Meet the Rangers!

It's been a while since I last looked at an influence on me and this week we look at the section that is for older girls.

Rangers in Girlguiding are children aged 14 to 18 who meet to hang out, learn new skills, and take part in adventures as they move towards womanhood.

What Rangers Do.

Activities and Badges: Members work on interest badges, skills builders, and top awards like the Ranger Gold Award or the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. 

Leadership and Volunteering: Many Rangers act as Young Leaders, helping run units for younger sections like Rainbows, Brownies, or Guides. 

Travel and Adventure: The section offers local meetups, UK trips, international travel, and outdoor camps. 

Community Action: Girls make a difference by supporting local causes, speaking out on issues they care about, or joining advocacy panels. 

Apart from all of that you hang out together and have fun!

Thinking Day thoughts

After last week's exciting littles adventure report, this week I wish to return to something that has been a series of posts within this blog from the start.

You cannot escape being something of an eternal Brownie  when you are "little" me and that is in differing ways a part of who I am so we've written about Girlguiding, what it means to me and how as a lifelong sissy elements have been problematic although I'm now at peace with it.

Today we look at something important - Founder's Day.

The day itself, 22 February, marks the birthday of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouts. It’s a birthday he shared with his wife, Olave, on the far right of this picture,  who was World Chief Guide, which is why the day is special for Guides too who call it Thinking Day.

As is traditional,the Scouts  took part in the Annual Wreath Laying Service at the Baden-Powell Memorial at Westminster Abbey represented vy Welsh Explorers, while Girlguides like us reflecting on what he gave us when he set out the principals for scouting and started our movement.

It is  a day to renew your Promise, and think about how Scouting has and still does have the potential to change lives and society in general for the better in whar are troubling times with conflicts and challenges not least that involving our planet.

What might you need on an camping trip with your mates?

Here it seems American Girl Scouts have gathered much you will such as matches, maps, eating and cooking utensils (you may well need to eat something!) and a good first aid kit as you may be a few miles from a chemist or doctor.

A compass really is a must as is a torch, guides on indentifying trees and plants and penknife.

Thoughts on leaving

Technically I should be leaving today but actually we are going to gift shop that also has a restaurant first after packing my case and uber cute Hello Kitty tote bag ready for off in the early evening and I am dressed as me, feminine, gurlish, little me on view to all young and old given it's half term in schools this week and it's beautiful. 

Being that Gurl really is the thing and generally few care abut the back story as you just "be" and act as you "are" just respecting some more adult styles aren't really the best choice for mixed company even if there's nothing intrinsically wrong with them.

Reading is something I like but there's a problem with getting younger people to read which GirlGuiding is trying to help with.

Recently the authoress Jacqueline Wilson dropped in a sleep over by the 2nd Cliftonville Brownies as a surprise with copies of her novel The Seaside Sleepover and her she is with two brownies.

I'll write something about the week next week but Tammy was out and deserves to be.

Remembrance

 Although this is the blog of  a sissy, that gurl is much much wider one looking at the things that mattered to me such as Scouting, and being a Little too, the way I carry forward "The Eternal Brownie" in me.

Remembrance can mean different things to different people. The in Brownies the  activities provided are a great way to explore what it means to your unit – from the poppy fields of the first world war, to stories of women working in the resistance during the second world war. Think too about those who protect and support us today, from police officers to supermarket workers.

By doing this you learn and understand what the sacrifice many not least girls and women made for our today, our freedom.

Here today's Brownies take part in the remembrance day service and parade, laying their wreath which having done that myself is a poignant act and also a great honour.

Remembrance thoughts

 This blog tends to look at a variety of things not just about gender presentation, fashion but also personal life so today's entry about something I think matters and formed part of my life.

 

I enjoy a bonfire night as much as anyone but the other thing GirlGuiding and Scouts is involved in around this time of year is Remembrance  which was marked Friday with Armistice Day and on Remembrance Sunday at the weekend.

Having taken part in Parades it has a bit of a sombre nature because we think about what men (and women) did both at home and on the battlefield to preserve the liberty, freedom and way of life we have and the sacrifice of lives given to have succeeded in it against great odds in WW2.

It is important for people, especially children to know about this so in guiding with the help of people such as the Royal British Legion, girls and boys are taught about this as in a good number of schools they are too.

 

Here we see Guides and Brownies going to the cenotaph as many will this weekend placing their wreath upon it as a symbol of our respect and appreciation of what those people, often young gave for us and our country.

We will remember our war dead.

Guiding and Baden-Powell

 The statue at Poole, Dorset opposite Brownsea Island of Robert Baden-Powell

Baden-Powell at the 1935 Jamboree, lionized by the Scouts.

He is MY hero, the founder of Scouting for Boys and Guiding for Girls, teaching personal, social and practical skills, increasing the confidence and competence of millions of boys and girls around the World of all races, religion, class and language, moulding them into good productive and useful Men and Women. 

Brownies here take their salute at the weekly meeting just like others across the region and beyond.

Tammy is glad to be a brownie in spirit.