Leadership Qualification

I’m getting quite into my leadership qualification now I’ve had time to really sit down and read through it thoroughly. More impressively I’m up to date with this term’s notes from meetings which hasn’t happened in all the four years of me helping at Brownies! It has been quite helpful going through methodically as it’s no longer quite as scary as it first seemed.

I’m missing my lovely yellow things this week as it’s half term so I’m spending tonight… at work… It means I’m missing out on the county camp meeting but I just can’t say no when I’m rung up and asked to work at short notice because I hate the thought of patients not receiving the care they are entitled to if a ward is short staffed. I’m still getting involved though, I’ve offered my services for the challenge day organised by the Senior Section so it will be interesting to find out who I’ll be working with and what we’ll be doing.

Post It Notes

Well it’s official – I’m going to become a fully ‘qualified’ leader at some point; I got my GirlGuiding post it notes today! My mentor came along to Brownies and went through the leadership book with me. It seems a little bit daunting really but she has assured me that it isn’t. Am I convinced? Not really… I did get post it notes though… *Easily pleased*

Once again my Brownies were wonderful value – chocolate buttons and marshmallows were tonight’s treat! Surprisingly they appreciated my sock puppet of Karl Radek from last year’s history work. The sock puppets worked quite well I think. They enjoyed doing them and remembered everything which was wonderful(ly unexpected).

Next week’s half term (lots of Queen’s Guide time!), and then it’s Thinking Day so we shall spend 90 minutes thinking quietly! In other words we have nothing planned…

Beginning to plan…

We’re slowly begin to get somewhere with my plans for science week. At today’s meeting we managed to get some names done for the four main lunch time activities so it is a start. I didn’t get enough for any but there were quite a few people missing. Hopefully after half term I’ll have every space filled in and everyone’s name down. This is the most tedious part of just getting people to agree to take part in the running of a set part. Once we get down to the actual planning there’ll be far more enthusiasm (I hope).

I am quite excited by the new structure. It is definitely a shame we couldn’t get the more traditional style science fair off the ground but it’s proving more of a challenge like this. It’ll certainly make me feel more like I’ve worked for my award than if everything just miraculously worked the first time. I always remember what it said in my Brownie handbook when things don’t go according to plan:

If you can do something straight away then it isn’t a real challenge.

Yellow things

I love my yellow things!

Some days I actively dread our meeting and yesterday was one of them. I had masses of work to do and it was freezing and we were supposed to be going for a walk (we didn’t in the end).

Anyway nothing can make you feel less stressed than a Brownie giving you a hug. It really makes you realise why you spend hours of your life crafting trees from newspaper and toilet rolls! They really were unbearably cute yesterday – very giggly and smiley! It was a very impromptu meeting but we had a really good time playing silly games and singing songs and only one bout of tears – a major achievement at the moment!

Keeping on top of it…

…or not as the case may be!

So exams over I planned to spend this weekend doing Queen’s Guide work and my history coursework. Have I done either? Not really…

I’ve done little bits of both but not as much as I would have liked. My file is nice and organised again though so hopefully I will be able to manage to get more done next weekend. Also tomorrow we’re having a proper meeting to get on track with preparations for the science fair – cue me getting very bossy… I won’t feel guilty about it though as they all knew what they were signing up for – I have always been ‘efficient’!

I’ve found some more articles as well about science, education and the media this week. There was a really good blog post on the Guardian website about the BBC and science which has definitely given me food for thought. So whilst I’ve not got masses done this week I’ve stayed excited and I will do better next week!

Hello! *waves*

Hello! *waves*
As a Senior Section member you have the opportunity to complete the Queen’s Guide Award, which is the highest award in Guiding. I, perhaps foolishly, have decided to have a go! There’s five clauses: service in Guiding, community action, personal skill, residential experience and the expedition. I’m working on the first two now so for the next year (!) that will be all you hear about.For my community action I’m looking at science and education, which is proving rather more difficult than I first thought! Primarily because of the practical element and the total apathy which meets me from every direction at school! So I’ll be sharing my findings with you all (and maybe asking a few questions too) as well as providing  some useful resources for those studying science.Service in Guiding consists of my Brownies – and their pack holiday – , County Camp planning and something else that has yet to be decided on… So I hope you enjoy my ramblings. I promise to post regularly…