How Irish Girl Guides is Giving Girls Confidence

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For more than a century, Irish Girl Guides has played a powerful role in Irish society. From local community halls to National Camps and international projects, the organisation has stayed true to one core purpose: Giving Girls Confidence to grow, lead, and shape their own futures.

 

In a world where young people face increasing pressure, Irish Girl Guides offers a supportive and safe, girl-led space where learning happens through experience, friendship, and fun.

 

What Irish Girl Guides stands for

Irish Girl Guides’ mission is to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

 

Everything the Guides do is designed to help girls discover who they are, what they care about, and what they are capable of achieving. Giving Girls Confidence is not just a slogan; it is embedded in every activity, Badge, and challenge.

 

Irish-Girl-Guides-Ladybird-Brownie-Guide-Senior-Branch-Running

 

A Journey for every age

Irish Girl Guides welcomes girls and young women, offering a clear progression as members grow and develop.

Each stage of the non-formal education programme is carefully designed to match a girl’s development, ensuring she is always challenged, supported, and encouraged.

 

Learning by doing

Unlike formal education, Guiding is based on learning through experience. Girls take part in activities that range from camping and hiking to creative arts, science projects, community service, and global awareness initiatives.

 

Badges and awards recognise effort and growth. This approach helps girls build resilience and confidence in their own abilities, skills that serve them well in school, work, and life.

 

 

 

Community, service, and social impact

The Irish Girl Guides are deeply connected to their communities. Members regularly take part in service projects, from environmental clean-ups to intergenerational programmes that support older people.

 

These experiences help girls understand their role in the wider world and show them that their actions matter. The organisation also introduces girls to global citizenship and social responsibility, reinforcing the idea that confident girls can help create positive change.

 

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Why Giving Girls Confidence matters today

Confidence is about knowing your worth, trusting your abilities, and believing that your voice deserves to be heard.

 

Guiding has always focused on helping girls develop independence, resilience, and a strong sense of self. By Giving Girls Confidence, the organisation helps create stronger individuals, healthier communities, and a more equal society.

 

Irish Girl Guides offers a safe and fun space where girls can be themselves, try new things, and grow without judgment. The organisation has supported thousands of girls and young women across the country, guided by trained volunteers who believe deeply in the potential of every girl.

A new chapter begins: Meet IGG’s incoming Chief Commissioner, Aisling Claffey Healion

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Irish Girl Guides is delighted to welcome Aisling Claffey Healion as the new Chief Commissioner. Aisling’s Guiding journey spans more than twenty years, from a young Guide to Senior Branch, to Leader, and most recently International Commissioner.
Guiding has shaped her confidence, friendships, and leadership skills, and today she steps into her new role with energy, vision, and deep gratitude for the Movement that shaped her.

In this interview, Aisling shares her aspirations, inspirations, and hopes for Irish Girl Guides’ future.

 

What different roles have you held before becoming Chief?

I’ve had the privilege of serving in a range of roles at both local and national levels. Most recently, I’ve spent the past three years as International Commissioner. That experience has given me a deep appreciation for the reach and relevance of Guiding around the world and for the incredible work our volunteers are doing right here at home. Previously, I’ve held roles such as a member of the Senior Branch Committee, a District Commissioners and a Regional Training Representative.

 

What motivated you to take on the role of Chief?

Guiding has given me so much – confidence, lifelong friendships, leadership skills and a sense of belonging. Stepping into the role of Chief Commissioner is my way of giving back to the organisation that has shaped my life. I’m motivated by the opportunity to help Irish Girl Guides (IGG) continue to grow, to be visible in every community and to make sure every girl has the chance to experience the same sense of adventure and empowerment that I did.

 

What has inspired you about Amanda’s leadership as Chief?

Amanda’s leadership has been a true example of dedication, vision and compassion. She led IGG through an extraordinary period of change, showing resilience and creativity while keeping members connected and supported. Her focus on collaboration and her ability to inspire confidence have left a strong foundation for the next phase of our journey. I’m grateful for her mentorship and her continued support as we transition leadership together.

 

What would you like to bring to the organisation in your new role?

I hope to bring energy, clarity and connection. My focus is on three key areas:

*Reigniting our Presence – ensuring IGG is recognised nationwide as the leading organisation for girls’ empowerment and leadership.

*Reconnecting with our Roots – bringing the outdoors and shared experiences back to the heart of our programme.

*Raising and Realigning our Standards – so every volunteer feels supported and every girl receives a consistently high-quality Guiding experience.

Above all, I want to foster a culture of accountability and care – where our leaders feel valued, our girls feel inspired, and our mission is always clear.

 

What do you hope to achieve for IGG during your time as Chief?

My goal is to strengthen our foundations while embracing innovation. I want to see membership continue to grow, our programmes evolve to meet girls’ changing needs, and our volunteers feel equipped and confident in their roles. My hope is to lead IGG into a new era of visibility, vitality, and unity. I want every girl in Ireland to know that Guiding is a space where she can belong, be herself, and build the skills and confidence to lead in her own way. I want to see IGG continue to grow as a modern and dynamic movement, one that celebrates its history while embracing the future with courage and optimism. My goal is simple:  every girl who walks through our doors leaves believing she can change her world.

 

How do you see the organisation evolving in the next few years?

I see an organisation that is bold, inclusive and connected, one that continues to honour our traditions while embracing new opportunities. In the coming years, I believe we’ll see more collaboration across regions, deeper engagement with communities and a renewed focus on outdoor adventure and leadership development. Guiding has always adapted to the times, but our purpose remains the same: empowering every girl to be her best self.

 

 

Aisling begins her term with a strong vision for the future and a deep commitment to the values of Guiding. Her leadership promises growth, connection, and renewed energy across the organisation. We look forward to this exciting new chapter for Irish Girl Guides.

If you missed our interview with Amanda O’Sullivan, who served as Chief Commissioner for the past six years, you can read it here.

by Celia Melcus

Looking back with gratitude: Amanda O’Sullivan reflects on six years as Chief Commissioner

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As she concludes her six-year term as Irish Girl Guides Chief Commissioner, Amanda O’Sullivan reflects on the experiences, challenges and achievements that shaped her time in leadership. In this interview, she looks back on what she learned, what she found most meaningful, and the moments that will stay with her.

 

What different roles have you held before becoming Chief?

I have held various roles in Irish Girl Guides (IGG), from being a Unit Leader to being Chair of Brownie Branch Committee which was my first introduction to National Committees in IGG. Then I took on the role of Regional Commissioner which introduced me to the governance aspect of IGG as well as working closing with staff and volunteers. I also completed a role as Assistant Chief Commissioner which allowed me a window into the role of the Chief Commissioner.

 

What motivated you to take on the role of Chief?

I took on the role of Chief Commissioner based on my above experiences in IGG and how I felt I had the skills to progress the governance element that was required as we moved from an unincorporated association to a Company Limited by Guarantee. I knew I had the skills to chair a committee as Chair of the IGG Board, and I am passionate about remembering why we are all involved in a youth organisation and thus supporting the development of our youth members.

 

What have you learned during your six years as Chief? What has been the biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

What have I learnt from my role as Chief Commissioner? I have learnt that IGG and its Leaders and youth members are resilient and resourceful. This was most noticeable during my first year when we were all impacted by the COVID pandemic and the shutdown of the country.

 

Leaders adapted by developing resources to share in various ways with their youth members and their families to maintain that connection and to provide support at this very tough time for all. This was definitely one of my biggest challenges that the organisation was greeted with, as there was no preparation for this and no forwarding planning. We had to think on our feet and think fast as guidance was being sought on a daily basis from staff and volunteers.

 

During this time, we did not allow the recognition that the girls deserved to be postponed: the National Guide Award ceremonies went online with Award packs sent out in advance of an online ceremony to recognise our youth members’ achievements.

 

This was all thanks to the dedication and commitment of the Regional Commissioners. Other National events were also planned and delivered at National level showing our ability to adapt and develop new skills to support the fantastic youth members and their families.

 

What has been the most rewarding experience?

I have worked with a fantastic staff team that support the volunteers’ vision and plans for the organisation. There have been challenging times during 2020 and when we had other vacancies, so when we have a full complement all working towards the one goal it supports the development of the organisation, and so I am very thankful to them all.

 

I have some very special memories from my time as Chief Commissioner which include travelling around the country to Regional Conferences and meeting Leaders, to presenting the National Guide Awards online in small groups and eventually back to a National in-person event. There have been many lovely cards and notes received along the way from members which are cherished memories. I had the absolute pleasure in awarding a service pin to a Leader in Cork which was very impactful for all involved due to the circumstance but highlighted the importance of saying ‘Thank You’ to our volunteers.

 

I had the honour to represent IGG at two World Conferences — one was completely online and the other was in person. I also with a group of three other Leaders took 23 amazing young women on a trip to Switzerland where we all explored together, had fun including the balloons and ducks challenge, and made friendships for life. There are so many other highlights and experiences from meeting girls and young women who are thriving and loving being a member of IGG and that we are all having an impact on, to meeting the volunteers who make this happen.

 

My term has finished on a high with the first in-person International Camp in 2025 which was organised by the incoming Chief Commissioner, Aisling Claffey Healion, assisted by Sarah O’Donovan who is one of the two Assistant Chief Commissioners.

 

I could not have undertaken this role without the members of my own Girl Guide Unit supporting me and this has been essential to me along this journey.

 

Do you have any advice for the new Chief?

I would say to Aisling that she needs to take all offers of help and assistance and to use the amazing group of women that we have in the organisation to support her in the journey ahead.

There are so many fantastic memories ahead and it is really important to appreciate these and remember the reason why you are involved in IGG.

Continue to promote the amazing work that is completed and the impact that Irish Girl Guides has on the lives and futures of the girls and young women who become members of IGG.

 

Amanda’s reflections highlight the commitment of volunteers, the resilience of members, and the strength of the IGG community. We thank her for her leadership and contribution over the past six years and wish her well as she continues her Guiding journey in new ways.

To learn more about the incoming Chief Commissioner, stay tuned for our next interview.

by Celia Melcus

Young Voices Summertime 2025: Connecting EU with YOUth

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How Irish youth are shaping EU Policies

At Irish Girl Guides, we believe in giving young people a platform to share their perspectives and ideas. This article was written by Katie, one of our Senior Branch members, who participated in the Young Voices Summertime 2025 – Connecting EU with YOUth event organised by NYCI last summer. Katie brings a passionate and insightful perspective on how Irish youth are connecting with the European Union, so dive in and enjoy her piece!

 

 

 

On the 26th of June, young changemakers from across Ireland came together at the 2025 ‘Young Voices Summertime – Connecting EU with YOUth’ event to discuss and debate the issues affecting the youth of Ireland.

