Rainbow

=Rainbow Butterfly Camp= =media type="custom" key="181441"=

Guiding develops Leadership skills

 * The Mission of Guides Australia** is helping **girls** and **young women** grow into **confident, self-respecting, responsible** community members. The girls belong to a local Unit, which is divided into two or more small groups called Patrols. Through their Patrol activities, the Guides gain skills in communication, teamwork, decision making and leadership, which help prepare them for life.

Early September Gemma Evans lead a patrol of 4 Waratah Guides including Jemmae Dow, Alice Fosdick and Melissa Cherry on a 2 night camp in the Warrumbungle National Park. Gemma planned and developed all the activities, menu and Guides Own with the theme of Rainbow Butterflies under the guidance of Bev Rayner, the Waratah Guide Leader. Gemma completed this activity as part of her goal of working towards her Queen’s Guide Award. Whilst the girls ran the camp adults were present including Bev Rayner as First Aider and parents Vivian Evans and Anne Fosdick went out for one night each. The adults even scored cups of tea in bed J by the early rising Guides. Thanks to parents who transported girls and equipment and to Arthur Dow for the large load of firewood for the chilly nights.

This camp certainly developed Gemma’s leadership and decision making skills and all the girls developed communication, teamwork and life skills whilst having a fun and relaxed camp. It is experiences and opportunities like this that enable our girls to go onto bigger things such as the recent State wide camps and upcoming Jamborees. Camping experience is often a selection criteria for participating in state wide and national events.

Both the Gumnut and Waratah Guide units engage girls in a various camps indoors and outdoors and we really appreciate the leaders dedication in giving our girls the opportunities and to the District Management Team who help raise funds for equipment etc to keep costs down.

Alice's Commenta-

Gemma's camp was wonderful!! I personally had a lot of fun. The food was great, the people were great and Gemma's whistle wasn't so great. I doubt it ever left her mouth once (except for mealtimes!). The activities were great and we enjoyed the sleep. At the end of the day it was very relaxing to know that we had a lot of fun to look forward to the next day. Alice! P.S- Sorry about the big words I was trying to sound like a professional!