Author Archives: Girl Guides of Canada Blog

Reality check: What girls are saying about gender inequality

“I think it was early elementary [school] when I was told that I could not be as good at math as the boys.” – Emily, Girl Guide National Youth Council member Whether they’re in elementary school or high school, gender … Continue reading

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Girl Guides taught me how to be a girl in charge of my own life

I never used to be the person to speak up in class. To randomly talk to someone I didn’t know very well in the school hallway. I feel I’ve come a long way in the past few years – thanks … Continue reading

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5 reasons why a Girl Guide trip should be on your bucket list

Empowering. Challenging. Inspiring. And just plain awesome. Travelling with Girl Guides has it all. Whether it’s exploring the hidden corners of London where Guiding began, seeing the out-of-this-world vistas of Newfoundland and Labrador, or high-fiving your fellow Girl Guides as … Continue reading

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Why soaking up summer in the great outdoors is the BEST

Making memories, making friends, making s’mores. It’s all possible through the kinds of outdoor experiences Guiding offers girls. Whether exploring the hidden beauty of an urban park or experiencing their first overnight canoe trip, girls in Guiding are kind of … Continue reading

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Sparks sparkle – and so do new Guiders!

It’s been almost two years since I shared my story of being a new Girl Guide volunteer,  and while I’ve finally gotten the glitter out of my hair, the sparkle of Guiding still remains. Everyday spent with Sparks is a … Continue reading

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How I jumped into a waterfall with Girl Guides – and you can, too!

Jumping into a waterfall –  sounds both exciting and scary all at the same time, right? But not when you’ve got your Guiding sisters to cheer you on. As Mackenzie writes, you never know what kind of adventure and amazing friends … Continue reading

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Why an urban field trip should be on your summer bucket list

There is something truly awesome about the way Guiding can open doors to new adventures while supporting girls and Guiders in a safe space.  It really shouldn’t have, but it kind of surprised me recently – when our little unit … Continue reading

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How Girl Guides showed their true colours – by painting a rainbow

When the rainbow crosswalk in Smithers, B.C., needed a re-fresh, Girl Guide members in the northern B.C. community came to the rescue. Armed with paint brushes and a kaleidoscope of colours, local Girl Guide volunteers set to work in painting … Continue reading

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5 things I learned organizing a sleepover for Sparks

Girls empowering girls is a powerful part of the Guiding experience. Whether they’re cheering each other on as they try a challenging new activity or sharing a special skill, girls in Guiding can stretch their limits as they mentor one … Continue reading

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In Guiding, we have Pride in being inclusive

Who doesn’t love a parade? Even better – when the parade is all about positivity and inclusivity. Now that’s the kind of parade that Girl Guides will totally join in. During Pride month, Girl Guides across the country participated in community … Continue reading

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How Guiding Supported Me When I Came Out and How I Helped Make My Unit a Safer Place

It’s been three years since I wrote this blog post and it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown! Since then, I’ve become a member of the National Youth Council and I’ve witnessed GGC’s incredible journey towards becoming a more … Continue reading

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Oh the places she’ll go… with Guiding

New friends. The most fun. The best adventures. Girl Guides is pretty much an all-access pass to the ultimate in everything girls want. And this Guiding year was no exception. Think of this as our mini-digital yearbook celebrating the wrap-up of … Continue reading

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How Guiding is building a network of champions for girls and women

I have met some of my best friends through Guiding. There’s something so perfect about weathering a storm in tents together, exploring a new location, or even just creating something new. And how cool is it to see girls helping … Continue reading

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How girls in Guiding are creating #abetterworldbygirls

At Girl Guides of Canada, we’re working towards a pretty important Vision – A better world, by girls. Through innovative and empowering activities, girls in Guiding are making their mark and shaping their world.   Here’s a round-up of what Girl … Continue reading

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This girl-designed T-shirt is EVERYTHING

Amazing. Incredible. And so very styling. We were blown away by the 550+ entries we received for our Girl Designed T-shirt contest. Girls put their design savviness to work in creating  T-shirt concepts that girls in Guiding can wear at Guiding … Continue reading

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Why we should all be ready, willing and able to let youth lead

