a delightful little trip

This term at brownies our theme is the animal badge. We have had puppies in from the RSPCA, made animal masks and moulded animal figures out of mazipan. Last weekend we went to the zoo.

Personally I was very impressed with the zoo. I haven’t been there for a good 5 or 6 years and was relieved to see it was no longer just animals stuck in cages. Lush bush now spills onto path ways, themed shelters have been constructed and the animals seem happy to be there. And while there isn’t a great number of animals I was impressed to see the keepers making the most of the ones they did have, bringing them into the new auditorium to do a show and tell (which the girls loves). I was also stoked to see that they are in the early stages of building an animal hospital.

We got very up close and personal with the gariffs as the new enclosure allows one to stand at head height to them while in their holding pens. They circled round and round their 8 m by 10 m holding pen waiting to be feed, working themselves up into a state that was rather surreal and frightening.

My favorite was of course the lions. We were lucky to arrive just as they had been fed and one female lion was happy to sit right in front of us as she feasted on her mid day snack.

Oh the zoo how i love it. But I must admit that it was good to return to the warmth of home and the comfort of my bed as I had been to London Elektricity the night before and was in need of some decent sleep.

camp

So last week I was getting all crafty on it as we had brownie camp on the weekend. The theme was pirates and we had lots of great activities planned around this. I wanted to share some of the things we did.
Firstly I want to say I have forgotten how much girls actually love pink. I one cabin there was a whole line on sweet pink gumboots lined up at the doorway. Also I have never eaten so many marshmallows, (marshmallow surprise for dessert, marshmallows on fruit kebabs, marshmallows at camp fire) and may I point out also pink.When we first arrived the girls had to get into their sixes by finding their personal key that was hanging in the tree. Each key was colour coded and therefore split the group into six groups. These are the groups the bunked with and did activities with. I had forgotten what it was like to be on camp and have passwords to enter cabins, roll calls to ensure everyone was present, be able to stay up all night (without any aid from substances) and giggle and chat about rubbish, some may argue that some things never change.
The girls made pirate flags for their six. I forgot what it was like to be a child; where the most important thing is to write your name and big and as bold as you can, dot your ‘i’s with love hearts and then of course write underneath who you love. How did I forget that! So many of the girls have ‘boyfriends’ and it’s so scary to hear them already fighting over them for their affection. I hate to say it girls but this is one thing that will not change!
I also had forgotten how carefree you are as a child. I mean don’t get me wrong I’m a pretty care free kinda-girl (some may say too carefree but I beg to differ) but as I sat and watched one little girl pick up a pen and draw a pirate monkey straight from her imagination, no worrying about if she was going to make a mistake, it made me realise how much of my playfulness I keep inside me on a day to day level. I vowel to spend more time drawing and crafting... and I really need to scrape book more!
Crafts! We made treasure chests, parrots (sorry I didn’t get any photos of these but they looked amazing!) and of course treasure to go in them. I really liked this purple and gold sword that Maree from Island Bay did, it looks very royal like. I can imagine a princess owning a sword like this! The glitter key necklaces I put together also worked out really well, some girls found it easier than others of course but they loved them.

On the last day we did an activity called Guides Own. It’s basically a little service to pay respect to the founders of guiding and to be thankful for what we have. While this is the most boring part of brownies when you are a child, it’s one of those things you look back on and are grateful that the leaders made you do it. I think it is a good wholesome task that puts you in good stead for the years ahead, reminding you to take time out and smile at yourself, as the world and everything in it is much bigger than you.
Anyway after the ceremony the leaders stood in the middle of the ring holding balloons with streams attached. The girls came into the middle and took the balloons back, reforming their outer ring. The idea being that the leaders are like the Captain of the ship. They lead everyone through the adventure and keep the team together, we are all connected through the captain and therefore are all connected together as a unit. I’m not sure the girls really got the point but they did have fun running around with the streamers and balloons, and the wind really helped!


One afternoon the girls made sail boats and we sailed them down the stream. The water was freezing so I watched from the bridge. But I loved it as the area was so Neverland like; bridges, fallen trees used to cross the stream, floating ships and streams of sunshine, the girls looked like the little lost boys (except they were girls) and Tinkabells wondering through the forest. They were so sweet and their ships were so creative! I’m actually thinking of bouncing some ideas off them when it comes to brainstorming projects for the office.