The day started with group connection questions and an acknowledgement of the respectful and positive environment that we like to create at Young Voices events.

 

Empowering youth in EU decision-making

Focusing on the connection between the EU and young people in Ireland, everyone was given the opportunity to put forward recommendations for youth-friendly decision-making in relation to new and existing policies.

Tips included:

• Making information on government policies accessible to young people;

• Ensuring the use of appropriate language;

• Encouraging and empowering young people to advocate for their rights.

 

Members-of-Irish-Girl-Guides-with-their-Youth-Friendly-Decision-Making-Tips

 

The seven core values of the EU

The seven core values of the European Union, such as the Rule of Law, ensure the equality and security of rights of everyone regardless of their position or status. Those values promote peace, cooperation and provides stability to the development of the EU.

Young people at the event made lobbying speeches in their own words about what these values meant for them and the significant roles each one plays in democratic decision-making.

 

Did you know? The story of Gaeilge in the EU

The Irish language only became a fully recognised, working language in the EU in 2022.

When Ireland joined the EU in 1973, Gaeilge was considered a treaty language, meaning only the treaties were translated into Irish. Upon request in 2007, this decision was revisited and from then on, a select number of documents were translated into Irish.

With the advances in technology and the rise of Irish natives securing positions in EU governance, Ireland formally requested a gradual phasing-out of the derogation in 2015 and full parity was granted in 2022 with Gaeilge becoming readily available along with the EU’s other 23 official languages.

 

Katie, one of our Senior Branch

 

 

The Young Voices Summertime 2025 event highlighted the power of Irish youth in shaping the future of Europe.

From pushing for more accessible policies to celebrating Ireland’s cultural identity within the EU, young people are showing that their voices matter, and they are being heard.

At Irish Girl Guides, we encourage our Guides and Senior Branch members to take part in opportunities like this, where they can make their voices heard and advocate for change. We are so proud of Katie for the passionate and insightful way she represented us at this event.

 

Young-People-at-the-Dublin-Connecting-EU-with-YOUth-Event

 

Gaeilge version:

 

Ar an 26ú Meitheamh, tháinig gníomhaithe óga ó gach cearn d’Éirinn le chéile ag ócáid ‘Young Voices Summertime – Connecting EU with YOUth 2025’ chun ple agus díospóireacht a dhéanamh ar cheisteanna a bhaineann le daoine óga in Éirinn. Ar dtús báire, cuir gach éinne aithint ar a chéile agus chruthaíomar postaeirí faoin dtimpeallacht dearfach agus ómósach a chruthaímid ag ócáidí ‘Young Voices’!

 

Ag díriú ar cheangal an AE le daoine óga in Éirinn, tugadh an deis do chuile duine moltaí a chur chun cinn maidir le cinnteoireacht i ndáil le beartais nua agus atá ann cheana & conas é a dhéanamh níos oiriúnach don aos óg. I measc na leideanna a tugadh bhí; eolas a chur ar fáil ar bheartais rialtais ar bhealach atá inrochtana do dhaoine óga; úsáid teanga chuí a chinntiú & daoine óga a spreagadh agus a chumachtú chun seasamh lena gcearta.

 

Cinntíonn an 7 Croí Luachanna msh Riail an Dlí san Aontas Eorpach comhionannas agus slándáil cearta do chách, is cuma cén údarás nó stádas atá acu. Cuireann sé an tsíocháin, an comhar agus an chobhsaíocht chun cinn i bhforbairt an AE. Rinne daoine óga óráidí lobbála ina bhfocail féin faoina dtuairimí féin ar na dlíthe agus an ról tábhachtach a bhíonn ag na dlíthe i gcinnteoireacht dhaonlathach.

 

An Raibh a Fhios Agat?

Ní raibh an Ghaeilge ina dteanga oifigiúil agus oibre ar chomhchéim leis na dteangacha eile san AE go dtí 2022. I 1973, nuair a ghlac Éire mar bhallraíocht don AE, teanga conarthaí a bhí inti agus níor aistríodh ach conarthaí go Gaeilge. Ar iarratas ó Éirinn i 2007, athbhreithníodh an cinneadh seo agus thosaigh an AE ag aistriú roinnt doiciméad roghnaithe go Gaeilge. Le dul chun cinn teicneolaíochta agus méadú ar líon Éirinnigh ag fáil postanna i rialtais an AE, rinne Éire iarratas oifigiúil i 2015 chun an díolúine a bhaint de réir a chéile. Bronnadh comhionannas iomlán i 2022 agus tá Gaeilge ar fáil anois go hiondúil le 23 teanga oifigiúla eile an Aontais Eorpaigh.

 

Orbit 2025 International Camp: Through the Eyes of Senior Branch

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While Orbit 2025 was experienced in many ways, today we share it through the eyes of Senior Branch!

 

This international Camp, held in August 2025, was an unforgettable gathering where Guides and Senior Branchers came together to celebrate friendship, adventure, and the global spirit of Guiding.

 

During the event, 39 Senior Branchers kindly shared their experiences with us. Their answers, full of energy and joy, reveal what made Orbit so special. From the moment the first tents went up, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement, laughter, and the promise of new memories.

 

Orbit2025-Senior-Branch-Group-Orbit

 

New friendships that last

For many Senior Branchers, an event like Orbit 2025 was about connection: reconnecting with old friends and building new ones from around the world. The words “friend,” “friendship,” and “meeting new people” came up 54 times in responses to questions like “What made you want to come to Orbit 2025?” and “What were you most excited about before coming to Camp?” And every single respondent (100%) said they had made new friends during this international Camp.

 

One participant summed it up perfectly: “I came to spend a good time with my friends and meet new ones.” Others were drawn by the international Guiding community, the chance to discover other cultures, and the opportunity to make global connections.

 

Michelle shared: “It has been so amazing and I have made so many new memories that I will remember forever. I have made so many friends and connections from Ireland and from around the world.”

 

Sarah Jane added: “Orbit to me is a place of connection and memories that will be able to help and guide me through my future in Guiding and in my life.”

 

Orbit2025-Senior-Branch-group

 

The Camp was also full of laughter, silliness, and fun without pressure. As one participant described it: “The atmosphere was brilliant, everyone was having fun and weren’t worried about the way they looked.”

 

For some, Orbit was also about personal growth. “I discovered I’m really good at talking to people,” shared one participant. Another reflected: “I learned that I love international Camps.”

 

Others uncovered new passions and talents during the week. Caoimhé explained: “I really enjoy self-defence and I think I’m gonna try a form of martial arts now.”

 

Another participant proudly shared: “I’m a brilliant dancer.”

 

Creativity also shone through, with one Senior Brancher saying: “I am very good at face paint (…) I did all my friends’ face paints.”

 

Still others discovered a love for the outdoors: “I learned that I really enjoy outdoor activities such as building a shelter.”

 

Top 3 reasons Senior Branchers loved Orbit 2025:

  • *Connecting with friends and making new friends
  • *Having international experience with different culture
  • *Learning new skills through the activities and making new memories

Orbit2025-Senior-Branch-Scavenger-Hunt-4-girls

 

 

Orbit experience: learning and growth

Orbit 2025 was described as “amazing,” “unreal,” “a blast,” and even “the highlight of my year.” The Camp gave Senior Branchers the freedom to enjoy themselves and discover new strengths.

 

The variety of activities inspired excitement and discovery. Michelle loved Bollywood dancing, Sarah enjoyed the engineering workshop, and Hannah cherished meeting Trefoil Guild members and hearing their Guiding stories. International Night was another highlight, with Sarah Jane sharing: “We got to learn about other countries and share our own. It was incredible.”

 

Orbit2025-Senior-Branch-TRefoil-Guild

 

Cathy added: “It was so fun meeting new people and having all the cool experiences like making movies and lighting a fire with cotton buds, Vaseline, and sand. I really enjoyed when everyone was singing the Camp songs together and dressing up.”

 

But beyond the fun, Orbit helped Senior Branchers grow in confidence and discover new sides of themselves. Senior Branchers gained leadership skills, resilience, and confidence. Some learned practical tools like first aid and CPR, while others uncovered energy and strengths they didn’t know they had.

 

Soracha reflected: “Orbit made me discover that I’m braver than I thought, more capable than I imagined, and that I can find a place to belong anywhere in the world.”

 

How Senior Branchers describe Orbit 2025:

  • *“An experience that can’t be explained.”
  • *“A place for every girl to discover her perfectness and to be genuinely accepted.”
  • *“Super duper fun” from Darcy
  • *“All in all it was excellent, I had a blast once my worries went away and started making friends and having tons of fun, I was happy I didn’t leave early!”
  • *“Orbit to me is a place of connection and memories that will be able to help and guide me through my future in Guiding and in my life” from Sarah Jane

 

Orbit2025-Senior-Branch-Ballon-16-birthday-gift

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A lasting memory of Guiding spirit

The impact of Orbit 2025 will stay with participants long after the tents come down.

 

Many Senior Branchers spoke about applying what they learned not only in Guiding, but also in school, work, and everyday life.

 

Lauren shared: “It’s opened me up to so much more, giving me confidence to step out of my comfort zone and push myself once I’m back in school for my Leaving Cert.”

 

For Amy, the experience planted a seed for the future: “I might volunteer at a World Centre when I’m old enough.”

 

Hannah reflected on how transformative the Camp was: “I think that after Orbit I’m much more willing to take a risk and put myself out there, whether that be in Guides going to more Regional or international Camps, or in school trying to speak up more and talk to more people.”

 

Orbit 2025 wasn’t just about activities: it was about building resilience, making connections, and discovering the power of community. As one participant summed it up: “Encouraged me to support others in Guiding.”

 

Orbit2025-Senior-Branch-Guides-Own

 

The friendships, laughter, and lessons from Orbit 2025 created more than just a Camp: they built a community of Guides and Senior Branchers ready to take their Guiding spirit into the future.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the 39 Senior Branchers who shared their experiences with us. Your voices made this story shine.

 

Cork Girl Guides return from ‘Orbit’ and it was ‘Out of this World!’

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Maria, one of our Unit Helpers, participated in our International Camp Orbit 2025 from 3rd to 9th August at Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare. Today, she is sharing her experience with us: a fascinating account that is both fun and inspiring to read!

 

Kinsale and St Barbara’s Ballincollig and Barnagore Ovens Guide Units

Setting off for Orbit 2025

Kinsale, St Barbara’s Ballincollig and Barnagore Ovens Guide Units spent the first week of August at Orbit 2025. On the Irish Girl Guides International Camp, they also shared their campsite with two representatives from Girl Guides of Canada.

 

Campsite Lyra3

 

Upwards of 1500 Guides, Senior Branch, Leaders and staff came from all over the world and the four corners of Ireland to Clongowes Wood College, Co Kildare, to participate in this year’s Camp.

