 A
Guide to planning and running a Girl Guide Camp
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The purpose of this web page
is to help guiders as well as, and especially, 3rd year pathfinders plan and run
a camp successfully. This makes the experience more enjoyable as
well as less stressfull for both the leaders and the girls. Girl
guide camp is one of the most memerable and enjoyable parts of Girl Guides.
There are many leaders who can still vividly remember their first girl
Guide camp. That is the reason that this page existis to help make
this experience run smoothly.
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1. One of the first steps to planning
a camp is to pick a time place and if wanted a theme. When picking
a site many things must be considered. You must keep in mind the
ability of the girls, a wilderness camp may not be the best idea for first
time campers. It is also important to remember the type of equipment that
is available and not go beyond the limit of this equipment and its capabilities.
It can be difficult and expensive to aquire new equipment.The time
of year and the altitude may also effect a decision.If you are
going to have a theme then it is usually a good idea to involve the girl
in the decision. A theme can be tied to an intrest badge that the
girls want to earn while at camp, with a theme you can get as creative
as you like.
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2. The next step is to assigne patrols.
This can be done by picking buddies, picking names out of a hat, or any
other fair way that will not leave any girl left out. It is a good
idea to involve the girls in this process. The theame can easily be incorperated
here to come up with names for the patrols that give each group and identity.
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3. The next important thing to do is to plan a menu. to avoid disappointment this can easily be done with the girls. One must keep in mind proper nutrition for the girls. It is a good idea look at the Canada food Guide. Looking at a few examples of menus may also be helpful. You must keep in mind any allergies or special diet resrictions and try to incorperate these into your menu. For recipes that are not self explanitory include the recipe so the girls do not get confused. It is also a good idea to consider the type of cooking equipment available, or any outdoor cooking the girls will be experimenting with such as Buddy Burners or Tin Foil Ovens. It is also important to create a shopping list at this point.
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4. At this time it may be a good idea to decide how you will be going and returning from camp. You must complete and Submit the Travel Information Form so there is no confusion as to how the group will be traveling.
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5. Program at camp is a very important component. When planning program remember to be flexible, you can never predict weather or the energy level of the girls. A good idea when planning program at camp is to try to incorperate as much as the girls required program into the camp, this way the girls benefit even more from the experience. Variety is very important at a camp, it is a good idea to follow a strenuos even with a calm relazing activity. This gives both the girls and the leaders a chance to recharge. Crafts are often a good quite activity that can beused as a filler or as an activity when weather doesn't co-operate with other program activities. Camp presents an excellent opportunity for the girls to experience the outdoors and participate in hikes. Many camp sites have hiking trails in close proximity to the sites, as well as many provincial camps have a naturalist on hand. It may help with planning to look at a few examples of programs from other camps.
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6. Personal Kits list and Equipment Lists need to be written. It is importants to keep in mind the season you are camping in and the type of camp. Included in the personal kit list should be a list for a Personal first aid kit. In addition to that a equipment list should also be written. This can be used to divide up the needed equipmet between the girls so that the leaders are not left to bring everything.
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7. A duty roster needs to be created to divide up the chores between the group. The most common divisions of chores are: Coulors, Kitchen Helpers, Sanitation, Wood & Water and Campfire.
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8. A buget must be written so that you can keep track of the money spent. It can also be used to estimate the amount that must be charged per girl. This is important so that after the camp you can balance your books and pay all bills and return any money that is left over.
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9. Once most of the planning is done there must be a planning meeting with the parents. At this time parents must sign a permission slip as well as fill out a health from. The parents should also go over the kit lists as well as the equipment lists, including what each girl can voulenteer to bring. At this time a phone list as well as an emergency contact list should be written.
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10. The girls need to practice all their camp skills prior to leaving. Including tieing bed rolls, making gagets as well as putting up and taking down tents. This will insure that the girls have some camp experience prior to going to camp.
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NOW FOR SOME RULES
- For every camp tere must be a guider with a Camp Leadership Certificate.
- There must be an adult with first aid qualifications
- for day trips one adult who can give first aid is all that is required
for overnight events
- less than 25
- One adult with first aid certificate or equivalent qualifications
- 25-36
- one adult with Standard First Aid (ST John Ambulance)
- over 36 either
- two adults with Standard First Aid (ST John Ambulance)
- one staff member must be a registerd nurse of a doctor
A good Idea is to check the Policy Organization and Rules befor you go to camp to ensure you are following all the rules
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