Greetings! And welcome to Brownies Meet – a blog about a Brownie Unit.
First things first… I am a volunteer member of Girl Guides of Canada but I am not a representative of Guiding. This site is meant to be a resource for Guiders interested in seeing how one Brownie unit is run. Please refer to your provincial council and/or Safe Guide for all questions of policy, rules and organization.
I am a Brownie Guider in Ottawa Ontario and being Brown Owl is one of my favourite things. Through the years I have also been a District Commissioner, a Mentor, and Community Guider. I’ve also discovered the joy of volunteering as Core Crew at large Camps (I’ve been to three in four years and have met some of my very best friends at Camp!).
How did I get here? I started as a Pathfinder Guider in 2004 and, while I did enjoy Pathfinders, I found that if I was going to be happy, I needed to be involved in the planning and organization – not just a “show up Guider”. When Brownies needed an in-charge type to be Brown Owl in 2005, I jumped at the chance (it wasn’t a hard decision … the previous Brown Owl is still my best friend. I knew going in that I could count on her to be a super mentor and for continuing support).
I started out completely focused on paperwork and getting it right. In the beginning I tried to do everything – I think I wanted to learn all the tasks right off the bat. While it is useful for Brown Owl to know everything, it was immediately apparent that it isn’t possible. The lesson was – go with your strengths. I’m still the paperwork Guider, I help plan meetings, handle program, plan camps and outings, and oversee budget. The other Guiders are there to fill in the gaps with their own skills, interests and talents so I don’t have to do everything. Everyone feels like a valued member of the team (I hope). And it is nice that not one person is carrying the load. Guiding is about supporting each other… I hope everyone else is as lucky as I have been in my unit. The big thing is that everyone needs to be having fun (that includes the girls of course, but also the Guiders). BrowniesMeet.ca started as way to make a searchable database of our meeting plans for just us, but I am surprised and pleased to see that it has become a place that other Guiders find useful too. It has been especially gratifying to hear from so many of you in Canada and around the world. Best of luck in your units.
Yours in Guiding,
Cara
Just came across your site, and am looking forward to reading more of your posts. I am a Brownie leader in BC, so always looking for new ideas 🙂
Hello, I came across your blog and have found it to be very useful. My fellow Guiders and I are taking over a Brownie unit in Barrhaven in the fall and I am trying to get as much information as I can. It is nice to have local ideas!
Thanks for taking the time to post you Guiding adventures,
Nathalie
Hi Cara, We love your blog and have bookmarked it on Delicious for others to find/see.
Keep up the amazing sharing!
GGC National
I think this resource is awesome for Brownie leaders. Would you be interested in receiving meeting plans from other Ottawa Brownie leaders. I have all out plans from this year (Key to I Can, Key to our Living World, Key to Active Living, Key to Brownies and Key to Camping – well Key to Camping is a bit rough) available to be posted somewhere – they are all on Google Docs so I could easily share them with you for posting. This would be an awesome repository of meeting plans within Ottawa and serve as a resource for all Brownie leaders. How can a contact you directly?
Janice
Hi Janice, I’ll email you directly – but I think I would. Or I’d suggest that you make your own page and we link it up somehow. We’ll talk.
finding your site has been very helpful, I love the owl craft on the pillow boxes
I have not been a Brownie Guider for a long time and things have changed
Thank you for sharing your ideas
Thank You so much for sharing all of your creative thoughts that make Guiding so much fun! This is my first year as a BROWN OWL. I along with my co-leader, Tawny, am looking forward to any helpful suggestions/ideas you have to offer. We are going into our 4th meeting and preparing for a fall camp end of the month…this site is a big blessing to us!
“We are Thankful, We are Thankful,
For your time, for your time,
to share with us your ideas, to share with us your ideas,
cause we are new, we are new!!!
🙂
DeShane – you are very sweet, and very welcome. I’m really happy I can help, but I’m happier that you’ve joined the tradition that is “Brown Owl”. Good Luck… anything in particular that you’re looking forward to seeing? =) Cara
Just found your site as I think of things for tonights troop meeting.. YIKES! I’m a Brownie Girl Scout Troop Leader in Kent, Ohio. Our troop was trying to find a “penpal” troop overseas – but the program was discountinued in the US and I’m finding it hard to independantly find a troop. Any chance your troop might be interested in this? I can exchange additional info with you, including our facebook page, if you are interested.