The excitement from the girls was obvious from the minute they got on the bus in Cork with chatter and singing coming from the back. This was their first international Camp and though they did not know exactly what the week would hold, they knew they were going to have fun and lots of it. Even Storm Floris couldn’t dampen their spirits and a few broken tent poles and flying flysheets were of little consequence to these girls. After all a Guide is always prepared!

 

An international tradition

The first international Camp took place in Ireland in 1932 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Orbit, the first ‘in person’ Irish Girl Guides International Camp in Ireland since IGGnite 2017, saw representatives from: Canada, US, UK, India, Portugal, New Zealand, Malta, Ireland, Northern Ireland and beyond.

 

Kinsale, St Barbara’s Ballincollig and Barnagore Ovens Leaders and Unit Helper at Orbit 2025

Guides on their campsite Lyra3

 

Activities with a Cosmic Twist

With a learning by doing ethos and a nod to the cosmos, there was a busy schedule of activities and challenges for the girls to enjoy in nine distinct areas: Creating, Energising, Engineering, Expressing, Leading, Sparking, Sustaining, Uniting and Uplifting.

These activities included forest craft, outdoor skills, advocacy, LEGO robotics and STEM, dance, drumming, yoga and much more, encouraging the girls to grow in confidence, build resilience and learn about the world and beyond. All of this achieved, whilst having fun, making new friends and reconnecting with old friends.

 

Two Guides on campsite at Orbit 2025 - showing their hands with henna    Guides at Orbit 2025 doing an outdoor activity

Guiding across the generations

Day Three welcomed Ladybirds and Brownies on site for the afternoon. In addition to the youngest members of Guiding was the Irish Trefoil Guild, catering for past and present adult members of the association, who were there to impart their knowledge and share their memories of Guiding down through the ages.

Day Four allowed each country to showcase their own culture in an international night of music and dance and Day Five saw the culmination of all that is Guiding with an epic Campfire; an age old tradition of Guiding and Scouting.

 

Kinsale, St Barbara’s Ballincollig and Barnagore Ovens Guide Units campsite at Orbit

 

Guides on campsite at Orbit 2025 - photo group

Guiding then and now

Guiding began in Ireland in 1911 and by the looks of things in 2025, it is going from strength to strength. Camping today does not look all that different from how it looked back then; going back to basics, cooking outdoors, washing dishes by hand and sleeping on the ground. Better equipment perhaps, but the best sight of all? A group of young women, chatting and swapping Badges, working together to complete a task without a mobile phone in sight.

 

Guides at Orbit 2025on campsite

 

Maria Creedon

 

 

Camps like Orbit 2025 show the very best of what Irish Girl Guides has to offer: adventure, friendship, learning, and memories to last a lifetime. Find out more about our Journey Programme and how to join Irish Girl Guides today and be part of the next great adventure.

From Memories to making magic: Trefoil Guild’s role in Orbit 2025 and beyond

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At Orbit 2025, the Trefoil Guilds are centre stage, and their members are about reliving, re-engaging, and reaching across generations.

 

 

Sharing Guiding across Generations at Orbit 2025

 

Trefoil-Guild-workshop

When our members were asked over a year ago if they wanted to get involved in Orbit 2025, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Trefoil Guild members have great memories of Camps: local, National, and international.

 

A sub-committee led by Margery Godinho was formed, and the group set to work designing a meaningful contribution to the Camp.

The result? An activity space focused on traditional camping skills, a nod to our own memories as Guides and Leaders.

From gadget-making to campfire singing, we are ready to share the joy and knowledge we have gained from years of experience.

 

Members have been collecting wood on walks in preparation for the gadget activity. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will move indoors for a spontaneous campfire singalong complete with stories, songs, and smiles.

 

 

Orbit2025-Tregoil-Guild-Senior-Branch

 

Trefoil-Guild-Song

 

Members have been collecting wood on walks in preparation for the gadget activity. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will move indoors for a spontaneous campfire singalong complete with stories, songs, and smiles.

 

Some Trefoil Guild members will stay on-site overnight, while others will travel from across the county for one or more days.

 

We have also been invited to share our Guiding stories with today’s girls and Leaders, and we are thrilled to do so.

 

We have all been busy digging out old photos, previous uniform items, and other memorabilia, which will be on display indoors alongside information about the Trefoil Guild’s activities and our international opportunities.

 

 

 

 

“Most importantly, we want to share our love of Guiding with the present-day members and Leaders. You never know, we might even recruit some new members!” – Sally Smith, Trefoil Guild Chair

 

Trefoil-Guild-Workshop2

 

 

A history of Guiding in Camps: reflections from Margaret Dunne

 

Margaret Dunne has attended numerous international and National Camps over the years, always in a variety of roles. Here are just a few highlights from her incredible Guiding journey:

 

  • 1961 – Blarney: Camped as MO alongside Elaine O’Donovan (CO), one of her earliest international Camp experiences.
  • 1971 – Curragh Camp: Welcomed the Jubilee Trail, an international group of Leaders travelling around Ireland.
  • 1980 – ‘Emo 80’, Co. Laois: A proud moment as the Kildare Area attended with their own Camp group for the first time.
  • 1986 – ‘Siamsa Ballyfin’, Co. Laois: A memorable Camp that ended just as Hurricane Charlie struck! Clearing up as the storm hit is a story that’s never been forgotten.
  • 1991 – Mellary Camp: Serving as treasurer, Margaret recalls torrential rain as the most vivid memory.
  • 1996 – ‘Campa Cairde’, Ballyfin: Attended some days before flying to Canada for the World Conference, where Ireland successfully bid to host the next one.
  • 2002 – ‘Solas’, Charleville: Worked in transport and logistics, a familiar and important role across many years.
  • 2007 – ‘Campa le Chéile’, Tattersalls, Meath: Once again in charge of transport.
  • 2012 – ‘Camp 101’, Lough Key: Continued her transport leadership role.
  • 2017 – ‘IGGNITE, Rockwell College, Tipperary: This time helped out in the Camp supermarket, another side of the Camp experience.

 

“I could go on and on about the pleasures of attending large Camps, whether with a group of Guides or being part of the central staff.” – Margaret Dunne

 

Trefoil-Guild-Zone-Team

 

Tents, storms, and stories: Camp memories from Margery Godinho

 

Margery Godinho, Leader of the Trefoil Guild’s Orbit 2025 Committee, shares some of her most vivid (and often hilarious) memories from decades of Camps.

 

  • Curragh Camp, 1971: Just 19 years old and fresh from earning her Camper’s License, Margery was asked to be CO of a large subgroup: 40 people total! With borrowed army marquees (and soldiers nearby to keep an eye on them), the experience was a big learning curve. “Nice young soldiers were quite popular with the older Guides!” she added.

One of the activities was a hike across the Curragh to the Japanese Gardens, and she also taught lanyard making to lots of Guides.

  • Kilruddery, 1975: By this time Margery was a lot more experienced, but this Camp didn’t run so smoothly. The weather was mixed and quite windy. Their marquee was blown down twice before a wise Leader, Kitty Richardson, saved the day by triple-pegging the guy ropes.

Unfortunately, a “vomiting bug” spread through Camp, with some Guides ending up in IGG head office in Dublin for care. Despite the stress, the girls had a great time, and one even recognised Margery years later to thank her for the experience: “She mentioned that Camp as one of her best experiences!”

  • Emo ‘80, Emo Court: A scenic location closed to the woods and with a lake for canoeing and other water activities, but not without drama.

An intruder damaged tents (not the army’s marquees though!), prompting a soldier to use his tracking skills and established that the intruder had come through the woods. He booby trapped a tent, wrapping brambles around the guy ropes and sat up all night to see if he could catch the man, but no luck.

The story lives on… Excitement for the Guides!

  • Melleray, 1991: Now with five children, Margery decided that the best way she could assist with this Camp was to run a creche for other Leaders’ children, using her own as the nucleus.

The weather was wet and the site turned muddy, but she still remembers the excellent catering and the Camp’s strong sense of community.

“I had huge admiration for the Leaders who managed to produce amazing meals including pizza,” she said.

  • Solas, 2002: As QM for a group near Charleville, North Cork, she hosted a contingent of US Girl Scouts. Expecting high-maintenance campers, she was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed and adaptable they were. “One girl held out her plate, still covered in Bolognese sauce, for jelly and fruit. When I offered a clean plate, she replied: ‘No thanks, it’s all going in the same direction!’”

 

Trefoil-Guild-Workshop-previous-camp2

 

 

Why the Trefoil Guild still Camps on

 

For decades, Trefoil Guild members have contributed to the heart of Guiding, on the ground, in tents, in kitchens, and out on muddy fields. At Orbit 2025, they are continuing that tradition, not just by sharing their skills, but by showing that a love of Guiding never retires.

We are so grateful that our Trefoil Guild came to share their stories, and we are incredibly proud of them. We only hope to be as dynamic and funny as they are in the future!

 

Orbit2025-TrefoilGuilds

 

If you are a former Guide or Leader and would like to stay connected (or reconnect) with the Movement, the Trefoil Guild is always open to new members (aged 18+). Come for the friendships, stay for the fun.

 

 

How Orbit 2025 sparked joy and sustainability at Camp

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Sophie Cassidy from Drogheda Senior Branch and a core member of the Orbit 2025 Staff Team led the Special Events team at Camp this August. In this behind-the-scenes blog post, she shares her experience designing magical, sustainable, and theatrical events that made Orbit 2025 unforgettable.

 

Blending theatre and Guiding

I was very excited to take on the challenge of leading the Special Events Team for Orbit 2025! Outside of Guiding, I work as a lighting designer and theatre maker, so I got the chance to really blend my two worlds together in designing and creating the events.

Together with my team – Orla, Lily, Milly, and Grace – we put our all into making something that we hope will become magical memories for everyone who came to Camp. From the beginning, we had a clear goal for our evening programme: we wanted everything we did to be as sustainable and theatrical as possible, while staying true to the overarching theme of space!

 

Orbit 2025 - Opening Ceremony Show

 

Sustainability at the heart of Orbit

Sustainability is one of the core pillars of Orbit 2025, and it is something I try to prioritise in all the work I do. If we can’t create it ethically, we shouldn’t be creating it at all!

Once we had finalised the themes of our events, we focused on creating an aesthetic to match. We wanted to bring the cartoon-like joy found in many popular depictions of space to the Orbit Stage.

 

To design the set, we teamed up with the amazing Ardagh Guides, who helped bring our vision to life. We pitched our ideas to them, and they went away and created the incredible planets you saw hanging onstage. The planets weren’t just looking great, they were also thoughtfully made using materials that would otherwise have headed for the bin! The girls repurposed material from an old tent to create the base shapes and then painted them in bold, vibrant colours to really pop on stage.

