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Coastlines N O V A S C O T I A C O U N C I L F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4

D E A D L I N E F O R

F E B R U A R Y I S S U E

F E B R U A R Y 2 8

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Safe Guide 3

Challenges 4

Bursary Info 5

Camp 8

Trefoil Guild 9

In June of 2013 Alberta was hit with massive floods and in true Nova Scotia Guiding spirit we reached out to our sisters in Alberta to offer our help. A few months later I received a list of four Brownies who had lost all their Spark memories and could use our help in replacing their memories. Four special packages have been couriered to the homes of Rylee, Taylor, Izzy and Taylor. These four girls were Sparks in High River last year and now are Brownies. We were able to replace all the badges and crests that were lost and added several more to their collection. As you can see by the pictures this has been a labour of love as each badge has been sewed on by two Hardwood Lake Trefoil members and each Area along with members of your NS Council has provided camp hats (complete with hat crafts), badges, crests, and other Guiding items. I would like to thank Trish MacDonald and Marlene Patterson for the many hours each of them spent sewing on the badges. To the Areas who took time to make the camp hat crafts and to any other Guiders that have had a hand in this project – THANK YOU. Below is the note that I have included in each box and I hope that we keep in contact with these girls as I know they will hold a special spot in the hearts of Nova Scotia Guiding members. “On behalf of Nova Scotia Guiding members, please accept this gift of special memories from your fun year in Sparks. We hope you are enjoying Brownies and will be able to use the campfire blanket as a memory of crests you earned in Sparks as well as a place to keep future mementoes. Guiding in Nova Scotia will always be your sisters in Guiding, and we hope you continue to have fun and create more memories.”

Marlene Patterson & Trish MacDonald – Hardwood Lake Trefoil Members

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The Ontario Council has opened an invitation to all Canadian adult Guiders to attend the S’more Ontario 2014 Tour September 15-27, 2014. This is an Adult Sisterhood event and will explore South-Western Ontario. The itinerary includes stops at three different Girl Guide Camps, the Shaw and Stratford Festivals, Niagara Falls, a winery, St Jacobs Mennonite village, African Lion Safari and so much more. All accommodation and entry fees are included in the price as are most meals. The price is $3200 CAD and registration deposits are due by March 31, 2014.

For more information, please visit https://www.guidesontario.org/index.php/quick-links/event-calendar-registration.

Let’s make this a successful selling day and ensure that Nova Scotian’s know that Guiding is alive and well in our Province! Here are some of the suggestions to get your Unit and District started on a great cookie selling day: Help arrange drive-thru locations Use your cookie buttons that were distributed this past fall Use any other available PR material on Cookie Day Use your local resources such as Coffee Newspapers (which are often free) other local papers

and radio stations to advertise events, Use some of your Area funds to purchase more PR material if required To promote Nova Scotia’s Cookie Day, there will be advertisements in the Chronicle Herald and the Metro. Areas will also have lots of the new recipe cards and the new cookie bookmark to pass out to cookie purchasers. By Darlene Banks, Provincial Cookie Adviser

S’more Ontario 2014 Tour

April 5– Nova Scotia’s Cookie Day

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On January 11 and 12, 2014, enthusiastic Guiders (19 - 30 years old) and Transitioning Members (18 years old) attended the Celebrating the Young Guider (CYG) 2014 Conference sponsored by Nova Scotia Council. Attendees gathered at the Super 8 Truro to take part in this single thread conference with topics in cyber-bullying/digital networking (digital literacy), advocacy, the NS implementation of the National Strategic Plan, international travel, engaging parents, and the ever popular open mike. Topics were chosen by the CYG 2014 attendees with digital literacy at the top. These Guiders and Transitioning Members were keenly interested in learning more. Consequently, Nova Scotia Council engaged with Parry Aftab, a well known US legal authority in digital literacy. Ms. Aftab is a much sought after expert in cyber-bullying and has been instrumental in moving the province forward in this area. She has also developed program modules for Girl Scouts USA with support from the Microsoft Foundation. At CYG 2014, she quickly developed a rapport with the group to educate and empower them in digital literacy. Without exception, her plenary and workshop were both rated 'very useful' by every attendee.

The CYG 2014 agenda culminated with a two hour open mike session Attendees discussed potential ways ahead for Nova Scotia Girl Guides that addressed: what part of Girl Guides has sustained their interest all these years; how the experience of these Guiders can be enhanced; the preferred modes and styles for communications and training; what does the Transitioning Member need to have a great experience, etc. The results of the open mike session were organized by the attendees into several PowerPoint presentations.

