BRIDGING PARTICIPATION STORY

by P.Jackson

Below is a participation story we used in a bridging event that was held. It was also a chance for us to thank the church that is home to all the branches in Guiding. You could replace the church with the name of your facility or omit it all together in cases where all branches do not meet at the same location. Feel free to use and adapt to your situation.

ACTIONS

Tell the girls ahead of time what to do when they hear.

The: ..............Say or do

Sparks: We wear pink & we share!

Brownies: Lend A Hand (clap twice above head

Guides: Blue - Cool!

Pathfinders: Green Scene!

Rangers: Red & Ready!

Leaders: "I am slowly going crazy"

Trefoil: Purple People

EVERYONE DOES OR SAYS BELOW WHEN THEY HEAR THE WORD

Guiding: Guiding, Guiding, Hip Hip Hurray!

Fun: Yipee (wave arms in air)

Camp (camping): Swat/Swat (pretend to squash mosquitoes)

Crafts: Snip, snip (pretend to cut)

Songs: Twirl around on floor singing "tra la la!"

Eastmount (church): Thanks sooooo much! (arms go out to sides)

STORY

Once there was a lonely little girl named Crystal. She wished that she could have more friends. Then one day she saw heard about some girls who had lots of fun and friendship and they were called Sparks. She ran home and asked her mommy if she could join. The next week her Mommy took her to Eastmount Church where she joined Sparks. She had lots of fun doing crafts, singing songs, and playing games and she couldn’t wait to go each week. After some time Crystal grew older and although she still had fun some of the crafts became too easy and she wished that she could go on even more trips and go to camp. Her leader told her that now she had learned about fun and friendship it was time to move on to fun and adventure and the place to do that was with the Brownies. They also met every week at Eastmount!. And so, in the Spring , Crystal sparkled up to the next group in Guiding.

They Brownies were bigger then her and she had new Leaders. Soon she realized that they were very friendly and she would have lots of fun and adventure with them. She also got to earn Outlooks and Windows to put on her badge sash. She was so proud of every one of them. She learned all about lending a hand and helping other people She learned new songs, did neat crafts, went on trips, and giggled with her friends all night at camp. Her Brown Owl told her that she was special and could accomplish anything she put her mind too. Soon Crystal grew older and once again was finding that things were becoming too easy for her. She still had fun but she needed more challenge in her life. Her Leaders told her that now that she had learned about fun and friendship in Sparks, and fun and adventure in Brownies she was ready for some fun and challenge. The best place for that was with the Guides! Crystal wasn’t too sure if she wanted to wear blue but the older girls went to visit the Guides who also met at Eastmount. She had so much fun that night. She found out that she would be doing a lot of the same things like doing crafts and singing songs and going to camp, only things were more challenging.

She spent 3 years in Guides. She learned how to tie knots, make a bed roll, and at camp she learned how to cook a cake in an oven she made from a box and hot rocks. One night her Leaders told her that some special visitors were coming. They were in the next branch of Guiding and they were called Pathfinders. They met on Thursday nights at Eastmount. They told her she would soon be joining them as she was now ready for fun and opportunity. Camping was really different in Pathfinders. Sometime they went to camps that had BOYS! And instead of the Leaders planning everything they had opportunities to run their meetings, and decide what to do on trips and camps. After Pathfinders she went on to Rangers where she had fun and independence. She especially liked camping now. That’s because the Leaders didn’t stay on the same site as them. They were up the lane if they needed them but most of the time they were on their own and feeling very independent.

One day when her Aunt Monica was visiting she told Crystal that she had joined Guiding again. Crystal asked are you a Leader? Not exactly, she replied. I don’t have my own unit but I do help out when ever I am needed. And I have lots of fun along the way! I belong to something called the Trefoil Guild. What colour do you wear, she asked. We wear purple. Did you know that we also meet at Eastmount? No said Crystal, I didn’t know that. Aunt Monica, said Crystal. Did you notice that there is one word that is the same in fun and friendship, fun and adventure, fun and challenge, fun and opportunity, and fun and independence. That’s right said Aunt Monica. It’s fun and thanks to places like Eastmount, we can continue to have fun in Guiding.