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afe Guide is your go-to resource for planning outdoor adventures. Whatever activity girls want to try, it’s there to support Guiders and Rangers, not to limit them. This quiz is designed to bust 10 common Safe Guide myths and misconceptions.
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Do I need to fill out a form and get extra parent permission to do anything beyond my unit meeting location? a Actually, it’s better to avoid activities outside your meeting location. b Yes. You always need to fill out a form for anything beyond your unit meeting location. c Not at all. Just check out the Activity Planning chart to see if your activity requires additional planning and permission. Many community outings, such as cookie selling or visiting a fire hall, are Green level and do not require additional authorization.
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Can I take my unit to a public pool? a Never. It’s too risky. b Yes. But only if one of the Guiders is a certified lifeguard. c Definitely. Look at “Swimming at a Public Facility” and the chart showing the supervision ratios for swimming.
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Can my unit take public transit? a No. It’s too busy. b Yes. But only on city buses, not subways or ferries. c Sure. All forms of public transit are permitted. Girls love exploring their community this way.
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Can Sparks camp in tents? a No. Sparks don’t like camping. b Yes. But only if the tents are set up inside. c Absolutely. Start with a one-night camp if you’re unsure. Check out the Camping Activity guide.
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Can Brownies take a weekend trip to camp? a Never. They’re not ready to be away for two nights. b Yes. But only if parents come too. c For sure. They love it! Practise with a sleepover earlier in the year. And check out the Safe Guide activity guides for camping and sleepovers, along with any activities you plan to do at camp. Can Sparks and Brownies go canoeing? a Never. It’s too difficult. b Yes. As long as it’s only in a public pool. c Certainly. If you’re using a third party, just be sure you have the required supervision ratio. If you’re providing the boating facilitators, check with your Safe Guide team for additional support.
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Can Rangers working with younger girls count for supervision ratio? a No. Only adult members count for ratio. b Maybe. Provided they have a babysitting certificate. c Yes. For Green activities, under the supervision of a Guider, any member who is 16 or older can count for Spark, Brownie and Guide ratios. See the Supervision Ratios section for details.
Who can be a designated first aider? a Only a licensed doctor, nurse, or paramedic. b Any Guider who has a bit of first aid knowledge. c Any adult who is listed in iMIS with current first aid certification from a recognized agency. This can be a Guider or non-member volunteer. Check the Key Terms and First Aid Training sections for more details. The girls really want to go horseback riding. Now what? a Sorry, horseback riding is not permitted as a Guiding activity. b Okay. But only Trex units can go horseback riding. c With a bit of planning, horseback riding is totally doable. Safe Guide even has a Horseback Riding Activity Guide to help you plan your outing. It is generally a Yellow activity.
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Can a Brownie bring a guest? a Yes. If you have supervision ratio and emergency contact information. b No. If the guest is a boy; boys should not attend. c Yes. Non-member guests can even come to camp. d All of the above.
Don’t Forget . . .
Getting your unit outdoors doesn’t have to always be a big production. Sure, more advanced adventures and travel require a bit of planning and assessment, but smaller outings, such as a simple trip to a nearby greenspace, a visit to a veterinary lab, or filming digital videos in the park, don’t require a lot of preparation. And you can always work your way up to more ambitious outings. Other Guiders can help. If you’re not sure what your options are or how to go about planning something your girls want to do, reach out. Chances are there’s a Guider in your community who’s done a similar activity, and provincial Safe Guide assessors are always ready to help. Get the girls involved. While they can’t necessarily help you complete the paperwork, girls can totally play a starring role in choosing and planning the activities they want to try. Engaging girls and setting safety expectations from the get-go will enhance their sense of achievement and up the fun-factor for everyone.
CANADIAN GUIDER
WINTE R 2 018
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