a procrastinator- actually I’ve known this for a long time. If something seems too big of a challenge I’ll put it off and do anything except what needs done. I can almost hear Eoin rolling his eyes as the deadline for this report is tomorrow and I’ve known about it for weeks.
I’M VERY BUSY DOING THINGS THAT I DON’T NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO AVOID DOING ANYTHING I’M ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING!
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“I’M NOT A PROCRASTINATOR, I’M JUST EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE AT UNIMPORTANT THINGS.”
As this is supposed to be the training page and not an episode of “True Confessions” I decided to do a little research and I am going to share my findings with you.
Beat procrastination and improve your focus one Pomodoro at a time. For anyone out there who doesn’t know, a Pomodoro is Italian for tomato. I discovered, the secret to effective time management is...thinking in tomatoes rather than hours!! This time management method suggests you to alternate Pomodoros – focused work sessions – with frequent short breaks to promote productivity.
So how does this work? 1.
Get a to-do list and a timer- there’s one on your mobile phone.
2.
Set your timer for 25 minutes, and focus on a single task until the timer rings.
3.
When your session ends, mark off one Pomodoro and record what you completed.
4.
Then enjoy a five-minute break.
5.
After four Pomodoros, take a longer, more restorative 15-30 minute break.
Seems simple enough doesn’t it? So even though 2021and New Year resolutions seem a lifetime away at the minute, I am actually going to try this, and to put me under a little bit of pressure, in the next Guiders Link I am going to show you a Before and After photograph of my study. So if you are finding things a bit too much at the minute- just break them down into small manageable chunks and take breaks in between- not only are you being productive but you are also taking a bit of time for yourself as well. I’m hoping to start this tomorrow but no doubt I’ll find a few other things that need to be done beforehand- Wish me luck! Yours in Guiding Eilish Smyth National Commissioner for Training
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OUTDOORS (Environmental)
The Great Outdoors During these unprecedented times when our social activities are severely curtailed, the out-of-doors is currently the safest place for us to be. There is nothing comparable to the beauty and changing seasons of nature to calm our senses, feed our souls and provide us with our necessary daily exercise during these anxious and uncertain times. This is the ideal time to acquaint ourselves with the many greenways and forest trails dotted throughout the country and which remain open throughout the pandemic. As we know, trees play a very important role in saving our planet and reducing the rate of climate change. Can you play your part? The following are two tree planting initiatives by Coillte Ireland and Wexford Bee Aware which may be a viable project for your Region, Unit, Community.
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TREES ON THE LAND Planting native trees across the 32 counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We're delighted to announce that applications for trees are now open for the 2021 planting project. It has not been a straightforward preparation for the coming planting season due to the ongoing issues with Covid-19. However with a few changes we're now ready for a busy winter project. DIRECT DELIVERY OF TREES: We felt very worried that another lockdown or Covid-19 outbreak could cause chaos for our local collection points and people trying to fetch trees. We will therefore sadly not be running the usual collection points this season and will be delivering tree packs out directly to each applicant by courier instead. The collection points have been such a big part of the project with trees being given out at community centres, council depots, farms, garden sheds, fuel stations and all sorts of other places each year. I'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us with distribution over the years and hope to see the collection points back in future years. There will be a new delivery cost of €15 added to all orders. This will cover packing and delivery to all 32 counties as a flat fee per order. We realise this is a hefty added cost; we hope that you will understand and find the new deliveries convenient and safe for all. Deliveries will commence late-November and continue through to mid-March in order to stagger the work across the winter season. The majority of deliveries will go out during January and February and we will give everyone plenty of notice of their delivery before it is dispatched. TREE PACK SCHEMES: The schemes are open to all landowners - farmers, smallholders, community groups, schools, colleges, councils, sports clubs, golf courses and others. Small Tree Packs: From 1 - 250 trees - Application deadline Sunday 15th November 2020. Application Fees: Application Fees apply to all small tree packs and are based on €25 per 50 trees and €18 for apple trees. Small packs start at €6. Sponsored Trees: There are new sponsored tree schemes for schools, colleges, farms, sports clubs and communities. All of the information about the project and details for making an application are on the website. www.treesontheland.com/plant-trees-2021
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Apple trees need a suitable partner for pollination meaning you can’t plant a single apple tree. There are three pollination groups: A, B and C (A being the earliest flowering and C the latest flowering types). The most unlucky scenario would be to have an A and C type of trees and they miss one another’s pollination window. Two trees of one pollination group that flower around the same time are ideal partners. Crab apples are perfect pollinators for eating apples as they flower for a long period of time.
