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GGEW NEWS
SUMMER 2015
SHINE Senior Section @ Hautbois In Norfolk Event .
Senior Section and BP girls from around the county travelled to Norfolk to have fun and find out what else Girlguiding has on offer for 14 to
26 year olds. And what a fantastic weekend they had.
Many of the girls had not been to Hautbois and loved the fact that we had
the whole house to ourselves. After dinner on Friday, the evening was left to
get to know each other and exploring the house and grounds.
Saturday, was a fun filled and hot day with the teams taking part in a quiz
that took them on a tour of Norwich. Some shopping was also done , Ice
cream eaten , various eateries frequented, Dragons found and photos taken.
Everyone had a great but exhausting day so it was with great enthusiasm, that after dinner we had a ‘Pamper evening’. It had been arranged for
a local Guide unit who are raising funds for a trip to Sangam to organise the
evening . It was fantastic with professionals in many aspects . We soon had
pedicures, manicures, facials, and hair braiding being taken up . As well as
girls learning how to cleanse, moisturise and apply make up professionally.
But the evening did not end with cocoa! Glamorously after pampering
the girls took on the challenge of geocoaching in the dark. Finding themselves in a deserted churc h yard, in the middle of the Norfolk countryside
with owls hooting and bats swooping the girls were ‘treated’ to a rendition of
the camp fire song ‘Women at the church yard gate’. It was obvious not
many had heard this before, as they screamed and jumped in the dark !
The next morning was rather wet but this didn’t stop anyone enjoying a
Canadian Canoe safari, dodging angry swans with signets and also having to limbo under bridges and trees.
After lunch an evaluation of the weekend took place. Comments made included “it was a great weekend” , “not long enough” , “love the
house”, “we want to do Senior Section activities together again” and “ liked being given the freedom and being treated like an adult”
Certificates and badges had been awarded inc one for the most glamorous nails, to a guest Leader and member of the Trefoil Guild, Olive
Wenborn who said she had a great weekend and was impressed with the young ladies attitude and behaviour. Then it was off to the Train station, with the girls looking forward to the next Senior Section event and celebrating 100 years in 2016.
Girls from
Thurrock West
Division took
part in the charity Perry Walk on
the riverside
footpath from
Tilbury Fort to
Coalhouse Fort.
Every walker
received a
special badge
for the occassion and altogether raised
more than £1100
for charity
The 2nd Corringham Scout and Guide Group staged
another highly entertaining show for parents at this year’s
Group Annual General Meeting.
Sorry if we haven’t
managed to include
everything in this issue
of the newsletter. We
do try hard but there is
only so much space
available. Please
continue to let us know
of your events
White Water Rafting Thursday 2nd April 2015
Another day, another 25 opportunities to brave the Rapids. We
met at the White Water Centre at 10.30 on a chilly April morning.
Everyone checked in and had the opportunity to watch the British
kayak/canoe team practising on the Olympic course and West
Sussex HART/ambulance rescue getting wet learning river rescue
on the legacy course.
Forms checked in it was time to collect spray jackets, wet suits
and wet shoes and get ready for the adventure.
As the weather is warming up and the sun starts to show
through we go outside to collect buoyancy aids. More form checks,
then were fitted with a helmet, received more instruction and was
divided into 5 teams with our own raft guide.
To the rafts by the still water pool, and more instructions, if you
fall out, dont put your feet down, try to get back in or float down and
be rescued by safety rope. It’s time to get in the rafts - paddle forward, lean right, lean left, down - learning all the commands the
rafts paddle to the steps and everyone gets out for the swim test.
Everyone jumps in, floats down stream and then swims to the side.
Back on to the rafts, up the travellator and the challenge begins.
Down the rapid, paddle forward, stop, down, lean right, lean left, up,
paddle right, paddle backwards the rafts skip their way round the
course. Sometimes going down backwards, bouncing and dipping,
everyone getting wet. As everyone gets more confident the rafts are
paddled into the rapids covering everyone with water. Some of the
rafts cross the rapids and tip sideways and some of the crew fall out
popping up further down stream to be rescued or pulled on the raft
by the raft guide.
Round the rafts go riding the rapids.
All too soon the adventure is over. It’s goodbye to the raft guides
and hello to hot showers, parents with hot drinks and food from the
cafe. Girlguiding Essex West have braved the rapids Sections who
took part were Stebbing Senior Section, 2nd Loughton St Johns, 1st
Epping, 1st Dunmow, Harlow Commonside Senior Section, 3rd
Saffron Walden and 4th Gidea Park
Will you be next? Maybe in the Summer Holidays,
GGEW NEWS SUMMER 2015
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Pictures
from
Nuclear
Run at
Kelvedon
Hatch,
where
some of
the girls
and
Leaders
from 1st
Chigwell
Guides
took part in
a gruelling 6km obstacle course (50 obstacles) with lots of mud.
The girls did brilliantly and were so determined to finish, showing that
#GirlsCan not only be muddy but can do anything!
1st Chigwell Guides
BAKE OFF COMPETITIONS AROUND THE COUNTY
There have been some splendid Bake Off events around the
County and here we have some news of two of them, Thurrock
and Buckhurst Hill District. Buckhurst Hill held their Bake Off Final
and Guides produced
some amazing chocolate
cakes and the SS some
really tasty scones.
Thurrock’s competition
was held recently and
ladies from the Hornchurch and Thurrock East Trefoil Guilds acted as
(enthusisatic) judges!
If your unit/District/Division is organising an event,
please let David Henderson know so we can arrange
coverage for the newsletter and website.
[email protected]
We know lots of
Districts and
Divisions have
held their own
competitions but
these are the
only ones we
have reports and
pictures about,
see box left.
Website: www.girlguidingessexwest.org.uk