 

Orbit2025-Opening-Ceremony-Flags

 

We were so impressed by the resourcefulness and creativity they showed.

 

We also worked with Ste Bourke from Restaging, an amazing Irish company that works to reduce waste in the performing arts by promoting repurposing, collaboration, and community connection. Together, we designed and created the moon that became the centrepiece of our week.

 

“Some of my best memories from being a Guide were made on an international camp, Camp 101, so being part of the team creating those memories for this generation of Guides has felt really special.”

 

 

 Setting the tone with the Opening Ceremony

When it came to planning the Opening Ceremony, we really wanted to set the tone for what would be a great week! We knew this would be one of the first the first impressions everyone would get of what Camp would be like, so we really wanted to capture the explosion of excitement all of us on the team were feeling!

 

One of the first ideas we had was to form a band that would play during the opening and closing ceremonies, inspired by performances we would seen at other international Camps like Roverway. We put out a call and gathered a talented group of Senior Branchers from across the country, seven different Units from four different Regions!

 

Orbit2025-Opening-Ceremony-Song

 

We met online to brainstorm song choices, then gathered for a rehearsal at the National Training Centre in Dublin the week before camp. We were nervous that there wouldn’t be enough time to nail the songs before camp, but the band gelled really well from the get-go, they sound class and we can’t wait to see them shine on stage this week!

 

 

Every Girl is a Star

The theme of our Opening Ceremony was inspired by the idea that every girl on Camp is a star, and that each of us has the power to shape our future and make our communities better.

To capture this idea, we wanted to link up with a Guide group to create a short performance. We got in touch with Convoy Guides from the North West Region, and they were excited to be involved!

 

Orbit2025-Opening-Ceremony-Dance

 

An opening ceremony wouldn’t be complete without a bit of dancing, and that’s where Duleek Guides come in! The girls worked with their young Leaders, Soracha and Lauren, to put together a performance that really captures the exuberance and joy we’re all feeling about Camp finally being here!

 

We sent them a short script we had written, and were thrilled by the creative ways they made it their own. We even got a sneak peek before Camp, we can’t wait to see it on the Orbit Stage!

 

A surprise finale

Just a few days before camp kicks off, we realised the Opening Ceremony was still missing one final moment, so we have put our heads together to create something that will end it with a bang!

I was thrilled to be able to collaborate with my own Unit, Drogheda Senior Branch, in creating this moment, and grateful for how quickly they have jumped on board with my last-minute idea.

 

Orbit2025-Opening-Ceremony-Tribune-Taylor-Switch

 

I think it is the perfect way to wrap up the ceremony: it brings everything together in a final explosion of joy that the Camp truly deserves. We are keeping our fingers crossed that it all goes off as smoothly as we are imagining it!

 

To see what the opening ceremony looked like!

 

By Sophie Cassidy, Drogheda Senior Branch, and Orbit 2025 Staff Team

Orbit 2025: Irish Girl Guides launch a Stellar International Camp Experience

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Orbit 2025 is ready for lift-off! From 3-9 August 2025, over 1,500 girls and volunteers from Ireland and across the globe will gather in County Kildare for a once-in-a-lifetime international Girl Guide Camp. With a space-themed programme, nine dynamic activity zones, and campers from around the world, Orbit 2025 promises a galaxy of learning, leadership, and lasting friendships.

 

What is Orbit 2025?

Orbit 2025 is Ireland’s international Girl Guide Camp, designed and delivered entirely by volunteers of Irish Girl Guides (IGG). The Camp brings together Guides, Senior Branchers, and Leaders to build community, develop skills, and embrace the core values of youth empowerment, global citizenship, and fun through adventure.

Orbit is not just a Camp, it is a launchpad for the next generation of changemakers.

 

Orbit-Goodies-Guide-Irish-Girl-Guides

 

Why Orbit?

The theme of Orbit 2025 centres on space, and what better metaphor for possibility, potential, and unity? Each girl represents a star, each subcamp represents a constellation, and together they form a galaxy: a symbol of how every girl shines not only in her own way but how together we can build a brighter universe.

In today’s world, collaboration and compassion across borders is more important than ever. Orbit 2025 provides a space where girls from different cultures can learn, lead, and grow side-by-side, united by the power of Guiding.

 

Activity Zones at Orbit 2025

The Camp features 9 interactive zones tailored to help girls discover new passions, explore leadership, and gain life skills:

 

 

Orbit 2025 - Zones Acitivities 2

 

 

Zone 1: Energising Our Future

Girls enjoy splashing in the pool, journey through Guiding history with stories and games from the Trefoil Guild, or take part in chill-out activities like Badge making if they are not swimming.

Zone 2: Uniting Our Future

They take on a rocket crash first aid role-play, solve team-building challenges, and learn self-defence skills as they build trust and cooperation.

Zone 3: Sparking Our Future

Participants learn how to start a Leave No Trace fire, make their own fire lighters, and build a strong, weather-proof shelter using tarps and paracord.

Zone 4: Sustaining Our Future

Girls explore the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through hands-on activities like Bollywood dancing, biodiversity mapping, water filtration, seed paper card making, zine creation, and global citizenship education.

 

Orbit 2025 - Zones Acitivities Sustaining our Future

 

Zone 5: Engineering Our Future

They race robots they build using LEGO Spike Prime and solve interactive coding challenges in the brand-new Campfire Quest with Tangibl, launching at Orbit 2025.

Zone 6: Creating Our Future

Campers contribute to the #FreeBeingMe mural, craft a beaded astronaut, and choose between making a felt rocket or producing a short film in a video-making workshop.

Zone 7: Expressing Our Future

Girls choose two creative sessions from African drumming, a dance workshop, or a calming yoga session, all designed to help them explore their voice and express themself fully.

Zone 8: Uplifting Our Future

They visit the planetarium with Blackrock Observatory, work as a team to launch rockets, and take on thrilling space mission challenges designed to inspire big dreams and bold moves.

 

Orbit 2025 - Zones Acitivities

 

Zone 9: Leading Our Future

On Wednesday, participants travel off-site with their Unit to Donadea Forest, where they will take on team challenges and explore nature while building resilience, cooperation, and confidence.

Evenings include campfire celebrations, stargazing, and cultural showcases, all under a shared sky.

 

Follow the Journey!

You can follow Orbit 2025 in real-time via the Camp’s official social media:

  • @orbit2025 on Instagram and Facebook
  • Daily updates, photos, stories, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks
  • Use or follow the hashtag: #Orbit2025

 

Orbit-2025-Staff-team-Irish-Girl-Guides

What is Hi Digital?

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In 2023, Irish Girl Guides partnered with Vodafone Foundation to provide digital skills lessons to older adults in their communities. Since then, over 4,000 older adults have improved their digital skills.
As technology has rapidly advanced, phones have become daily essentials. The Hi Digital lessons crafted by Vodafone Foundation ensure that older adults can learn how to use their phones in a non-judgemental space.

 

Hi-Digital-Data-Irish-Girl-Guides-Older-People

 

What does the Hi Digital programme cover?

The lessons cover seven main areas:

1. Scams and frauds
2. Introduction to phones
3. How to navigate and use the phone
4. Entertainment and shopping
5. Communicating with friends and family
6. Online banking
7. Hobbies and travel

The lessons are not limited to these seven main topics. Irish Girl Guides members can help the older people any way they need.

 

Hi-Digital-Sessions-Irish-Girl-Guides-Senior-Branch-Guides-Elder-People

 

Practical digital skills for everyday life

The lessons focus on the basic skills needed to make their phones a useful and navigable tool. Hi Digital focuses on meeting the older person where they are at and teaching the digital skills that are relevant to their wants and needs.

Starting with digital skills such as adjusting the volume on their phone, learning how the buttons and motions work, and using the internet, the programme develops a base-layer of knowledge so when new digital challenges arise, the older adults have the confidence to tackle them head on.

The most popular digital skills have been:
• Using WhatsApp to video call family
• Email and phone calls for important communications
• Online news, rip.ie, livestreamed mass
• YouTube

 

Hi-Digital-Irish-Girl-Guides

“It’s about more than just teaching digital skills, it’s about fostering connections and breaking down barriers that can leave older generations feeling isolated. Through Hi Digital, we’re building bridges between generations and creating a sense of belonging for everyone.” – Liz Downes, Irish Girl Guides Leader

 

How Irish Girl Guides is teaching digital skills to older adults

Through Hi Digital, our youth members have developed key leadership skills such as empathy, communication, and patience.

Each Unit, including members aged 12+, attends a Hi Digital training session to learn what they need to teach and how to teach it to older adults. They then take what they’ve learned and bring it to older adults in their communities.

Irish Girl Guides members have been working actively with older adults in communities across Ireland. They have met people from church communities, active retirement groups, women’s refuges, nursing homes, and more.

 

This programme has greatly improved the quality of life for over 4000 older adults.

The flexibility of the programme ensures that our members and their community get the most out of each meeting! To learn more about Hi Digital in practice, watch this video!

 

 

While many older people feel left behind by technology’s rapid digital development, the in-person support offered by Irish Girl Guides and Vodafone Foundation through the Hi Digital programme increases their independence, improves their quality of life, and helps connect them with the world around them.

If someone you know is interested in a Hi Digital lesson or getting involved, please contact hidigital@irishgirlguides.ie

 

Isabella Bennett

Why Global Citizenship Education matters in Guiding

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In today’s connected world, it’s more important than ever to help young people understand what it means to be a global citizen. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) gives girls the knowledge and confidence to think for themselves, care about others, and take meaningful action both locally and globally.

In the Irish Girl Guides, we bring GCE to life through our Global Awareness, Community & Teamwork (GACT) programme, which is a central part of our Journey Programme. With its focus on equality, sustainability, and social justice, GACT helps girls grow into confident leaders and active citizens.

 

What is Global Citizenship Education?

GCE is about much more than facts and figures. It is about encouraging curiosity, compassion, and critical thinking. Irish Aid describes it as “a lifelong educational process” that helps us better understand our fast-changing, deeply interconnected world.
It encourages respect for diversity, inclusion, climate justice, peace, and human rights.

Irish-Girl-Guides-SDGs-Outdoor-activities-GACT-GCE

 

GCE empowers girls to:

  • *Think critically about global and local issues
  • *Understand how their actions impact others
  • *Challenge stereotypes and question assumptions
  • *Act with empathy and purpose to create positive change

These values align closely with the principles of Guiding.

 

Why is Global Citizenship Education so important in Irish Girl Guides?

As part of WAGGGS (the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), Irish Girl Guides belongs to a worldwide community of over 10 million girls across more than 145 countries. This global sisterhood reminds us that our lives are connected and that every voice counts.

