Girl Guides provides a non-formal education program that is a dynamic, flexible and values-based training in life skills, decision-making and leadership. It is supported by trained volunteer Leaders who are committed to Girl Guides Australia's mission statement:
To enable girls and young women to grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community members.
Who are Guides?
Membership of Girl Guides Queensland is open to girls from 5 to 17 years of age, and women 18 years and over. Each girl and adult member makes a promise which shows their commitment to the principles of Guiding and is her link with the 10 million other Guides world wide.
What do Guides do?
At Guides, girls and women have fantastic opportunities to develop new skills, try cool activities, gain confidence, to think and act for themselves, make new friends, acquire a greater respect for the environment and experience a sense of community while having fun. Guides also presents opportunities to attend state, national and international camps and events.
The Australian Guide Program helps girls to learn life-skills and leadership while having fun, making friends and enjoying the outdoors. Everything that Guides do is related to the four elements of the Program and activities are based on the seven fundamentals of Guiding.
Guiding for Girls
Girls try a wide range of activities, appropriate to their age and abilities. The girls decide, plan, participate in and evaluate their program, which is facilitated by an accredited trained adult volunteer Leader. Girls belong to a local Unit who meet regularly for Unit meetings.
Within the Unit each girl belongs to a small groups called a Patrol. Through their Patrol activities, Guides gain skills in communication, teamwork, decision making and leadership, which help prepare them for life. Guides also offers girls opportunities to participate in camps, special events, outings and day trips.
Guiding for Women
Girl Guides offers women members a variety of opportunites and levels of involvement. There is the Olave Program for 18-30 year olds, Leadership roles working with girls, young women or adults, Trefoil Guilds and the Women of Substance mentoring program. Guides offers women the same opportunities to attend state, national and international camps, events and trainings.
Why girls only?
Guides provides a unique girl only space. International research has shown that boys and girls learn very differently. Guides are encouraged by Leaders and peers to explore their personal boundaries, in a safe and secure atmosphere. By this, Guides learn they can do anything.
Guide Leaders consistently report a special feeling about Guide meetings. It’s an energy the girls generate because they want to be there, where they:
• have a direct say in what they do
• learn to plan, action, and evaluate their activities
• can discover what kind of person, and girl, they are
Guides don’t “dumb down” nor step back from physical challenges for fear that boys might not approve.