The CYG 2014 Team would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the other facilitators for their professionalism and impact on the Conference: Dawn Sephton ("Advocacy - Action to Influence = Change") Myrtle Corkum ("Strategic Plan 2013-2015") Margaret Gullage and Brenda Harvey (International Travel - "Pick me! Pick me! (Take 2)") Christie Elliot ("Engaging Parents") Jessica Makmillen ("Open Mike"). If you would like any of the session materials from CYG 2014, please email stem@girlguides.ns.ca.

By Denise Hirtle, Deputy Provincial Commissioner—Youth Support

Celebrating the Young Guider 2014 Conference

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Q & A for Safe Guide

What are the guidelines for arranging travel for my Unit? If you refer to the Activity Planning Chart on page 11 of Safe Guide 2013, you will find the various options for travel by a Unit, or any part of a Unit. If the parents provide the transportation, it is a Green Level and no paperwork is needed. If the Unit is using commercial transportation, again it is a Green Level. If a parent asks you to drive a girl to an activity, the parent is arranging transportation. If you as a Guider are arranging the transportation (this includes offering to drive), whether for one girl or the entire Unit, it is a Yellow Level and requires a SG.3. You should also read pages 30-31 for a more detailed explanation. I have been asked by a parent to take her daughter home from a Girl Guide activity. Is this allowed? If you were asked by a parent to take a child home from a GGC activity, then you may do so; it is a personal arrangement between you and the parent. Should a parent ask you to regularly pick up (or take home) their daughter from a GGC activity, ensure your name is on the girl’s Health form as an alternate pick up. Your name on the health form does not authorise you to take them to any GGC activity, only to pick them up to take them home. Is skiing/snowshoeing a Green or a Yellow Activity? The determination for a Yellow Level activity in this case is the definition of specialized equipment. Safe Guide 2013 gives some examples of ordinary and specialized equipment on page 5. Downhill skiing has been determined in the past to be a Yellow Level activity - skis are specialized equipment. Cross- country skiing and snowshoeing have the added factor of possibly taking place on trails that would have an Emergency Health Services response time of over 30 minutes which makes it a Yellow Level activity. However, if you are only demonstrating the use of snowshoes at your meeting and the girls are just taking a few steps, this does not require a SG.3. I am taking my Unit to a kick boxing facility or a climbing wall – what level would this be? Again, the girls are going to require some instruction and the use of specific equipment that they would not normally use, therefore it is a Yellow Level activity. Climbing wall (indoors climbing) is not “rock” climbing under Safe Guide 2013 definitions and, therefore, is not a conditional activity. What is the status of Paintball activities? Although not mentioned in Safe Guide 2013, National has said that if such an activity is planned, Guiders should use good judgement in selecting a facility and ensure that the game falls in line with the Promise and Law and Mission of GGC. Modified war games should be avoided. Waivers and Contracts Although not a Safe Guide issue, please remember that Guiders cannot sign waivers and/or contracts. This may include, but is not limited to, permits for use of schools for meetings, community halls, campsites (other than GGC campsites). These are signed on behalf of Girl Guides of Canada and can only be signed by the Provincial Commissioner or her designate and must be sent to the Provincial Office for signing. If you are in doubt, send it in!

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Challenges to do with your Unit

Nova Scotia Arts Challenge

Greetings... Aloha... Bonjour... Hola... こんにちは... from your Provincial Arts Adviser!

Have you ever wanted to travel around the world with your Unit? Bringing in an international theme is a great way for girls to learn about cultures around the world and gain an appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism. Of course, there are also many connections to the Programs of all Guiding branches. Why not try the new 2014 Arts Challenge: Around the World in Artistic Ways? This is a great opportunity to learn about a WAGGGS country through visual art, drama, music and dance. More information about this challenge is available at http://www.girlguides.ns.ca/Documents/NS/challenges/arts.pdf where you will find the challenge outline, program connections, a unit completion form and a unit feedback form. Happy globe trotting!

Dartmouth Shore Area 2014 Thinking Day Challenge Girl Guides of Nova Scotia International Advisory is championing the Dartmouth Shore Area 2014 Thinking Day Challenge. If your unit is internationally minded, you will find that the activities you are doing fit well into this challenge, and those who are not will see how easy it could be to build a little Internationalism into your program. Why not think of Thinking Day as the kick off for your International activities, as opposed to the end of the season! Completed challenge forms and payment must be received by March 22nd. Crest & shipping details are included with the challenge information. For more information, please visit http://www.girlguides.ns.ca/Documents/NS/challenges/thkday.pdf. Have you received your Unit’s copies of the National Friendship Flyer? A copy was purchased for every Nova Scotia girl member with the exception of Rangers; theirs is included in Canadian Guider. If you have not received your copy please check with your District Commissioner to claim them. By Margaret Gullage, Provincial International Adviser

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Chief Commissioner’s Bursary—Now Accepting Applications The Chief Commissioner’s Education Support Fund was established in 1995 to commemorate the visit of the Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada to the province of Nova Scotia. Interest from this Fund is used annually to award the Nova Scotia Chief Commissioner’s Bursary to members of Nova Scotia Guiding who wish to continue or are currently continuing their education beyond high school.