GCE in Irish Girl Guides is seen in many ways:

  • *Our Mission: “To enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.”
  • *Our Vision: “A future which is sustainable, diverse and equal.”
  • *Our Promise and Law, which encourage girls to try their best, help others, and make the world a better place.
  • *Our commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 (Good Health), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), as we have Special Focus Badges related to these topics.
  • *GCE-themed stories in Trefoil News, inspiring girls to reflect and take action.
  • *Our Gaisce Dual Award Programme, through which many of our members complete activities related to GCE.

 

Irish-Girl-Guides-WAGGGS-Sangam-India

 

Guiding the Next Generation of Changemakers

At Irish Girl Guides, we are proud to raise girls who care deeply about the world, ask thoughtful questions, and lead with courage and kindness.

From local community clean-ups to exploring gender equality through storytelling, every GACT activity is an opportunity for girls to develop leadership skills, build confidence, and become changemakers.

Through Global Citizenship Education and our wider Guiding programme, we are helping shape a generation that’s ready to speak up, step forward, and drive change together.

 

Shauna Harris

7 outdoor ethics activities for children to learn Leave No Trace

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What is Leave No Trace?

In Guiding, a love for the outdoors and respect for the environment are core values. But we often say we practice it, but what are the 7 Leave No Trace principles? And how can we teach them to children in a meaningful way?

This guide introduces the 7 Leave No Trace principles through fun, hands-on outdoor ethics activities and games, perfect for Ladybirds, Brownies, and Guides, and a great refresher for your own knowledge too!

 

Senior-Branch-outdoor-ethic-activities-forest

 

1. Plan ahead and prepare

When we plan outdoor adventures, we help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone while also reducing our impact on the environment. Poor planning can lead to damaged landscapes and affect the outdoor experience.

The dress-up game

Have a bag filled with clothes and items (e.g., sunscreen, bug spray, map) both fantastic and practical. Each girl picks one and explains what it is and why it might be useful on a trip.

Chain story

In a circle, the first person begins: “I went for a walk and I put on…” adding one item. The next person continues the list by adding another item. Great for memory and thinking about preparedness.

 

Guide-enjoy-outdoor-flowers

2. Be considerate of others

Being courteous outdoors means everyone can enjoy the natural environment. Loud noises, pets off-lead, or trampling over areas can disturb both people and wildlife.

Can you hear?

Lie quietly outside, close your eyes and listen. Can you hear the wind, birds, nature noises? Ask then if you can hear human-made sounds like cars, construction, or planes. Repeat using smell and touch, exploring different sensory experiences outdoors.

Whisper game

Pair up. One girl is blindfolded while the other gives quiet verbal instructions to guide her around. Repeat with louder voices or groups speaking at once. Talk about how noise levels affect others.

 

3. Respect farm animals and wildlife

When outdoors, we’re entering the homes of wild animals. Our presence can stress or even harm them. By respecting their space, we help protect biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

Creatures’ homes

Find a good place for a worm, spider, beetle or even a squirrel. Use a hoop or string to mark the spot and discuss what makes it a suitable home for each of them (size, shape what it’s made of). Then get the

m to make a house for a bug, mammal, or bird. This game can be done in pairs or individually.

Hug a tree

Hug a tree and see how many arms it takes to reach around the big ones! How does it feel? Rough, smooth, dry? Talk about how trees are living and communicate underground through their roots. Stretch like a tree, sway in the breeze and stretch towards the sun!

 

Brownies-flowers-outdoor-ethic-activities

4. Travel and camp responsibly

Moving carefully through nature helps prevent erosion, damage to plants, and harm to delicate ecosystems. Responsible travel also includes where and how we rest or camp.

Tread carefully

Create a barefoot obstacle course using safe and textured items and ground. This sensory expedition helps children notice how the ground feels and encourages mindful movement outdoors.

Shadow walk

Find your way around trying only to stay in the shadows. Hop, skip, or jump! Where did you end up? Was it off the path? Discuss why staying on trails protects plants and soil.

 

5. Leave what you find

Everything in nature has a role. Leaving items where we find them keeps ecosystems intact and preserves the experience for others. This includes rocks, plants, and natural artifacts.

Treasure hunt

Name a nature item to find (e.g., a snail, or dandelion). When one person finds it, everyone gathers to look. Use clear buckets for items they are allowed to pick up and examine. Alternatively, use a hoop to mark where the item is then examine with a magnifying glass. Replace all items and talk about why we replace them.

Mystery bag

Fill a soft bag with nature items (cone, leaf, shell, stone). Children guess the item by touch. For younger groups, name items and ask them to find them in nature and then return them.

 

Senior-branch-and-ladybird-picking-up-rubbish

6. Dispose of waste properly

Leaving litter in nature harms animals, pollutes water, and spoils beautiful places. It’s important to know how to sort and dispose of waste correctly, at home or in the wild.

Bin game

Designate four sides of an area as Green Bin, Black Bin, Brown Bin, and Dump. Call out items and have the girls run to where they would put it.
You can also have a bag of clean dry rubbish that you hold up.

Geocaching with litter

Place clean “rubbish” items around a space, where they can be found easily. Have a simple map of the area and place. Children have to find them and draw where they are on the map. This teaches awareness of how visible litter is in nature and how to collect it responsibly.

 

7. Protect nature from fire

Even small sparks can cause big wildfires. Learning about fire safety in nature is essential, especially during dry seasons.

Make your own fire for campfire time

Use handprints in red, orange, and yellow paint to create a paper fire. Once dry, put them in a tepee of sticks to make fake fire. Perfect for singing around, without lighting a real fire! We are also able to sing with our real fire.

What can start a fire?

Show pictures or examples of fire hazards: glass bottles, matches, disposable BBQs, gas canisters. Discuss how these can cause wildfires and what to do if you see a fire in nature.

 

Night-camp-fire-protected-outdoor

 

Let’s Leave No Trace together

By introducing these simple, fun outdoor ethics activities to young explorers, we build a future generation that respects nature, protects wildlife, and Leaves No Trace behind.

Depending on the age of the girls, our Journey Programme adapts, but many of our activities take place outdoors. We even have an Outdoor Challenge Badge, which girls can earn by completing the Badge criteria and embracing outdoor adventure. The aim is for all Units, across all Branches, to get outdoors and put the seven Leave No Trace principles into practice.

 

Heather Burnett Niland

How can girls get involved in youth advocacy?

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At Irish Girl Guides, we encourage our girls to engage in youth advocacy and make their voices heard. That’s why we are thrilled to share the story of one of our Lily Guides from Kildare!

At just 12 years old, Sophie participated in the Youth Advisory Group for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth’s (DCEDIY) Action Plan 2024-2028. She is already making a significant impact on youth empowerment. Her experience has been nothing short of inspiring, and she is sharing it with us!

 

Sophie DCEDIY Youth Action Plan 2024-2028

 

From passion to youth advocacy

From her strong interest in politics and young people’s rights, Sophie really wanted to join the Youth Advisory Group (Húb na nÓg) for the DCEDIY Action Plan 2024-2028.
“I am very interested in my rights, politics, and understanding what is happening for young people,” she explained.
By participating in this group, Sophie aimed to ensure that the voices of young people were represented and that important issues affecting her peers were addressed.

 

Building connections and youth empowerment skills

Through this experience, Sophie worked alongside young people from different organisations and attended meetings at Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin, as well as participating in eight virtual sessions. She forged lasting friendships and developed valuable leadership skills.
“I have made great friends and learned so much about politics. Being part of Húb na nÓg helped me grow and discover a great love for understanding society and how it affects young people,” she said.

 

Transforming the youth action plan

Sophie collaborated with the other Youth Advisory Group members to make the Action Plan accessible and engaging for young people. One of her proudest achievements was transforming a 64-page, black-and-white document into a vibrant, four-page summary.
“I had an amazing time sharing my ideas with the team, as I always wanted everything to be bright and easy to read. We also worked with a graphic designer who brought our ideas to life,” Sophie shared.

 

Hub Na Nog, Youth Action Plan 2024-2028, DCEDIY

 

Inspiring the young leaders in Ireland

Sophie believes her involvement in the Action Plan can inspire other young girls in politics to explore leadership and advocacy roles. Recognizing the gender imbalance in politics, she hopes her experience encourages more girls to make their voices heard.
“As a young girl being part of this, I think it would inspire young people and young women to become involved in society. It’s great fun and a fantastic learning experience,” Sophie emphasized.

 

Empowering girls through leadership and advocacy

Sophie is incredibly grateful to the Irish Girl Guides for providing her with the opportunity to contribute to the DCEDIY Action Plan 2024-2028. Her journey is a testament to the power of young voices and the importance of encouraging girls to step into leadership roles.
Sophie also shared her advice for other girls interested in leadership: “Don’t be afraid to apply for opportunities like this. You never know where they might lead you!”

 

Sophie’s story is a powerful reminder that when girls are empowered to lead, they can drive meaningful change. Her journey demonstrates that youth advocacy is not just about speaking out but taking action, building connections, and inspiring future Leaders.
By encouraging young girls to engage in advocacy, we help pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. We can’t wait to see what Sophie accomplishes next!

Welcome to our new CEO Lorraine Mackey McHugh!

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Irish Girl Guides welcomes Lorraine McHugh as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

 

Lorraine brings more than 11 years’ experience in managing and leading community-based youth work projects and programmes including youth justice, youth work, and youth employability standards of practice and 26 years’ professional experience in youth and community work.

 

As Project Manager and Leader of Clay Youth Project, she reported directly to a Board of Management on the operational outcomes of the Youth Justice, Youth Employment, Youthwork programmes, centre development, and financial management of the Project.

 

Lorraine is responsible for the leadership and management of the National Office in accordance with the strategic direction set by the Executive Committee. The CEO has overall responsibility for implementing Irish Girl Guides’ plans and representing Irish Girl Guides to potential funders, partners, stakeholders and regulatory bodies.

 

Lorraine is excited to be appointed as Irish Girl Guides’ new CEO. The National Office staff, the Board (Executive Committee), and our volunteers are delighted to welcome her to the team and look forward to working with her.

IGG celebrates 110 years of empowering girls and women!

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Irish Girl Guides’ members are looking forward to celebrating 110 years of youth work empowering girls and women on Saturday 31 July!

We hope members of the public, as well as former Girl Guides and volunteers, will join our online birthday celebration, which will be streamed live on our YouTube channel at 7.30pm.

The celebration will take place during IGG’s 14th international camp, which will take place over the August bank holiday weekend. Octagon is the organisation’s first ever online international camp with over 1,000 Girl Guides registered from 10 different countries.

The 110th birthday celebration will include the premiere of a film made by Createschool in partnership with Newbridge Senior Branch Unit (Senior Branch is the Irish Girl Guides’ branch for 14-30 year olds) and the IGG Archives.