Try not to buy Golden Delicious, Gala or Cox’s Orange Pippin trees as they don’t perform well in Ireland. It’s worthwhile researching a little bit and find out which varieties do best in your own area. It’s worthwhile researching a little bit and find out which varieties do best in your own area and Irish Heritage varieties are ideal. Apple trees are available as bare-root trees from Mid-November until early March. Bare-root means that the trees have been dug up from the nursery, and packed in a bag with damp peat.
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HOW TO PLANT AN APPLE TREE: YOU WILL NEED; •At least 2 apple trees •Wooden stakes
•A Garden spade •Ties
•Garden compost
SELECTING A SITE Apples produce best when grown in full sun, which means six or more hours of direct summer sun daily. The best exposure for apples is a north side of a house, tree line, or rise rather than the south. This reduces the chance that a few warm, sunny days in midwinter will stimulate new growth that the next freeze will kill. Apple trees need well-drained soil, but should be able to retain some moisture. Light- to medium-textured soils are best. Fruit trees struggle in heavy clay soil; poorly drained soils leads to root rot disease. PLANTING YOUR APPLE TREES • Before planting, remove all weeds and the grass in a 1.2 metre circle. • After you purchase the tree, protect it from injury, drying out, freezing, or overheating. If the roots have dried out, soak them in water about 24 hours before planting. • Tree spacing is needs to allow for the span of the mature tree so leave approx. 4 metres between trees (or check the label) • Dig a hole about 60cm in diameter and about 40cm deep and mix some old garden compost with the existing soil. • Drive in the stake firmly and then place the tree next to the stake. • Every tree has a pretty face so you should turn it around a few times to see where it looks best. • The stake should be on the side of the prevailing wind. • Make sure that the soil level is like it was in the nursery and you should never bury the grafting union. Most apple trees are grafted. The graft union must be at least 2 inches above the soil line so that roots do not emerge from the scion. The graft union (where the scion is attached to the rootstock) can be recognized by the swelling at the junction. • First loosely fill the soil around and make sure it fills all spaces. As to start to refill, every very now and again firm the soil with your heels. • When finished fix a tie near the top of the stake. LOOKING AFTER YOUR TREES Water young trees regularly to ensure that the root system becomes well established. Renew mulch periodically, but pull it away from the tree in the fall so mice don’t nest over the winter and eat the bark. Apple trees require initial training to nurture a strong frame of branches so the trees can carry heavy apple crops. Pest control measures will be an important part of care. Correct timing is critical to avoid harming the bees and pollination. There are organic pesticides. When used, organic pesticides are applied at a specific stage of flower and fruit development, not according to a calendar. It’s important to research your variety and climate to know which pests are most likely to be a problem to apply the right controls at the right time. Pruning slows a young tree’s overall growth and can delay fruiting, so don’t be in a hurry to prune, other than removing misplaced, broken, or dead branches. There are several techniques to direct growth without heavy pruning. Prune your mature tree when it is dormant. Completely cut away overly vigorous, upright stems (most common high up in the tree). •
Remove weak twigs (which often hang from the undersides of limbs.