Eligibility: Youth members and adults who are current members of Nova Scotia Girl Guides and who plan to continue or are currently continuing their education. Members pursuing their post-secondary education as either full-time or part-time students are welcome to apply. Please note that members are only able to receive the Bursary once.

Funding amount: Minimum of $500.00 annually. More than one bursary may be awarded.

Evaluation criteria:

Acceptance conditions: The successful candidate(s) will: retain membership in Guiding during the term of the bursary

provide proof of acceptance at a post-secondary institution which must be received by September 15, 2014 in order to receive the bursary cheque.

provide a signed Image Release form and allow their names to be published in Girl Guide publications.

Application directions: Sign your application – it will not be considered without your signature Proofread your application carefully!

The application form is 3 pages long and may be typed or hand-written. In either case, do not extend the application beyond 3 pages – additional pages will not be considered.

Do not submit additional information – please note that transcripts and reference letters are not required and will not be considered in the application review.

Complete the attached application (3 pages) and fax to 423-5347 or mail to:

Girl Guides of Canada Attn: Chief Commissioner’s Bursary

3581 Dutch Village Rd Halifax NS, B3N 2S9

Completed applications must be received no later than April 14, 2014. Late applications will not be

accepted.

Download your application form at http://www.girlguides.ns.ca/NS/Volunteers/Guider_Resources/Forms/

NS/Volunteers/Guiders_Resources/NS_Forms.aspx

Guiding History Education

Employment background Interests

Volunteer activities Short essay questions

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St. John Ambulance Health & Safety Award

St. John Ambulance is once again pleased to be offering $500 to a Girl Guide Unit that has exhibited outstanding dedication to Health & Safety through First Aid training and related activities. The award will be presented at the St. John Ambulance AGM & Annual Dinner to be held on May 23rd at Mount Saint Vincent University. If your unit is interested, please fill out the form on the following page. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2014.

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Provincial Spark/Brownie Camp

‘UNDER THE BIG TOP’ is the theme for this years’ camp. This camp is open to all Sparks and Brownies across Nova Scotia. The Responsible Guider is the Ring Master and the staff are the clowns who will help run the Circus. The Circus will be at Rose Jette Goodmam camp in Pictou County. The camp dates are June 20-22, 2014. Program could include: face painting, wet sponge toss, balloon popping, pin the nose on the clown, everyone can wear a costume for a special parade. Crafts suggestions: beaded clowns, animal puppets, masks, etc. Interested in attending as staff? Staff applications are already available online. For more information, please visit http://www.girlguides.ns.ca/NS/Program/Camping/NS/Programs/Camping_/NS_Camping.aspx by Melinda Stephenson, NS Provincial Camping Adviser

Blast from the Past—Provincial Camp 2014

‘Blast from the Past’ is a fun-filled camp focusing on providing a unique outdoor camping experience for girls and Guiders. Camp will be held August 10-15, 2014 at Camp Kanada (East Petpeswick, NS). The camp fee for the girls and adult leaders is $200 per person. Patrols will consist of 8 girls and 2 Guiders (one Guider must have First Aid). Accommodations may be made for smaller Patrols, individual girls and Guiders. Applications are due on April 15th with a 10% deposit (please see fee schedule below). There is limited space so acceptance will be on a first come, first serve basis. Further information as well as applications for Patrols and camp staff can be found on the website. http://www.girlguides.ns.ca/NS/Program/Camping/NS/Programs/Camping_/NS_Camping.aspx?hkey=3ad1c96f-4002-495c-9468-ff608817beff Questions? Please contact us by email camp.2014@girlguides.ns.ca. By Cindy O’Hearn, Nova Scotia PR Adviser