The film includes footage from the early days of Guiding in Ireland and other relevant material from the National Archives of Ireland and looks at how the organisation has evolved over the years and continually adapted to remain relevant to each emerging generation.

Octagon Camp Chief Helen Concannon, who is involved in organising the birthday celebration, says, “We are hugely grateful to the National Youth Council of Ireland’s Artist in Residence Grant Scheme, the Arts Council of Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) for making this film possible.

“The National Youth Council of Ireland’s STEAM in Youth Work is also supporting a baking session where all 1,000+ girls will use their skills to bake and decorate birthday cakes for Irish Girl Guides, with thanks to Science Foundation Ireland and DCEDIY.

“It is going to be a fun celebration during which we will reflect on the achievements of IGG and its members over the past 110 years!”

Countdown to Irish Girl Guides’ first online international camp!

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Excitement is building as 1,060 Girl Guides from 10 different countries are counting down the days to Irish Girl Guides’ (IGG’s) first ever online international camp.

Octagon, which is IGG’s 14th international camp, will take place over the August bank holiday weekend.

By taking part in a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) challenges and activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), participants will develop global citizenship skills.

There will be plenty of outdoor challenges too, including campfire cooking.

The original plan was to hold Octagon at Clongowes Woods in Co Kildare. The arrival of Covid, however, led to the decision to hold it in a variety of places in a variety of ways.

The theme of the camp, appropriately enough, is ‘Adaptability – how we engage with the world and with each other’.

Octagon will be streamed from the host location of Dublin City University (DCU) with participants ‘camping’ at home or locally, connected together via a stimulating programme of varied activities. It will involve volunteers and participants working together to develop global citizens.

Octagon Camp Chief Helen Concannon says the activities are all well thought-out and developed, and the busy programme for the event will enable campers to learn new skills, explore new things and make new friends with other girls all over Ireland and all over the world. Some of the sessions will take place online while some activities will be completed offline.

“Members of the volunteer crew team have been busy preparing,” says Ms Concanon. “Each of the 1,060 participants has by now received an individual camp kit delivered to their home in time for the big event. This includes a camp uniform, a resource booklet and items they’ll need for the many activities they’ll be doing during camp.”

The crew members have also completed online trainings so that they can deliver the activity sessions and engage with the participants online.

Ms Concannon says, “We are hugely thankful to our supportive partners for this event and to the suppliers who have provided discounted rates in a very difficult year for fundraising. Our thanks to DCU for providing a streaming hub and to Trócaire and GOAL for running activities. The ESB Energy for Generations Fund enabled us to provide a STEM in a Box kit from LearnIT for each participant. This will allow the girls to develop their science and engineering skills by building a land yacht and trying it out with different varying factors. Younger members will have LEGO-based challenges to complete as well.

“We are excited that the Irish Girl Guides’ spirit enables us to find ways to stay connected – from our homes, from our campsites and from across the world. The Department of Foreign Affairs through Irish Aid has provided funding for every participant to have an SDG Board Game and an SDG Action Kit for them to use following their training on advocacy and global citizenship skills.

“We really do believe that each person can make a difference in the world, and we want to capture what this past year has taught us about connectivity to each other. It promises to be a fun-filled weekend!”

Camp At Home To End Homelessness

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Irish Girl Guides (IGG) will be holding a Camp At Home with a difference on 25 June 2021. And we hope you will join us!

To tie in with Depaul’s Sleep Out To End Homelessness, the theme of this IGG Camp At Home will be Home and Homelessness.

To give children and young people of all ages ideas of fun and educational activities to do during the Camp At Home, we have put together this IGG Camp At Home – Learning About Homelessness activity pack.

As well as including fun activities on the theme, the pack includes facts about homelessness and encourages participants to consider what makes a house a home.

A lot of homeless people do not have access to proper cooking facilities, so one of the activities is to make a dinner using only a kettle or microwave, just like many people experiencing homelessness have to.

How about using your engineering skills to build a house out of recycled materials? Or an outdoor shelter from sticks and other natural materials? Anyone who is feeling brave might like to ask someone to pour a bucket of water over their shelter while they’re in it to test how waterproof it is!

The pack also contains information about famous people who have experienced homelessness and steps you can take to help people who are currently homeless.

We look forward to seeing everyone’s IGG Camp At Home photos and ask that you share them on social media with the hashtags #IGGCampAtHome and #HomelessnessAwareness.

We also encourage you to check out Depaul’s Sleep Out To End Homelessness and, if you’re in a position to, to make a donation to support their work with people who are experiencing homelessness. And if you register with them, you will receive an activity pack from them with lots more ideas!

Share your #GoodTurns during National Good Turn Week!

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National Good Turn Week takes place this year from 10-16 May.

Irish Girl Guides (IGG) members from age five to 90+ will be sharing their good turns on social media using the hashtag #GoodTurns.

They would love members of the public to join them doing acts of kindness every day and sharing them on social media with the hashtag #GoodTurns.

In this way, it is hoped that a wave of goodwill and kindness will spread throughout the country, thereby boosting everyone’s spirits and making a positive impact on individuals, families, communities and on society as a whole.

Younger children can help their parents with chores around the home (without being asked), such as tidying their bedroom and helping prepare dinner, while older children and teenagers may offer to go shopping for neighbours or to walk their dogs. Some may choose to do a good turn for the environment, like turning off the tap while brushing their teeth and switching off devices when not in use.

With the easing of restrictions, IGG members are glad they will be able to do good turns in their local area, such as litter picks, beach clean-ups and bulb-planting. Some will bake goodies for frontline workers, write letters or make cards for residents in local nursing homes or ‘thank you’ cards or gifts for their teachers.

“When girls join IGG, they promise to do a good turn every day,” says IGG Chief Executive Officer Claire Barkey.  “Even the youngest Ladybirds (the IGG branch for five to seven year olds) and Brownies (girls aged seven to 10) learn about different ways they can help others at home, at school and in their local community.

“Guides (aged 10-14) and Senior Branch members (aged 14-30) get involved in community action projects and learn to use their voices and their skills to improve the world around them and advocate for the changes they would like to see in the world.”

Ms Barkey says it doesn’t matter what the good turn is – the important thing is that it’s doing something kind for someone else without being asked to do it. “Learning to be kind to others is an important trait that unfortunately can be forgotten about, especially as we move more and more to an online world. Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the whole world for one person.

“National Good Turn Week helps promote the idea of kindness, helping others and support at a time when we absolutely need to be aware of others.”

IGG mental health programme receives boost from ESB

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Our youth mental health programme has received a welcome boost from the ESB Energy for Generations Fund.

The €10,000 grant is going directly towards promoting positive mental health for our youth members, including covering the cost of 3,000 Healthy Mind badges for girls and young women aged five to 30.

The grant is also covering the cost of a special mental health edition of the IGG magazine Trefoil News and the upskilling of our volunteer Leaders in delivering our Healthy Mind programme.

To earn a Healthy Mind badge, girls take part in age-appropriate activities that help them develop positive mental health. Ladybirds (aged five to seven) and Brownies (aged seven to 10) are encouraged to identify positive qualities in themselves, discuss feelings and express them appropriately. They learn various relaxation techniques, including mindfulness and yoga.

Guides (aged 10-14) and Senior Branch members (aged 14-30) learn strategies for dealing with different emotions and how to identify signs of stress in themselves and ways to deal with these stresses. They also learn positive communication skills, including how to give affirmations to others and how to accept them in return.

IGG Chief Commissioner Amanda O’Sullivan said, “We were delighted to be awarded €10,000 through the ESB Energy For Generations Fund. This money will be put to good use in promoting the mental health of our youth members.

“Covid-19 has impacted children and young people at least as much, if not more, than older generations. They need our support now more than ever and our Healthy Mind programme gives them the tools they need to cope in times of adversity and to enable them to reach their full potential, no matter the circumstances.”

Emma D, a Guide in Carrigaline, Cork, said, “The Healthy Mind programme helps us discover amazing things about ourselves and to know that unusual feeling are completely normal and how to deal with those feelings in a healthy way, like talking to someone.”

Emma L, a Ladybird in Carrigaline, said, “To earn the Healthy Mind badge, we learned that no matter what feelings you have, you can talk to somebody about it. And you can do breathing techniques, yoga and exercise to help too.”

Fergal Fitzgerald, Electric Aid Group CSR Co-ordinator, said, “Through our Energy for Generations Fund, our aim is to support organisations such as Irish Girl Guides and the important work they do in promoting positive mental health. We commend them on the roll out of the Healthy Mind programme, and we are proud to support this initiative.”

Watch this video in which some of our youth members talk about what they learned doing the Healthy Mind badge.

Join our Easter Camp At Home!

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Following the success of last year’s Camps At Home, we have decided to have an Easter Camp At Home and we hope families across Ireland will join us!

You can join us over the Easter Weekend or, if you can’t wait that long (!) or another date over the Easter break suits you better, then feel free to choose another time that suits.

Like with our previous Camps At Home, whether you sleep outdoors in a tent or set up a blanket fort under your kitchen table or pile up some cushions in your living room, is entirely up to you.

There’s no need to be short of ideas for activities, crafts, recipes and games to make this an IGG Camp At Home with an Easter twist as we’ve compiled some really fun Easter-themed ideas in our IGG Camp At Home Easter Edition activity pack.

You might like to make Easter Sock Bunnies or an Easter Basket, or head outside and play Nature Eye Spy. There are recipes too for Easter Nests and Hot Cross Buns as well as alternative ways to make a s’more!

Be sure to share photos on social media using the hashtag #IGGCampAtHome or send your photos and stories to communications@irishgirlguides.ie.

HAVE FUN!!!

The resilience IGG members gain from Guiding has helped them cope with Covid challenges

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The past year has been tough for everyone, but members of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) say the resilience they have developed through their involvement in Guiding has helped them cope with the unique challenges everyone has faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking ahead of International Day of Happiness (20 March), IGG Chief Executive Officer Claire Barkey says: “As we face a global crisis together, it is essential we find positive ways to look after ourselves and each other. This year’s International Day of Happiness theme is ‘Keep calm, stay wise, be kind’, which is closely aligned to the IGG ethos.

“IGG is all about enabling and encouraging girls and young women to reach their full potential and to contribute positively to their local communities and, as they get older, to the wider world too. At this time, we encourage our members to BE KIND to each other but also to ourselves, to support others’ well-being and our own.

“It is so important at this time that we stay connected and reach out to help others. Our volunteer leaders have done a fantastic job in continuing to engage with our youth members in many different and creative ways. Some are holding online meetings and some are dropping activity packs to girls’ homes.

