Experiences in guiding: lockdown

Written by Claire Coles-Williams & Lucy Briggs

Sorting out my camp blanket - Lucy

As I have to self-isolate at the moment, I have set myself a challenge - I have decided to dig out my badges and (finally) find the time to sew them all on! I can’t attend my usual Guide meetings at the moment, so I thought this was a brilliant way to keep my guiding spirit alive. Digging all my badges out has brought back some really great memories. I found my badges from Camp Down - this was by far my favourite camp! It also came with some fantastic and really colourful badges. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a badge!

I hope that sharing this has helped to inspire others to find and sew their old badges on too. I’ve pinned mine all onto my blanket, so now it's time to get sewing!

In this difficult time, where unit meetings have been suspended, there are plenty of ways to keep your guiding spirit alive! You could follow the Badge of the Month series, have a look back over the Top 10 Tuesday blogs or explore the activities that Girlguiding has published on the Adventures At Home hub.

Here are some of my badges!

Guiding in a difficult period - Claire

We have been home-schooling for almost two weeks now and, if I'm honest, it's been pretty hard on all of us. I live with my daughter Lenore, who is a Brownie, as well as my parents, older sister and my two-year-old daughter. Being on top of each other constantly has both its good and bad moments!

Lenore does her school work but gets upset as she worries about and misses her friends. Last week, we had our Brownie meeting on Zoom (with our unit, 1st St. James Brownies) and it was so good to see everyone again because Girlguiding is like our second family!

We have also decided to take up some new hobbies to fill the time - I'm doing quilting and Lenore has chosen clay modelling. These next few weeks and months are going to be tough, but we're all in this together and we can make it through.

To help with this difficult time, I have compiled a list of helpful tips that I find make my life a lot easier in this tricky situation:

  1. Make learning fun.
  2. Play lots of games - both electronic and in real life.
  3. Enjoy the time you're spending together and learn to enjoy time by yourself.
  4. Take time out for yourself to rest.
  5. Practice doing breathing exercises or meditation.

"Guiding is like our second family!"

How are you keeping in touch with your unit? Have you taken up any new hobbies? Let us know on Facebook and Instagram!

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