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Trefoil Guild News

Jottings from the Adviser By Darlene Duggan, Nova Scotia Provincial Trefoil Guild Adviser As I write this, I am watching yet another winter storm with its swirling, whirling fine snowflakes and thinking of that old saying, “Small flakes, big storm”. It seems that our Nova Scotia winter so far has been mostly that “small flakes, big storm”...and I am, perhaps, a little glad that I am past the wielding a shovel age (there ARE perks to that “past the age”). Although I prefer hot summer days, snow days do give us quiet time to think, make plans, and dream a little (maybe about those hot summer days). For me, it puts me in the mood to write poetry, stories, and letters. When I finish this, I will pen a letter to my Trefoil Guild friends in Australia and England (yes, actually write with a pen). Thinking Day is approaching and I want to make sure our Thinking Day greetings arrive in time (ours from Australia arrived with our Christmas card). What are your plans for Thinking Day? Our Nova Scotia Trefoil Guilds always participate in Thinking Day events, their own or as special guests at Unit, District, or Area events. One of my favourites (besides a TD Campfire) is an International Food Fest where we each bring a dish from another country and, if possible, dress in that costume. I am not very adventurous when it comes to food (very boring, ask my sisters) but I really enjoy this event. It does not matter how small or large the group, we can always find an interesting dish to share. Speaking of dishes and food, many of our Trefoil Guilds have completed the Green Earth Challenge...and some of us suffered through the Chocolate Challenge. Oh, the sacrifices we make all in the name of Guiding. And, speaking of challenges, we are currently working on the creation of a Trefoil Guild Challenge, the Move More Challenge. It will incorporate not only being more physically active but more creative, more connected, etc. There will be a crest. Registration is complete now and I am happy to report that there are ten Trefoil Guilds in Nova Scotia with about 120 members, some of whom are still active Unit Guiders...and some who have over 80 years service. We are a unique group with, actually, hundreds of years of experience to offer...just invite us, we’re pretty cool.

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Trefoil Guild News (Continued)

I would like to share Thinking Day thoughts with you. This is from a few years ago but, it is always true.

Thinking Day I have friends both near and far

And "friends" I've never seen I've friends in Sparks and Trefoil Guild

And branches in between To some I send an email and others I will phone

And there are some I even go to visit in their home For some an airmail letter and others in a chat

We share a common bond, you see, we wear a common hat That bond, our Guiding sisterhood, is felt the whole world round

Because no matter where you go, a sister can be found So, on this special Thinking Day, no matter near or far

I'm thinking of my Guiding friends, no matter where they are.

Keep safe, keep happy, keep true. Our Nova Scotia Trefoil Guilds are Keeping the Spirit Alive and wish you Happy Thinking Day!

Tour CBC Studios with your Unit If you’re looking for a fun outing to do with your unit, why not consider visiting CBC Studios for a tour? Tours are available daily and include the control room, TV studio, weather station (with some demonstrations with the green screen if the weather anchor is available) and the set from This Hour Has 22 Minutes (if it isn’t being used that day). Staff will be available during the tour to speak to the girls. Tours are available daily at 11:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. This is a great outing for units within the HRM or a great excursion for Units visiting the Halifax area. To book a tour for your unit, please contact: Kelly Edwards, CBC Communications, 902-420-4773