“Many of our volunteers and youth members have shared with us how the resilience and coping skills they have gained through Guiding have helped them cope with the challenges they have faced as a result of the Covid pandemic. Covid has helped us identify the elements of ‘community’ that provide strength and support to each of us, which we may have taken for granted.”

Theresa McCarthy, a volunteer Leader in Bandon, Co Cork, says, “It has been really difficult living through the Covid restrictions but I’ve realised how the coping and resilience skills I have gained through Guiding have helped to get me through this time of crisis. As a volunteer Leader with IGG, I know that if you try something one way and it doesn’t work, then you try another way. And many times this past year I have needed to find that other way of doing things – when I couldn’t travel, I was unable to meet people and wasn’t even able to buy things – but I coped. If something didn’t work the first time, I tried and tried again.

“Resilience will help us get through this time of Covid. We’re not born with resilience; it is built up over time and I am delighted that IGG has helped me build up the resilience and coping skills that will get me through this time of crisis.”

IGG members Choose To Challenge

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Members of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) are among 10 million girls and women across 152 countries taking part in a Choose To Challenge campaign ahead of International Women’s Day (IWD) on Monday 8 March 2021.

As part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), a partner organisation with IWD, IGG members are joining a global call to end gender bias, discrimination and inequality around the world.

Girl Guides are taking up the 2021 IWD theme of Choose To Challenge by sharing #ChooseToChallenge posts on social media saying what injustice they are choosing to tackle. These may include gender inequality, gender-based violence, climate change, plastic pollution, period poverty, malnutrition and other areas where they see injustice.

IGG volunteer Jemma Lee, who is a WAGGGS Ambassador for IWD this year, says Girl Guides are encouraged from a young age to think for themselves, to advocate for change and to transform challenge into change. She says, “IWD provides us with a platform and opportunity to celebrate the achievements of girls and women but also to come together across sectors to raise awareness of the need for greater progress. We are looking forward to sharing what our members will Choose to Challenge this year.

“Personally, I #ChooseToChallenge gender inequality. This might sound like a huge thing, but really we’re doing it every week at our Guide meetings. Every time we ask a girl to be a Sixer or a Patrol Leader, we are empowering a future female leader. Every time we do activities for the STEM, Aviation and Engineering badges, we are breaking down stereotypes and encouraging girls to explore the full range of their skills and talents.

“Every year our members get involved in IWD,” she continued, “And this year is a special one as both IGG and IWD are celebrating 110 years of empowering girls and women!”

Rachael, a Senior Branch member from Drogheda, is choosing to challenge the stigma of mental health issues facing teens. She says, “I believe that many teenagers are having issues with their mental health through the trials and tribulations of Covid lockdowns. Many are suffering in silence. I want to find new ways to give them a voice and show them how to find resources to help. We are all in this together.”

Soul Sisters event to boost well-being and resilience

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Join us for our Soul Sisters event on Saturday 6 March!

We have organised this event as a TREAT for our volunteer Leaders and parents ahead of International Women’s Day (8 March) although anyone and everyone is welcome to join us.

The event will take place live on our YouTube channel from 12-1pm at this link.

Soul Sisters promises to be an hour of physical, mental and emotional nourishment and nurturing with taster sessions of chair yoga (thanks to Lucan IGG Leader and yoga teacher Suzanna Glynn) and tai chi (thanks to IGG’s counsellor Rioghnach Cantwell).*

Our Honorary Ambassador Shirley McCay will demonstrate some stretching exercises so we know how to warm up and cool down safely before and after exercise.

Joanna Fortune, who you may know from Newstalk FM’s Seán Moncrieff Show, will share some practical tips for promoting well-being and boosting resilience. 

We will be joined by several other special guests too! Join us to find out who!

A recording will be available on our YouTube channel following the event.

We had thought of doing some mindful colouring during the event but there won’t be time. However, if you would like to try some mindful colouring, you could download one of the following:

Mindful colouring 1

Mindful colouring 2

Mindful colouring 3

Mindful colouring 4

Mindful colouring 5

Mindful colouring 6

You might also enjoy doing this Gratitude Scavenger Hunt (suitable for adults and children)!

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*If anyone is interested in joining Rioghnach Cantwell for online tai chi classes, please drop her an email to let her know at rioghnachcantwell@gmail.com

IGG members are reminded that Rioghnach, who is a Relationship/Parent Mentor and who was an IGG volunteer for 15 years, offers one-to-one counselling and provides IGG’s Confidential Counselling Service for IGG members over age 18. IGG members can avail of three free one-hour counselling sessions via phone/video call. Further sessions are offered at a discounted rate of €30 per session. The phone number to access this service may be found in Trefoil News or you can get the number by calling/emailing National Office.

IGG awarded European Citizens’ Prize

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We were thrilled to hear that Irish Girl Guides (IGG) has been chosen to receive the European Citizens’ Prize in recognition of our achievements in promoting awareness of the European Union (EU).

Since launching our Europe badge in partnership with European Movement Ireland (EMI) on Europe Day (9 May) 2019, 2,957 of our youth members have earned a Europe badge.

To earn the badge, girls and young women take part in age-appropriate activities that help them gain an understanding of the EU and how it affects the lives of Irish citizens.

The youngest members (Ladybirds aged 5-7) learn to recognise the EU flag, learn greeting customs from other EU countries and make rubbings of Euro coins. Brownies (aged 7-10) learn about other cultures and the role of MEPs while Guides (aged 10-14) learn about the formation of the EU and the advantages of being an EU member. They also celebrate international cultural festivals and invite politicians to talk to them about the EU.

The European Citizens’ Prize is given to organisations and individuals around Europe that contribute to European cooperation and the promotion of common values.

Jenny Gannon, IGG’s Programme and Training Commissioner, said, “We are thrilled to win a European Citizens’ Prize. We were delighted to get the opportunity to work with European Movement Ireland when putting the criteria and resources together for the Europe Badge, so a big thank you to them. The Europe Badge is a welcome addition as members of all ages get the opportunity to learn more about the European community they belong to, while encouraging them to be empowered and take action in the European movement.”

“We in IGG strive to develop programmes that are responsive to our girls’ needs and the needs of our society. We have developed mutually beneficial partnerships with a number of organisations in recent years, including EMI, and we are always on the lookout for partners to develop badges with that will add to the depth and breadth of our programme.”

Jillian van Turnhout, a volunteer with IGG and former Chief Commissioner as well as former Vice Chair of EMI, said, “I am ecstatic the work of Irish Girl Guides’ volunteer leaders and girls to earn the Europe Badge has been recognised through the awarding of the European Citizens’ Prize. From its launch, the leaders and girls have demonstrated their quest to learn more about the European Union, and they have clearly shown they wish to influence and shape the European project.”

Noelle O’Connell, CEO of EM Ireland and Vice President of European Movement International, said, ‘Almost 3,000 Irish Girl Guides’ members from age five-plus have gained Europe badges and learnt about our shared European home and Ireland’s EU journey. It is a great tribute and testimony to their hard work and accomplishments that it is being recognised by the European Parliament through the awarding of the European Citizens’ Prize. EM Ireland was delighted to partner with the Irish Girl Guides in helping so many girls and young women influence Ireland’s European project.”

Deirdre Finlay, member of the Irish national jury for the 2020 European Citizens’ Prize, said, “The 2020 entrants for the European Citizens’ Prize from Ireland were of a very high standard, representing the realities of EU citizens in current times. I am delighted to see the Irish Girl Guides Association and Family Carers Ireland announced as winners and wish them continued success in their work.”

Join us for Octagon Bingo!

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Help us raise funds for Octagon, our international camp taking place online over the August Bank Holiday weekend, by joining in our Octagon Online Bingo!

The first three sessions went so well, we have decided to run two more – on Tuesdays 9 and 16 March at 7pm.

To take part, first buy your Octagon Online Bingo tickets!

There will be six games of Bingo each night and the cost is €6 for one night’s tickets. Everyone in your house can play so you can buy as many tickets for each night as you wish!

The Bingo sessions finish by 8pm so they are a great fun family activity to do together at home!

The tickets are on sale until noon on the day of each event. You will receive your tickets by email on the afternoon of the event. The email will include the link to the Zoom meeting where the Bingo numbers will be called live on the night.

 

How to play Online Bingo:

Our host will call out the numbers and you mark them off on your ticket. If you circle all the numbers in a line, you will be asked to unmute yourself and call Check. Then we will play for two lines, and a full house on the same panel. Following the draw, winners will be asked to send in their details and their unique reference number so that payment can be made via online bank transfer.

Prizes:  
Games 1 – 5

1 Line: €15

2 Lines: €25
Full House: €50

 

Game 6

1 Line: €20

2 Lines: €40

Full House: €80

 

Once you have a Check, you will win even if you are not online to claim. 

 

You can print out the tickets from the email you receive.  If you do not have a printer:

Suggestion 1: Copy the bingo card using pen and paper. Write out the bingo numbers as they appear on your individual bingo card. Then mark off circling the numbers.

Suggestion 2: Using a smartphone or tablet, take a screenshot of your bingo ticket and save it to your photos. You can then mark the numbers on your device.

 

Thank you for your support … We hope you enjoy playing! 

Be Prepared for World Thinking Day!

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This year’s World Thinking Day (WTD) theme is peacebuilding.

When it comes to making the world a better place, peacebuilding is as relevant today as it has ever been. World peace is something we can all support by learning, reflecting, and taking action that inspires positive change.  

 On 22 February we hope IGG members will be among the 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world doing their part to call for – and create – peace in the world. By taking action together, we can make a huge difference in the world.

How can you take part?

Download the World Thinking Day 2021 Activity Pack and complete the activities. These can be done during online meetings or by yourself at home. You only have to complete one activity in each step to earn the special WTD badge, but don’t let that stop you—try as many as you like! (And don’t forget to purchase your World Thinking Day 2021 badge from our webshop!)  

Take part in our Guiding Light video!

 Since we will not be able to join together in the usual way for WTD this year, the Communications Committee are inviting all IGG members to join them in creating a ‘This Little Light of Mine’ video.

Watch this video of Jessica Woods, Communications Chair, to see how you can create a video of yourself passing the Guiding Light (you will need to ask someone else to record you). We can’t wait to see your videos, which will be edited into one big video that we will share on our social media on WTD.

We hope IGG members of all ages – girls and Leaders – will participate in this initiative!

Send your video via WhatsApp to 085 8570565 before 14 February. Thank you!

What Is World Thinking Day?  
Celebrated since 1926, WTD is a day of international friendship. Girls speak out about issues that affect them with support from 10 million other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries.  

 It all started when girls met at Girl Scouts of the USA’s very own Camp Edith Macy (now Edith Macy Center) for the fourth World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Conference. The delegates agreed that there should be a special day every year when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides think of one another and celebrate global sisterhood. They decided to call it Thinking Day and chose February 22 to honor the birthdays of Girl Guide founders Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. 

