Girl Guiding

I've finally been formally introduced to Girl Guiding Australia. Although I'm pretty sure this was supposed to happen before I contacted them, no one told me until the local Girl Guide Head did. Due to class conflicts I can only work with the Guide group. Guides are age 10-13 and are about Junior age. Once they start secondary they move into Ranger Guides. This week 12 of the 15 girls were there while next week I believe five Brownie scouts move up. The North Rockhampton region has about 65 scouts which is many more than the South Rockhampton region.
Before the Meeting:
After contacting Girl Guides, I received an email from the assistant leader. We met for lunch the day before the meeting at the Uni where she is one of the travel agents. (Yes we have travel agents on campus, and a hair dresser, and a bank.) She introduced me to some of the ideas of Girl Guiding. They have a very girl led troop which is the ideal for all scouts. Right now they are preparing for a weekend camp in May so the meetings are focused around cooking and other needed skills. I was also alerted that each leader has a traditional tribe name that the girls call them. I'm going to see if I can get one so I won't have to think up a camp name once I return to the States and begin working as a resident camp counselor in Seven Lakes.
The Meeting:
All meetings occur in a hut on a small piece of Girl Guide Property. The hut includes space for storage and meetings, while two sheds, a flag pole, and a fire pit are outside. The meeting started with a horseshoe flag ceremony but the flags were missing so it was very abbreviated. (You can't salute a flag that's not there). Afterward the girls began the meeting with the challenge to introduce themselves to me throughout the night and tell me their favorite part of guides. The focus of the meeting was cooking on the fire. The four patrols paired up and made either tacos or wraps based on their previous decision. After gathering firewood, trying to light the fire, and appointing patrol leaders the fire was finally lit. The leaders let the girls do the vast majority of the work with guidance as needed. This is why the fire took over an hour to light and the meeting ran long. As the girls get better at building fires, it will become faster. In the end the food was good and a horseshoe closing was done. The wrap-up included information about a canoeing day this coming weekend for the guides to get their level three certification. This allows them to be on the water with an instructor in sight but not necessarily on the water. Other upcoming events are the centennial which is a 48 hour celebration which is poorly designed and happening in September and a fundraising event for the council. Throughout the two hour meeting one girl approached me to introduce herself while another few introduced themselves at the dinner table.
Upcoming:
As a leader the canoeing and kayaking trip is a two day training event. It'll be filled with theory and then a trip down a creek at the end. I'm looking forward to it and the camp as well. I still need to get my blue card to be allowed to work with children and check the insurance of everything but hopefully it will all work out. In May, the traveling store should be coming so I hope to get a uniform to take back home and wear for the remainder of the time. The girls all have sashes that they place their rectangular or diamond shaped badges on but everyone wears a polo shirt in yellow, green, and purple (I think). Overall many similarities exist as with most of Australian life but the differences are what makes life interesting and a great learning experience.