Irish Girl Guides

Irish Girl Guides
Country	Ireland
Founded	1911
Chief Commissioner	Emer O’Sullivan
Website http://www.irishgirlguides.ie

The Irish Girl Guides is a Girl Guides organisation in the Republic of Ireland. Together with the Catholic Guides of Ireland, it forms the Council of Irish Guiding Associations. Whereas the Catholic Guides are an all-Ireland body, the Irish Girl Guides are not organised in Northern Ireland, where Girlguiding Ulster, the branch of Girlguiding UK, operates instead.

History

As a soldier, the Founder of Scouting and Guiding, Robert Baden Powell discovered that boys could be trained and used to help in emergencies. He held an experimental camp at Brownsea Island in Dorset in 1907 at which the boys were divided into patrols and trained to be self-reliant.

The first big rally for Scouts was held at Crystal Palace outside London in 1909. At this there were 10,000 boys as well as some girls who dressed in a uniform and called themselves "Girl Scouts".

In 1910 Girl Guides were officially formed with the founder's sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, in charge. A syllabus for girls was drawn up for their training similar to that for the Scouts.

Only a year after the Girl Guide Movement was founded the first official company in Ireland was formed, in 1911 in Harolds Cross. Guiding quickly spread to Cork and Wicklow. At this time there was no border between North and South so Guiding was run as one organisation for all Ireland.

In 1929 Ireland was partitioned into the Irish Free State (26 counties) and Northern Ireland (6 counties) and a separate organisation for the Free State was created from the whole, the Irish Free State Girl Guides.

Ireland became a separate member of WAGGGS in 1932.

In 1938 the name of the organisation was changed to the Irish Girl Guides

In July 1993 at the 28th World Conference in Denmark, the Council of Irish Guiding Associations was ratified as a full member of WAGGGS. The Council of Irish Guiding Associations consists of The Irish Girl Guides and the Catholic Guides of Ireland on behalf of their members in the Republic of Ireland.

The World Conference was held in Dublin in July 1999. An International Guide Camp known as "Solas" was held in Charleville, Co. Cork in July 2002. Another International Camp known as "Campa Le Cheile" was held in Tattersalls, Co.Meath in July 2007.

Age groups

The Irish Girl Guides is divided into the following age groups:

• Ladybird Guides - aged 5 – 7 years
• Brownie Guides - aged 6½ – 10 years
• Guides - aged 10½ – 14½ years
• Young Leaders - aged 14½ - 18 years
• Senior Branch - aged 14½ – 26 years

Uniform

• The Ladybird Guides uniform is a red Jumper, navy sash, navy neckerchief and woggle.
• The Brownie Guides uniform is a yellow Jumper, navy sash, navy neckerchief and woggle.
• The Guides uniform is a t-shirt, hoodie, patterned neckerchief and bag. There is a choice of a blue t-shirt with pink stripe on either side or pink t-shirt with blue stripe on either side. The neckerchief is white with blue and pink celtic knots. There is a choice of pink or blue shoulder bag for badges.
• The Senior Branch uniform is navy with green lining and green logo in a t-shirt and hoodie, and a pink neckerchief.
• Leaders can wear a fitted v-neck t-shirt or polo shirt or long/short sleeved blouse with purple logo. Leaders wear either navy sleeveless fleece, or navy full long zipped fleece or violet half-zipped microfleece with purple logo. Leaders wear a purple neckerchief.

Ladybirds

Ladybird Guides are aged 5 –7.

Ladybirds meetings are described as "Every week at our meetings we take part in activities which include games, songs and crafts. We follow a programme which helps us to become more independent, discover the outdoor world and learn about the family of Guiding to which we belong. We have lots of fun and make loads of new friends."

The Ladybird Guide Unit is led by a Guider called Coccinella and she is assisted by other Guiders called Rainbow, Adalia, Calvia or Thea. The maximum number of girls in a unit is 24 and we meet for one hour a week. Girls aged 5 – 7+ are introduced to the principles of Guiding by encouraging them to share, to help others, to learn about teamwork, to enjoy nature, etc.

