Our events are back!
Find out how Girlguiding Activity Centres will help you and your unit find adventure
Each year, we run four large-scale events and around 160 smaller events at our five nationally owned activity centres.
From big overnight events like Fearless Fun and Sparkle and Ice, to day-long adventures like Guide Bushcraft and Scatter and Splatter, there’s something for every member. And staff and volunteers are on hand to help you and your unit have a great time.
Our five centres are spread out across the country: Waddow Hall in the north of England, Glenbrook in the Midlands, Blackland Farm and Foxlease in the south, and ICANDO in the centre of London.
This year is the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began that we’ll be hosting our four large-scale events at the centres. For Rainbows and Brownies, circus-themed Magic and Mayhem takes place on 18-19 June and for Guides and Rangers, our flagship festival Wellies and Wristbands returns from 26-29 August.
There’s also the adventurous Fearless Fun for Brownies and Guides from 23-25 September and winter camp Sparkle and Ice for Guides and Rangers from 26-27 November. There’ll be plenty of smaller events for units to attend too, including theme days, badge days, and activity challenge days.
Last summer, leader Caroline took her Brownie unit to one of the bigger events held at our activity centres, Fearless Fun.
Fearless Fun at Blackland Farm was the event that suited Caroline and her unit's needs best. She says: ‘All leaders of our Brownie unit have demanding jobs alongside our voluntary roles, and I also have a young family, so we’re limited in the time we can give to organising residentials.
‘We knew that Fearless Fun would guarantee a packed programme of fun and adventurous activities, without us needing to do all the detailed planning ourselves. It seemed a great way to give our Brownies an exciting weekend in a way that felt manageable for our leadership team.’
It was the unit’s first trip away since the pandemic began and, like all our activity centres, Blackland Farm had new measures in place to keep everyone safe.
‘We received all the information we needed about the overarching programme, catering arrangements and how Covid risks were being managed,’ she says. ‘The team at the activity centre were responsive to any follow-up questions and I was in awe at the way they coped with the shifting Covid regulations, especially when it came to how indoor accommodation should be arranged. We felt we were in safe hands.’
Caroline adds that by far the best part of the weekend was seeing everyone having a great time: ‘The buzz of being away with the girls at Fearless Fun was in a different league. It was fantastic watching girls gain confidence as they tried new activities and hearing their laughter as they made new friendships. For most of our Brownies, Fearless Fun was either their first ever time away from home, or their first in a long time, so we had been worried about homesickness, but not one tear was shed during the weekend. The girls were clearly too busy having an amazing time!’
“The buzz of being away with the girls at Fearless Fun was in a different league.”
“It was so amazing to see them having that extended time together again, having adventures and making those lasting memories.”
District commissioner and leader Lara took her Guide unit to Fearless Fun at Blackland Farm too.
‘Do it!’ she says. ‘The organisation of the event was fantastic, it felt really Covid secure and whilst everyone was taking it seriously, it didn't impact on the Guides’ fun. It was so amazing to see them having that extended time together again, having new adventures and making those lasting memories. Especially after a pretty dreadful two years. We can't wait to go again!’
Their unit went to give the Guide unit a different experience to unit meetings and going to an activity centre meant the cost of trying something new could be kept low.
For Lara and her leadership team, it was important that neurodiverse Guides in the unit had a great time too, and they spoke to the activity centre team beforehand to make sure all their needs were covered.
Seeing a nervous Guide conquer her fear and stay away from home for the first time and Guides chanting a song they'd made up to encourage people down the abseiling tower were Lara’s highlights from the weekend, adding: ‘Always bring wellies! We had many wet feet, despite two sets of trainers. Though it did give some of them the opportunity to make their own 'camp slippers' with duct tape and shower caps!’
If a day trip or smaller event is a better option, there will be many taking place throughout the year at the centres as well.
‘I was a bit apprehensive booking a trip away due to Covid-19, but the girls hadn't been away for so long we wanted to give them something to look forward to,’ says Jenny, who took her Guide unit to Space Camp at Glenbrook.
‘Everything was so well organised and thought about in relation to Covid-19. We felt very safe there. The girls were used to all the rules and regulations from school, so it didn't take away from their fun. It was definitely worth it. I'm so glad we did it and I'd recommend that others do the same as everything was as Covid safe as possible. You won't regret the fun you have!’
Jenny, who’s a leader-in-training, really enjoyed the day, which was all about ‘astronaut training’ and taking part in out of the world activities. She enjoyed it so much she’s going to start her Going Away With training. She says: ‘It has given me motivation to do more trips and I'm going to start my qualification now after a training day at the weekend.’
But you don’t need Going Away With training to take units to an organised event at an activity centre.
‘At our events, the role of Going Away With licence holder is covered by the centre duty management staff at the centres,’ says Jade, our programme and events manager. ‘Let us know if you don’t have a licence when you first book and we’ll make sure you have any support you need. Your local commissioner will be able to support too’.
‘Our events are the perfect place to work towards your Going Away With licence. You can gain your licence in a supported environment and with the bonus of loads of experienced leaders there too.’
If you want to take your unit away for a day or weekend event at one of our activity centres, find out more on our website.
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