Apples are prone to insect and diseases—including apple maggots, plum curculios, green fruitworms, and codling moths. Many gardeners who swear off pesticides find they need to find, at minimum, an acceptual annual spray treatment for a decent crop. You can also try an anti-insect oil, found at garden stores. Spray it in the spring when your apple trees are in the tight cluster stage: after the leaves have unfolded from the fruiting cluster, but before the buds begin to show pink. Your local garden centre is full of amazing staff that are more than happy to offer advice on your trees
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OUR LADY OF LOURDES
BALLINLOUGH, CORK We are delighted to report our experiences of Guiding through Covid-19. From the time of shut down in March 2020, we looked at what else we could do. All the girls and parents were on board to allow us have meetings on WhatsApp. This we did for three months from April to June. It worked really well and the girls really got involved. We played games on line such as "Who am I?", I spy, and Pictionary. The girls got involved with planning a quiz most weeks during these 3 months, we talked about the effect of Covid-19 on each of them and did several projects around nature in the garden and practical things like hand washing a Neckerchief, making a bed, changing a duvet cover etc.
We also worked on badges on line and girls gained some interest badges, Our girls also got involved in the virtual camp on the May bank holiday weekend. They really enjoyed the event and it certainly kept the interest going for them. Once the Government and National Office told us we could go outdoors we immediatly started planning accordingly. We are very lucky that attached to the Scout Hall we use is an enclosed garden area not obvious to the general public, so we were able to hold our meetings in a safe and comfortable environment.
40 Guiders Link Vol .4
The girls came each week with their Guide books, rain jackets and chairs. Due to social distancing it was necessary for the parents to advise attendence the day prior to our meeting so that we could set up the area correctly with 2 metres distance. We were very organised as we had a 2 metre long plank and used football cones to mark the area for the girls chairs. Our programme worked really well with us having to put on our thinking caps to make the games suitable to Covid requirements. Prior to shut down we had been working on badges: Guides Against Bullying and Safe Surfing. Our senior girls and Rangers prepared, planned, and delivered the complete aspects of the bullying badge. It was very successsful and great that it was coming from close to their own age group. Our Patrol Leaders worked on the Safe Surf and started to deliver this to the company. We continued with both of these badges once we were physically meeting. The senior girls and our patrol leaders were then able to attend and complete the McAfee Zoom course on internet Safety. This was a great addition to promoting the badge. The girls loved the course and really appreciated the opportunity to be able to do this. Thanks so much to National for organising it. One of the highlights of our outdoor meetings was that we planned and ran our enrollment. This went really well and to see the set up of the flag and girls making their promise was a great moment for all and especially the leaders. For the three months we held our meetings in all weathers, wearing raincoats and holding umbrellas in the rain. We had problems with bee stings and serious mosquitto attacks but nothing dampened the enthusiasim of the girls to attend, take part and enjoy the meetings. We are very proud of the girls and how they have coped. The first couple of meetings were hard for the girls as you could see how nervous they were but soon as they became more relaxed and we played silly games to boost their morale, then we saw the laughter and smiles coming each week. Overall a great achievement.
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COMMUNICATIONS We’ve had an unprecedented year in Guiding so far in 2020, and in fact most of our units have unfortunately been unable to return as yet, hopefully we’ll all be back to our meetings and units shortly. In the meantime, if you’re one of the lucky ones that have been meeting, whether physically or remotely, why not send in some photos and a little information on what it is that you’re doing, we all need the inspiration now more than ever!
As we look towards Christmas and the new year, we can only hope that 2021 will bring us some better times, times when we can all be together again in Guiding. So with that in mind, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your time and dedication to CGI; especially throughout this difficult year; and to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. National Commissioner for Communications pr@girlguidesireland.ie
AROUND IRELAND EASTERN REGION Buion Imelda Dun Laoghaire This is our second week back, we started back to Guides on the 26th of September, 2020. We are extremely fortunate as we were able to secure our usual meeting place in the school hall. For three weeks prior to return the Guiders and myself designed a blended programme concentrating on indoor and ‘out and about’ in our local area. On the 3rd of October, we went on a hike to Sandycove and returned to the Peoples Park in Dun Laoghaire for non-contact games and stopped on the way for a teddys Teddy’s Icecream. Sharing our experience over the last month, • Take time to plan your programme out for all eventualities, be able to respond quickly. • Ensure all Guiders know their role and responsibilities as there is so much to think about. • For all our safety we insist on everybody wearing masks except for the Cygnets and take scheduled sanitising breaks regularly. • On the morning of the Meeting as unit leader I send out a WhatsApp Message to all parents, advising them not to send the kids to guides, if they have a temperature, have sniffles, are feeling unwell or have come in contact with anybody who has been diagnosed with Covid-19. • Allow time before and after the meeting for sanitising touch points in the hall. • Dress for the weather either outdoors or indoors, as windows are open for ventilation – the hall will be colder. • Games we played: Hop, Skip and Jump; Ladders; Ship; Square Relay; 1,2,3 42 Guiders Link Vol. 4
NORTHERN REGION St Comgalls St. Comgalls Bangor have returned to Guiding this September. We meet alternative weeks to accommodate our numbers. We have had games by Crawfordsburn Beach, worked on our Hiking and Foot explore badges by Hiking up to Helen's Tower and walking along the coastal path. The girls all enjoyed the walks especially when it got dark!