• Our Motto: Ladybird Guides care and share
• Our Aims:

Learning to grow in independence

Activities, including songs and games

Dainty red sweatshirt with Ladybird Guide logo

Yes, it's great fun

Busy and bright and sometimes quiet

Is for the family of Guiding to which we all belong

Ready to help with a smile

Discover the world

To be enrolled, a Ladybird Guide must know her: name, address, telephone number, birthday, Ladybird Story, Ladybird Guide Song, Promise, Motto and Vespers87.

Each Ladybird is given a workbook for her first year and a Ladybird Guide Spot Pack for her second year.

When the Ladybird Guide moves through Brownie Guides and then to Guides she will develop these principles as she progresses.

Brownies

Brownie Guides are aged between 61/2 and 11. They are junior members of the Irish Girl Guides.

• Our motto: Lend A Hand

Most Brownie Packs meet every week, during term time. Brownie Guides have fun while learning to help others, enjoying the outdoors, playing games, doing crafts, working for awards and badges and singing, etc. etc. As well as the weekly meeting there may also be special outings and activities.

Sometimes at a Brownie meeting there is a Pow Wow when the Brownies make plans. For most Brownie Packs the highlight of the year is a Pack Holiday

The Pack is made up of Sixes - a group of usually 6 friends who play and do things together or with other Sixes in the Pack. Each Six has a Sixer and a Seconder who help to run the Six. The Sixes have special names such as Pixies, Elves, Gnomes, Little People etc.

All Brownies wear uniform to show that they are members of The Irish Girl Guides. In other countries Brownies wear uniforms too - some rather like ours and some very different.

Guides

Guides, aged 10.5 to 15 years, not only enjoy active weekly meetings, but also have the challenge of surviving in the outdoors without their parents!

There are heaps of opportunities to earn badges for your favourite pastime and activities range from camping & adventure sports to sleep overs and pyjama hikes.

There is a huge international dimension to being a Guide, and girls have many opportunities to go on trips abroad to various camps and events. They also have the opportunity to participate in home hospitality in foreign countries where they can really get to know the culture and way of life in that country. Many foreign groups visit us here in Ireland as well.

The Guiding programme gives the Guides an all round education and development.

Senior Branch

The Senior Branch of IGG covers the age grouping 14.5 to 21 years of age. This branch incorporates:- older Guides, Ranger Guides, Young Leaders and Young Guiders. Guiding has something important and valuable to offer these young women which can help them to be tomorrow’s leaders in Guiding and wherever else life takes them. Senior Branch offers them the opportunity to experience adventure, enjoy international events, develop self-confidence and grow in independence.

• OLDER GUIDES:

When a Guide reaches 14.5 years of age she is eligible to attend Senior Branch events, follow the Senior Branch programme within her Guide Company (as a senior patrol or on her own) and she can be registered at National Office to be put on the mailing list for the Welly and Trefoil News. By the time she finishes Guides the natural progression will be to join a Ranger unit, become a Young Leader or both depending on the choices available to her locally.

• RANGER GUIDES:

Ranger Guides range in age from 14.5 to 21 years. Becoming a Ranger Guide is often the natural progression after Brownies and Guides, however girls who have never been involved in Guiding are also welcome. The aim of Ranger Guides is to enable the individual to work towards her full potential as an adult, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Ranger Guides organise activities and events that are of interest to them and with the help of a leader they are encouraged to be independent and self-sufficient and overall to enjoy themselves.

• YOUNG LEADERS:

Young Leaders range in age from 15 to 19 years. Becoming a Young Leader is often the natural progression after Brownies and Guides, however girls who have never been involved in Guiding are also welcome. The Young Leader section is for girls who have a particular attraction to leadership and the aim of Young Leaders is to provide the opportunity to work with Ladybird Guide, Brownie Guide and Guide units thereby developing leadership skills which will stand to them wherever life takes them. The secondary aim is to provide active, experienced and enthusiastic young Guiders for the Irish Girl Guides. As well as giving service and commitment to Guiding as a Young Leader all the opportunities of fun, friendship and adventure that Senior Branch has to offer are available to her.

External links

• Official website

See also

• Scouting Ireland