Thank you!
Michele
Love the page!
I’m a Brownie leader and International Commissioner here in Malta (Europe) and love your ideas and enthusiasm! will definately keep popping in to see what’s new!!!
keep it Up!
Hi Claire – I had to look up Malta. Even though we’re from very different places, I’ll bet Guiding is pretty similar. But you must find it strange to hear us talk about snow. Please do keep popping in. I hope to hear from you again.
Best,
Cara
[…] post originally appeared on Ottawa Guider Cara’s own Brownie Meeting Ideas blog. Cara offered it to us for re-posting as its description of […]
Hi there, I love all the ideas here and have used many of them in my Brownie Unit here in PEI. I’m wondering if you have anything planned for Thinking Day this year? I’m having trouble coming up with some fun ideas around this years’ theme. Thanks for all your ideas!
Hi Tonya! I am so glad you like this site. We are holding a planning meeting next Monday and I will be sure to report our plans. I havent looked yet, but the WAGGGS site usually has a great program with age appropriate activities. That’ll be our starting point. When you have your plans up, I would love to hear about them.
Cam across your site when searching for ideas for my Brownie group in Ontario, and I’m so glad I did! We have a small unit and all 3 of us leaders are fairly new, so your ideas and comments are a great resource for us! Thanks so much for sharing!!
hi im a Brownie leader (just started last sept 2011) from Wales UK i love this site, came across it looking for world thinking day ideas.
thanks for all your brilliant ideas and tips
Cara, I am a Brownie Guider in Nova Scotia and have been following your blog for years. Thank you for sharing your many ideas. Now that we’re starting Girls First I’ve been anxious to read more about how you and your group are adapting the new program but haven’t seen a posting for awhile.
Great blog! we’ve now got you listed on our blog reading list! 🙂
…the 64th Guides [http://64thGuides.blogspot.ca]
Hello! Great site, and I wish you the best of luck to you and your brownies. I myself is a brownie leader and the commissioner of the branch in Lebanon. Thanks for sharing your ideas, always nice to hear what others in guiding are doing as well.
Rima
[…] post originally appeared on Ottawa Guider Cara’s own Brownie Meeting Ideas blog. Thank you Cara for allowing us to share this with our […]
Hi. Great Site for Guides, especially Brownies! I am just not finishing up my first year as a Guider in Brownies. I find it so rewarding, and enjoy meeting all the Brownies and Parents. I am happy to have found your site, as I myself was never in Guiding as a young girl, but now wish I had. I was wondering if you/or anyone else reading this new of more outings to do in Ottawa or Rockland Area with Brownies. Thanks for sharing such great ideas!
Just realized a few spelling mistakes,,,, oops- I am finishing up first yr in Brownies.
Hello. I’m a newly-volunteered Brownie Leader in Cumbria, UK, with my first session coming up in the next few weeks. I was searching for ideas and stumbled upon your blog. You have created a fantastic resource which is detailed, clear, supportive and motivating. Thank you!
I am the Awards Chair for E-Guiding (e-guiding.com) and would like to contact you.
hi Cara!
Thank you for this blog, I use many of the ideas with my daughter’s Brownies group. just wanted to let you know about beading kits that we just ordered for our group, thought you might be interested. 🙂 http://www.beadingbuds.com/store/p16/Memory_Wire_Friendship_Bracelet_Kit_for_Girl_Guides_of_Canada.html
Hi from West Sussex, UK.
I Stumbled across your site. Some great ideas to take to our Brownies. Will keep checking back here. 🙂
Hello from Calgary Alberta
Just came across your website. Looking forward to doing some reading your blog and using some of your ideas.
I am SO glad to have found your blog. I am a new Brownie leader, and haven’t been in Guiding since I was a girl. I’ve just started reading some posts and I’m so pleased to see how a unit is run. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!!!!