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SOUTH WEST REGION St. Vincent’s Brigini St. Vincent’s Brigini enjoying the out of doors at their local amenity park and working on their nature lover badge as they hike from their meeting hall to Fitzgerald’s Park where the girls enjoy a well-earned picnic in the park
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St Theresa’s Ranger Company Passage West Passage Rangers went back after the long break due to Covid 19 in the last week of August, we started with a socially distanced campfire, chats and a catch-up, and did that for two weeks or so.
We’ve had a chipper night as a treat for starting back to school, other extra curricular activities and for going back to guides to. As a few of our Rangers have started 6th year we decided to have a mindfulness evening – where we took part in adult mindfulness colouring (every Ranger bringing their own colours) as well as listening to relaxing music.
Marion, one of our Cygnet leaders joined us to teach us some of the alphabet in sign language as well as a few phrases.
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A
B S R E
RK
N
LI NT
R
U DO
OU Y E
E T R TA
S
W NE
O W E
FRO
LS I A T
R
U NO
?
E DG
M
G O D
N
A ITE
BS E W
O
E
D L L U
F
YOU
NK A H T
V HA
CGI’S SUPPORT FOR OUR FRONTLINE BADGE 46 Guiders Link Vol. 4
CONTACTS NEB Chief Commissioner Assistant Chief Commissioner National Secretary National Treasurer Cygnets Brigíní Guides Rangers International Communications Development Training Outdoor South-Western Region Eastern Region South-Eastern Region Northern Region
chiefcommissioner@girlguidesireland.ie assistantchiefcommissioner@girlguidesireland.ie secretary@girlguidesireland.ie treasurer@girlguidesireland.ie cygnets@girlguidesireland.ie brigíní@girlguidesireland.ie guides@girlguidesireland.ie rangers@girlguidesireland.ie international@girlguidesireland.ie pr@girlguidesireland.ie development@girlguidesireland.ie training@girlguidesireland.ie outdoor@girlguidesireland.ie s.west@girlguidesireland.ie eastern@girlguidesireland.ie s.east@girlguidesireland.ie admin.nr@catholicguides.org.uk
Child Protection Eastern Region 086 2710953 Clare O’Brien South-Western Region Alison Tanner-Howe Maria Dowling South-Eastern Region Barbara Ryan Aideen Moran Northern Region Josephine Higgins Martha Mc Grath Sarah Mc Manus Maire Mc Grath
086 2710941 086 2710950 086 2710958 086 2710952
07581644947 07581644899 07581645481 07581639739
Staff
National Office Coordinator Eoin Hamilton Communications Administrator
Nicola Toughey
nicola@girlguidesireland.ie communications@girlguidesireland.ie
www.girlguidesireland.ie 47
CGI National Office 12 Clanwilliam Terrace, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 661 9566 • Fax: (01) 676 5691 Email: admin@girlguidesireland.ie CGI Northern Region Office St. Francis De Sales, 55 Beechmount Drive, Belfast BT12 7LU Tel: 028 9031 3639 Email: admin.nr@catholicguides.org.uk www.girlguidesireland.ie Charity Number: CHY 7958 Reg. Charity Number: 20018689
Funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the National Lottery.