There’s no doubt that youth engagement has been getting a lot of attention lately. But youth engagement is nothing new for us – Girl Guides of Canada is all about girls empowering girls as they explore all the ways they … Continue reading

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Why I keep coming back to Guiding as a volunteer

I was a first-year university student when I signed up for a course that included a requirement of 10 hours of community service. “What a great time to get back to Guiding!” I thought to myself. I had been a … Continue reading

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Why Girl Guide cookies are the ULTIMATE Canadian treat

We’re interrupting your day to bring you this important announcement: Girl Guide cookies are here. And they are the ULTIMATE in everything. Girl Guides sell some 6 million boxes of cookies every year. That’s a lot of tasty goodness. But … Continue reading

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How Girl Guides helped me shape an awesome future for myself

Girls in Guiding do amazing things – in their communities and in their own lives. Girl Guides of Canada scholarship recipient Safira shares how Guiding has been a huge spark in her life. My involvement with Guiding began at the … Continue reading

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Let’s hear it for boosting our own confidence, not just our friends’ confidence

As a kid, I always felt like there was something that needed to be changed about me and about the way I look. I felt like the amount of your worth decreased the larger you were. But, as I grow … Continue reading

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Let’s celebrate the impact of girls and women in Guiding

by Krysta Coyle Girl Guides of Canada’s Guiding Ambassador It’s human nature to want to make an impact in this world. To feel like you’re making a difference. To feel like you did something that mattered. Yet sometimes – depending … Continue reading

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How this shy, dinosaur-loving 8-year-old found her strong in Guiding

When  girls are a part of Guiding, there are tons of opportunities for them to shine. So let us introduce you to Ellie – she’s all kinds of amazing. She was recognized with a 2017 Girl Greatness Award. We dare you … Continue reading

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Acceptance + Compassion: My wish list for teens like me who work a little harder on their mental health

My name is Kate. I’m 17 years old and in my final year of high school. I love science and reading and aspire to be a neuroscience engineer. And my mental health is something I work on. Every. Single. Day. … Continue reading

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How girls are building survival skills to navigate the digital wilderness

Phones. Tablets. Laptops. Snapchat. Instagram. Texting. Fake news. Selfie perfection. Sexting. Yup – it’s a digital minefield out there for girls. With countless options for connecting, sharing and shaping their identity online, there’s a lot for them to navigate. Yet, … Continue reading

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We could learn a lot from girls when it comes to supporting mental health

Chill. Relax. Get over it. It’s no big deal. Don’t stress about it. Who hasn’t been given this kind of not-really-helpful-at-all advice when they’re struggling? And we all struggle from time to time – it’s totally normal for some days … Continue reading

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Why you should make travel part of your 2018 bucket list

What’s on your bucket list for 2018? How about a little more travel and adventure and new ways to connect with your #globalgirlsquad? Good thing a Girl Guide travel experience has it all. With applications closing Wednesday, January 17 for … Continue reading

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Meet the girls who are taking action on poverty

Do not underestimate the power of girls.  This holiday season, Girl Guides from coast to coast to coast are all about the giving as they take part in our National Service Project: Action on Poverty. They’re sewing mittens for youth experiencing … Continue reading

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The world isn’t always great for girls – but Guiding is a powerhouse of support

Even though we live in a world where girls are constantly treated as less valuable or powerful than their male counterparts, I’ve never believed that my gender makes me worth less. That’s because when I was 11-years-old I became a … Continue reading

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Let’s talk about… Violence against girls

Sexual harassment and violence against girls. While this may feel like a grown-up topic, it’s really not. The truth is many girls in Canada are already dealing with harassment. It can start with catcalling in the hallways, creepy comments online … Continue reading

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Why letting girls lead was the best thing to happen to our Guide unit

Last year, the Guiders of the 26th Orleans Guides stopped leading the horseshoe, the campfire, or organizing games – and it was the best thing we ever did. We had started our year with four Guiders and a productive planning … Continue reading

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Smart. Funny. Confident. Why this Girl Guide should be your new role model

“Kinley is smart, funny, and kind. She also happens to have Down’s syndrome.” That’s how we were first introduced to 11-year-old Kinley in her 2017 Girl Greatness Award nomination. Kinley received an award in the Confidence category after being nominated … Continue reading