In 1999, at the 30th World Conference in Dublin, delegates wanted to make sure the day reflected the Girl Scout Movement’s international nature, so they changed the name to World Thinking Day.   

 Every year since, World Thinking Day has called on Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to unite and take part in activities that change the world for the better. 

Globetrotters Challenge

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DEADLINE EXTENDED TO Friday 16 April!

Even though we can’t be together, it doesn’t mean we can’t keep our love of all things International alive!

While our beloved Timpeall an Domhain competition has been postponed until 2022, in its absence our International Committee has devised the Globetrotters Challenge!

This challenge has been designed for Guides. Guides can complete the activities individually or in small groups (2-5 max). Depending on public health guidelines, this could be done virtually or in-person.

Entries can be submitted by filling out the Globetrotters Challenge submission form and attaching pictures and text. This can then be forwarded to competitions@irishgirlguides.ie with “Globetrotters Challenge” in the subject line by Friday 16 April 2021.

The Globetrotters Challenge works by choosing one country from the following list and completing the activities based on your selected country.

The countries to choose from are:

  1. Germany
  2. Uganda
  3. Hong Kong
  4. Oman
  5. Canada

The tasks are:

  1. To make and model a costume inspired by your chosen country
  2. Make a craft from your chosen country
  3. Make a recipe from your chosen country
  4. Create a poster with some general facts about the country and some information on Guiding in that country.

Best of luck everyone! And, yes, there WILL be prizes!!

Climate Justice Challenge inspires participants to create a better world

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Well done to the members of Galway, Moycullen and St Bridget’s Senior Branch Units and Lucan Guides who took part in an ECO-UNESCO initiative, which saw them undertaking climate action projects in their local communities.

This resulted in them delivering presentations on their action projects during the ECO-UNESCO Climate Justice Showcase at the end of Youth Climate Justice Week.

Here Diane Iroulor of Galway City Senior Branch writes about her experience:

The challenge aimed to increase young people’s understanding of what climate justice is and to take an action on it. Climate justice is when you look at climate change not just as an environmental issue, but also as a social and political issue. It acknowledges the fact that the people who are suffering the most from the effects of climate change have done the least to contribute to it.

My unit and I researched fast fashion, its effects on the environment and the harms caused to garment workers. Fast fashion is when people are not reusing their own clothes and buying new ones they are probably going to wear once. We wanted our project to encourage slow fashion, which is when people take care of their clothes, wear them for a long time and buy second hand or sustainably sourced.

To encourage this, we had a social media campaign on our Instagram, @galwaycityseniorbranch. We posted infographics on why fast fashion is a climate justice issue, videos on how to avoid fast fashion and a couple of memes for fun! These posts were shared by lots of people and we got some media attention. One of our members even got on our local radio station, Flirt FM, to talk about the project!

I really enjoyed creating my own posts for our Instagram and creating the presentation video at the end. We all worked together, to do our part from the introduction, middle and ending. It was great to work together as a team and I enjoyed learning how to create and edit videos and voiceovers.

At the presentations, seeing everybody’s projects was really informative and inspiring. It made me think that we all need to do our part to help the environment. Whether it’s using a bamboo toothbrush or cutlery, or even having a litter pick with your unit, it is helping the community and the environment.

I am inspired to take all I learned with me into the future to create a better world.

Mental health campaign encourages young women to seek support

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Irish Girl Guides (IGG) fully supports the #NotJustInYourHead mental health campaign that the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) launched on 7 December 2020. The campaign aims to highlight the significant and specific mental health need among young women in Ireland and encourage them to seek support when they need it.

One of our Leaders from Drogheda, Lauren Flynn, was part of the consultation process that led to this impactful campaign and here she writes about her involvement:

On 27 October I attended a Zoom meeting where NWCI, along with a Dublin-based campaign company, presented two mental health campaigns to a small group. The group was made up of about 12 young women from the ages of 16 to 25 years of age.

To start off the meeting, everyone introduced themselves to the group. We were then asked a series of general mental health questions about our thoughts on young women’s mental health in Ireland and the services available in Ireland specifically for young women. This was all done anonymously through a computer app called mentimetre.

Our anonymous answers were then depicted through charts and pictograms. These questions led on to a more open flow conversation and debate on young women’s mental health in Ireland and what was felt that young women in Ireland needed to aid and help with healthy mental health.

Two representatives from the design agency presented two different campaign ideas. Each campaign concept was presented to us along with the media and posters that would surround it. The representatives asked us a series of questions about each campaign.

There were a number of questions, such as what stood out, what came to mind when we saw the campaign, did the imagery match the campaigns, did it send a clear message, what we liked about the campaigns and disliked? The representatives took on all our ideas and feedback.

Both campaigns were very impressive and really well thought out with the group leaning in particular to one concept. It was very interesting to see the different perspectives on what women of different age groups and different backgrounds thought about the campaigns. It was a lovely panel to be part of and hopefully my IGG perspective left a positive and worthwhile impact on the campaign.

Find out all about the campaign on the NWCI website and follow the #NotJustInYourHead hashtag on social media.

International Postcard Competition 2022

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International Postcard Competition

Calling all Ladybirds, Brownies, Guides and Senior Branch! We would like to send your greetings to our Sister Guides across the world for World Thinking Day next year. To help us do that, the International Committee would like you to design their Thinking Day 2022 Postcards.

Entries should be made using pencil, crayons, felt tip or paint only (no glitter glue please!)

The theme for next year’s Thinking Day is “Our World, Our Equal Future: The Environment and Gender Equality” and your design should reflect this. Leaders of younger girls may like to discuss these concepts with them to help with the design process.

Prizes will be awarded at Ladybird, Brownie, Guide and Senior Branch age groups and the winning designs will be printed and sent out with our Thinking Day greetings.

Entries should be submitted using the International Postcard Submission Form which is available HERE.

Units are asked to select their best 5 entries to submit for consideration and send them by email to international@irishgirlguides.ie or post them to Postcard Competition, National Office to arrive on or before Monday 17th January 2022.

Good Luck!!

 

Join IGG Camp At Home this Halloween!

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We hope thousands of families across Ireland will take part in our IGG Camp At Home Halloween Edition!

You can join us for our Camp At Home on Halloween night Saturday 31 October or, if you can’t wait that long (!) or another date over the mid-term break suits you better, then feel free to choose another day!

The important thing is you join in the fun! With trick or treating postponed until next year, we need to come up with alternative and fun ways to celebrate Halloween at home, hence our IGG Camp At Home Halloween Edition!

Like with our previous Camps At Home, whether you sleep outdoors in a tent or set up a blanket fort under your kitchen table or pile up some cushions in your living room, is entirely up to you.

There’s no need to be short of ideas for activities, crafts, recipes and games to make this an IGG Camp At Home with a spooky twist as we’ve compiled some really fun Halloween-themed ideas in our IGG Camp At Home Halloween Edition activity pack.

However scary you want to make the experience is up to you! Fancy heading outdoors to play Spooky Bingo or make a Magic Potion? Or you might prefer to stay inside and make bats, mummies and ghosts or play Pin The Tail On The Black Cat or, if you dare, Pin The Wart On The Witch. Or how about Musical Zombies or Halloween Bowling?

Of course you’ll need to eat to keep your energy up for all the activities, so why not head into the kitchen at some point and rustle up some Strawberry or Banana Ghosts and Eerie Eyeball Cakepops, which you could wash down with some Snot Tail?

The bravest among you will, no doubt, want to hear some Scary Stories before you snuggle down into your sleeping bags .. and we’ve included some of those too!

Be sure to share photos on social media using the hashtag #IGGCampAtHome or send your photos and stories to communications@irishgirlguides.ie.

And don’t forget to have loads of fun!

We’re shooting for the stars with our Space Badge!

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We are thrilled to be launching an exciting Space programme, thanks to the hard work and determination of our former Ambassador, Dr Niamh Shaw!

The Space Badge is sure to appeal to IGG members of all ages. The space-themed activities that girls from age 5+ will undertake include rocket-building, stargazing, solar system walks and looking for the International Space Station in the night sky. Guides will also learn about Irish women working in the Space sector and will be challenged to make a model moon base out of recycled materials.

The badge was launched with an extravaganza event, including rockets and explosions, live on our You Tube channel on International Day of the Girl (11 October). We were delighted that Dr Shaw, who is an award-winning space communicator, could join us and astrophysicist and European Space Agency scientist Dr Kate Isaak. Both Dr Shaw and Dr Isaak are former Girl Guides!

Dr Shaw, who was IGG’s Ambassador 2019-2020, said that, on accepting the role, she had been keen to add a Space badge to IGG’s already wide-ranging programme of activities and challenges for girls and young women. “Being the Irish Girl Guides Ambassador was such a privilege,” she said. “I got the opportunity to meet with youth members and volunteers and find out about them as well as to chat about Space, dreaming big and all the technology and science required to explore and protect our planet Earth.

“I set myself a goal to establish a Space Badge packed with space-themed activities about our planet and our place in Space. Working with Frances McCarthy at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory (who is also an IGG Leader) and adapting the science, technology engineering & maths (STEM) activities included in the ESERO Ireland archive, we achieved just that!

“It’s a fantastic end to a terrific year with Irish Girl Guides,” she continued, “And I’m so proud that, through this collaboration of women involved in Space, we made it happen. That’s what Space Week and International Day of the Girl is all about too!”

IGG Chief Commissioner Amanda O’Sullivan, said IGG was thrilled to partner with ESERO Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and Blackrock Castle Observatory in order to create the exciting new programme. “The Space Badge, which will be awarded to all girls who complete age-appropriate STEM activities on a Space theme, will complement other badges we have introduced in recent years to encourage girls to explore areas they might not otherwise have considered, including Engineering, Aviation and STEM.”

Frances McCarthy, Education and Outreach Officer at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory and an IGG volunteer Leader in Cork, played a key role in compiling the Space programme with Dr Shaw. She said, “The aim of the Space Badge is to understand our place in space and, while earning the badges, the girls will use many STEM resources and also develop their scientific skills, such as problem solving, team-work and creativity, while having fun and engaging in Space and Astronomy. We hope that, by doing these activities, girls will not only be enthused about Space but might consider a career in STEM.”

Stephanie O’Neill, Manager of ESERO Ireland, said: “ESERO Ireland is delighted to support the Irish Girl Guides’ Space Badge through the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Funding Programme.  SFI and ESERO promote science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and projects like this help girls to develop scientific skills, like problem-solving, teamwork and creativity, using a range of fun space-themed activities, which have been devised for Ladybirds, Brownies and Guides.”

Leaders can find the details of the badge on Online Guide Manager (OGM).