Following Oxfordshire’s fantastic Quest 2015 county camp over the summer holidays, this term began with the subcamp reunion party. Guides from Abingdon and the surrounding area gathered for a barbecue and campfire, as well as swimming, table tennis and trampolining.
The following week we continued working on the Growing Up Wild badge scheme, designed to encourage young people to get outdoors and explore. We enjoyed a guided tour of Wytham Woods, an area of ancient semi-natural woodland bequeathed to Oxford University in 1942. Nigel Fisher, the Conservator of the Woods, led us on a walk to learn about the wildlife and research. We caught a glimpse of a deer, visited a badger colony and learned about the challenges the researchers face when trying to track the Woods’ bats.
The Guides have also been working on their Go For It: Teamwork badge. This is a resource pack from which they select, plan and carry out their choice of activities as a Patrol. They wrapped presents while blindfolded, untangled human knots, solved puzzles, built obstacle courses, rescued chocolate from the middle of an imaginary bog, practised their drama skills, demonstrated their creativity with drawing games and prepared Patrol feasts.
The term ended with a camp out, complete with campfire and smores. We solved clues to find hidden treasure, identified the trees surrounding our tents and created some leaf art.
Guides is for all girls aged 10-14. If you’d like to join in the fun, please visit our website: www.kenningtonguides.org.uk
