What your child will do in their unit
Hint: a ‘unit’ is what we call a local Girlguiding group. Our wonderful volunteers take time out of their busy schedules for free to keep units running smoothly and full of adventures for girls!
What's the Girlguiding programme?
Around 60% of what girls get up to in their regular unit meetings is related to our programme. Our programme is made up of 3 things:
- Unit meeting activities (UMAs) - these are about taking part, trying new things and having fun as a group.
- Skills builders – these are designed to help girls build core skills in areas like first aid, leadership, camping, and more! Your child will do UMAs and skills builders in their unit meetings – so you won’t need to help out with them at home.
- Interest badges – these give girls opportunities to explore their own interests by themselves or with friends and family. They can be done at home or in unit meetings.
Badges, badges, badges!
There are 4 types of badges your child can earn:
- Skills builder badges. These are earned when girls complete skills builder activities with their unit.
- Interest badges. These are earned when girls complete individually chosen activities at home or outside of unit meetings.
- Programme awards and qualifications. These could be earned by completing activities across our programme themes or by older girls taking on bigger challenges outside of our programme.
- Adventure badges. These are earned when girls take part in height, land, snow, sport or water adventures that take girls into a space where they feel brave.
What badges will your child pick?
Our programme themes
Everything in our programme, including our badges, sits in 1 of our 6 themes which girls themselves helped us to create. Check them out.
Know myself
Girls explore emotions and learn about themselves.
Express myself
Girls develop their creativity in all sorts of ways.
Be well
Girls learn how to stay safe, happy and healthy and help others when they’re hurt.
Have adventures
Girls have the chance to overcome fears, try new activities and learn survival skills.
Take action
Girls build skills to make a positive difference, whether in their community, the wider world or with the people they know.
Skills for my future
Girls investigate what they might like to do in the future and how they can grow their life skills.
Girls taking the lead
The rest of what girls do in and with their unit is up to them and their unit leaders to decide! Every unit is different. They might get stuck into adventures outside of the programme, take on their own challenges, or just have some fun. Our volunteers love to get girls’ input on what they want to do. So your child can suggest an activity or even run their own meeting! There may also be chances for them to go on day trips, residentials or have a sleepover under the stars.
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