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How I turned up my confidence as a twentysomething in Guiding

Let’s face it: becoming an adult is all kinds of exciting and terrifying all at the same time. There are so many new things to learn and do – but it can also feel like just so much new all … Continue reading

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Why Guiding is the ULTIMATE Choose Your Own Adventure

There’s nothing like a Guiding trip to empower girls to see the world – and themselves – in a whole new way. Bonus – it’s a pretty awesome way to find your global girl squad, too. With applications closing Monday, … Continue reading

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The world may be divided, but the girls of the world are not

I am one of a kind. And I am also one of 10 million. I stand together with the 10 million girls and women in Guiding around the world who are making our mark and fighting for gender equality. Attending … Continue reading

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Wonder how much pressure teenage girls face? Just ask them

Too girly. Not girly enough. Too smart, too dumb. Too skinny, too curvy. Too anything. For girls, the mixed messages they get about how they should act, look, and think are confusing and demoralizing. The sad reality is that girls … Continue reading

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Adventure. Confidence. Leadership. How my daughters found it all in Guiding

Fact: Guiding has changed the life of my daughters drastically in the past five years. It all started simply enough. I registered my third daughter, Hari, in Guides. In just a few weeks, I noticed some positive changes in her … Continue reading

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The Guiding year is starting and the excitement is REAL

Excited. Like really excited. That’s how girls, parents and volunteer Guiders are feeling about the start of the Guiding year. But don’t take our word for it (even though you can always trust a Girl Guide). Check out all the feels … Continue reading

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From networking to chilling out: 5 reasons being a Guider is an A++ idea

We all know that Guiding empowers girls to learn, explore and find their place in the world. And as I discovered, volunteering with Girl Guides as a university student also pays off in a big way – both for the … Continue reading

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How a Girl Guide trip helped me find my #globalgirlsquad

Travelling as a teenager to another country can definitely be a little bit scary – but also super exciting and amazing at the same time. This summer, I was part of a Girl Guide trip to Ireland and it’s no … Continue reading

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These girls put the POWER in empowering by mastering how to use a drill

Learning how to drive a nail and use power tools are empowering skills that can make girls feel strong and fearless.  Meet some Girl Guides who mastered how to swing a hammer while learning about female entrepreneurship along the way. … Continue reading

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Why giving girls a little bit of freedom in the great outdoors is a recipe for awesome

Think Sparks are too little to cook their own meal or set off on an adventure? Think again. As this Guider writes, when girls get outdoors and have the chance to discover just what they can do on their own, … Continue reading

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5 retro camp pics way cooler than anything on Instagram

Who needs Instagram to give their camp photos a nostalgic vibe? At Girl Guides of Canada, we’ve got lots of classic camp pics with that hazy look that can only come from the 1970s and 1980s. More permanent than Snapchat … Continue reading

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The moment this Guide learned to ride a bike will give you all the feels

Have you ever had a fear of trying something new? Not this Girl Guide, who tackled learning how to ride a bike. Continue reading

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This Sparks pj party will give you the warm and fuzzies

Pajama party checklist: PJs? Check. S’mores? Check. Campfire? Check. Giving back to your community? Check. To celebrate the end of the Guiding year, the 73rd Toronto Sparks put on their finest and fuzziest to celebrate with a pajama party. But … Continue reading

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Six Important Things I Learned from Six-Year Olds

There are so many reasons to volunteer with Girl Guides of Canada. And now that my second year of volunteering with Guiding is about to come to a close, here’s a list of what I’ve learned from a group of … Continue reading

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How this shy, dinosaur-loving 8-year-old found her strong in Guiding

When you sign your daughter up for Guiding, there are tons of opportunities for her to shine. Let us introduce you to Ellie – she’s all kinds of amazing. She was recently recognized with a 2017 Girl Greatness Award. We … Continue reading

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Move over Wonder Woman – these super hero Sparks are super every day

While Wonder Woman leaps into movie theatres across the planet this week, there are real-life female super heroes in our midst every day. We’re talking about Girl Guides. Super heroes like the 1st Valley East Sparks in Sudbury, Ontario, who … Continue reading

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