Other out comes from camp for me were:
a) It will be a while before I have children and I’m not sure I want as many as I thought. But I guess I was never considering having 50 either. But children have no sense of personal space, are extremely time consuming, have no common sense and have extremely short attention spans. Good bye Sunday brunches, goodbye privacy, basically goodbye life as I know it. Then again I guess it’s different when they are your own and it’s a gradual process... hum.
b) How fun and care free it is to be a child. I really want to embrace and reclaim some of my childhood moments and thoughts. Though it is important to remember to move forward rather than being pulled back by the past I think it is important to retain some of your playfulness that so many of us loose without realising.
c) Life is one big adventure! We never really grow up, things actually aren’t as complicated as we think and really they are exactly the same as they were in the playground. We just like to think they are more complicated and scary because they make us feel more important. I of course don’t do drama so of course this doesn’t apply to me  But, just though I should point it out for all you others out there. Smile and enjoy it xxx

Thanks for camp both leaders and girls. I had a great time and am excited for the year ahead and our next adventure.

tuesday crunch

Today was a hard one as there were so many sweet photos on page 254 today. But I had to make a decision and I cho cho choose this one. I think I was drawn to it because of my weekend at brownie camp. It reminds me of the fun we had running through the bush, playing in the stream and running around the field with streamers and balloons. I will put some picures up soon.
Oh how fun it is to be a child, your biggest concern being what color balloon you get, or what shoes to wear. I guess some things never change ;-)

SOURCE: weheartit

a weekend of adventure

This weekend I’m going on Brownie camp with the girls. Our theme is pirates and I’m ever so excited as this is another chance to dress up and be childish. Not being much of an adventure/camping kind of girl my activity is crafts and so I’m making pirate jewllery. I was so stoked to get keys from the Brooklyn Lock smith for free. During the weekend I did a few keys to see which would work best and it looks like the fine glitter from the Warehouse was the way to go. After this I got a little carried away and started making team symbols for the groups; bones, pirate ships, palm trees, anchors, chest locks and swords. I hope the girls have as much fun as I did...

We are also doing lots of other fun pirate like things; making treasure chests (bellow), having camp fires, treasure hunts and making sail-boat, as well as abseiling, kayaking and flying foxing which will be very in the spirit. Throughout the weekend there will also be gold nuggets to find. At the end of camp the girls can exchange these for chocolate coins, oooh the fun!
It will be an extremely fun weekend, though the weather isn’t looking it’s best and with no cell phone reception, and therefore no internet access with being at the back of Wainuomata I am a little worried. However I’m sure there will be plenty of things to keep myself busy.

just so dam honest

Last night was one of my co-girl guide leader’s last night as she is off organising the final touches to her weeding before she gets married in a few weeks.

I got the girls to all write a card that we gave to her last night. When I went to add my bit I couldn’t help but laugh at a few of the star words of encouragement and advice the girls gave for Rainbow Owl’s big day.

“I hope you eat lots of cake”
and
“Have a great Wedding Rainbow Owl; I hope ya don’t get dumped!”.

Hahaha, I love these kids, they are great and just so dam honest. I’m very much looking forward to going on camp with them this weekend! I can’t wait to hear some of these classic calls, though being out of cell phone coverage with only girls to talk to might be a struggle.

Rainbow Owl we will all miss you at our meets over the next month. Good luck for your special day we will be thinking of you and Mr Rainbow. xxx

SOURCE: weheart it

newtown festival

Newtown Festival: Fair Day (4:45 min.) from Justine Flanagan on Vimeo.

Newtown festival is in this Sunday! I won’t be here as I’m heading up to Hawkes Bay to see mu dear friend juic. If you do pop along look out for my girl guides as they have just started their annual appeal; selling biscuits. Good luck girls.

girl guide biscuits on sale

Most of you will know I am a girl guide leader in Brooklyn. Next week we start our annual appeal selling biscuits. This Glengarry Glen Ross viral is going around at the moment. While it is not the ideal message we would like to spread about our programme it is a great viral.
Look out for us on the street. We will be seeling outside Farmers on Cuba Street this weekend.

bubbles

Last night at brownies we started our Rainbow Challenge Syllabus. I decided that this term we would do the adventure part as we will do some of the activities on camp and it would be a crime to spend our time inside doing crafts while the weather is still pleasant. So last night we made bubbles. I must admit I choose this activity for my own pleasure and amusement more than the girls. My cousin and I use to have loads of fun blowing bubbles from jam jar lids at my Nana’s.



We initially used the plastic ring from the top of milk bottles, but this didn’t really work. Before long the girls discovered that using their hands was the best way. How could I have forgotten that! I remember spending hours in the bath making bubbles with my hands, softly and patiently blowing the soap mixture into giant bubble that would float across the room and plant itself on the mirror for a few seconds before it eventually popped!

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