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Kenya Adventure—International Trip (Part 1) By Alison (Ranger) When I found out in March, 2013, that I had been selected to go on a nationally sponsored trip to Kenya, it was surreal. The next four months were a whirlwind of immunizations, packing, and jumping around my house, overwhelmed with joy. July 30th couldn’t have come soon enough. After a provincial meeting, a conference call and communicating through a Facebook group with the 15 other girls and four Guiders who I would be going to Kenya with, it was finally time to fly to Toronto to meet everyone face to face! Julia, who is also from Nova Scotia, and I flew there together. In Toronto we spent the night at a hotel, getting to know everyone and learning more about what to expect. The next night we flew overnight to London, England, where we had a day long layover before our final overnight flight to Nairobi. We took some time to talk, eat, shop, and for those who didn’t sleep well on the plane, sleep. A six-hour flight later, we were in Africa. We landed in Nairobi just before dawn and our first glance at the capital city was not much more than a few lights in the dark, but by the time we cleared customs and got our bags, the city was wide awake. We were greeted at the airport by people from KENVO (Kijabe Environment Volunteers) - CWY’s Kenyan counterpart, and took a bus to our hotel. After getting our rooms and having a quick breakfast, we were ready to explore the city. We spent the day in Nairobi, walking around Nairobi’s Central Park and Uhuru Park while also looking at the architecture of the buildings. We soon realized just how busy Nairobi can be, as we tried to weave our way through the crowded sidewalks. It was impossible not to bump into people as everyone tried to sell us something, talk to us, shake our hands, or get to where they were going in a hurry. The next day we found ourselves in a similar situation as we sat on the bus for hours, trying to leave the city. Outside of the city it was much quieter as we drove into the Great Rift Valley, where two tectonic plates are pulling apart. After a nerve wracking trip down tight, winding roads, we arrived at the bottom of the valley and opened our eyes to a desert like scene of cacti and monkeys. We spent the night at Osotua Eco-Lodge and Campsite, a joint community venture between the Maasai and Kikuyu tribes. The buildings were built in the traditional Kikuyu style of round huts with pointed grass roofs. During the day, we went for a walk and came upon a school. All of the kids, in their bright blue uniforms, came running out to see us. They were fascinated by our cameras; posing for pictures and then trying their hands at photography. In the evening, we saw traditional Maasai dancers who sang and tried to teach us how to dance. We ended the day with a traditional Girl Guide campfire, which was quickly broken up by a very large, energetic grasshopper. The next day was our first day with our host families in our host town of Kimende, the headquarters of KENVO. We stayed with our host families in pairs: I was with Carly who is from Edmonton. Our host family’s home was in the Kagwe Tea Factory’s growing zone. The family consisted of Mama Regina (people in Kenya are called by the name of their first born) and her children: Regina and Paul. We stayed in an extended family compound with Mama Regina and Regina in a tin roof house with dirt floors. Paul was over 18, so according to Kikuyu tradition, he had to sleep in a different building than his mother. Mama Regina also had other sons who lived in the compound with their wives and children. The kids were very shy and only a few of them were brave enough to speak to us. The kitchen was separate from the main building and consisted of an open fire, a table, and a couple of benches. The toilet was also in a separate building – it was a hole in the ground. There was no running water, so bathing required a bit of effort. The wash house was a small room attached to the main house with just enough standing room for one person, provided you were short. To take a shower you had to bring a bucket of water from the river, heat it, put it on the shelf, and do your best to wash yourself.

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Kimende is at a very high elevation so it was very cold when we there. To stay warm we had a small, portable cauldron of burning charcoal that everyone gathered around. We were in one of the few houses in Kimende that did not have electricity, so when it got dark we used an oil lamp and our flashlights. Even the houses that had electricity only had it during certain hours. Fortunately, it was always on when the Spanish soap operas (dubbed over in English) were on. A lot of the girls were quite enraptured by them. As we didn’t have a television, we listened to the radio and played cards. We taught our family Go Fish and they taught us AK47 and Checkers, with the board that Paul had made out of cardboard with bottle caps for pieces. In the mornings we woke up to Hakuna Matata on Carly’s phone, a very boisterous cow, and a rooster that started crowing around 2 a.m. and didn’t stop for hours. For breakfast we would have a fried egg, bread (not toast), butter, and tea or coffee to drink. Dinner was normally some combination of bread (chapati or ugali), a stew with vegetables and beans, and steamed vegetables. Mornings could be a little hectic if Paul and Regina weren’t there, as Mama Regina did not speak English. Most people in Kenya learn their tribal language first, then Swahili, and then English if they go to school. A lot of the older people spoke little to no English, as did the very young kids. On days that were not holidays or weekends we worked in one of two tree nurseries. One tree nursery was at the KENVO office, which was about a twenty minute walk from our house. There we would plant seeds, weed and water them, fill bags with dirt, transfer the seedlings from the seedling bed to the bags of dirt, and water and weed them some more. We also planted fifteen trees while we were in Kenya. When we weren’t working at the tree nursery at KENVO, we worked at a tree nursery at Matathia Primary

School. The school was much farther away than KENVO, so we would meet at a bank in Kimende and get

driven there. The bank was very far away from our house so Carly and I took matatus, which are public

fourteen passenger vans. They don’t have any stops, so you just have to wave one down that’s going in the

right direction. One day when we were leaving our extended family compound, one drove by and Paul waved

for it to stop. It stopped a few metres ahead of us and we ran to it. All of a sudden, it started to pull away,

with the conductor still waving at us to come. We were unable to run faster than a moving vehicle so we had

to start walking. We didn’t actually know the way, since we had only walked there once before and that had

been with Paul. When Paul saw the matatu stop for us, he assumed we would get on it and he left. Carly and

I walked blindly down the road, hoping a matatu would come and that we would be able to wave it down.

For the longest time all we saw were matatus going in the opposite direction. Finally, one was headed in the

right direction, and we waved for it, but it was full so it kept going. Eventually one came and we got in,

crammed between strangers in typical matatu fashion. One time the conductor put a plank of wood between

two seats for Carly to sit on, which was about as safe as any seat since there were no seatbelts. Later on we

were given a taxi ride into town, once the KENVO staff realized how far away we lived.

Part 2 of this story will continue in the March 2014 Coastlines.