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Girls from age 5+ gain adaptability and resilience by taking part in a variety of fun activities and challenges
Dublin, 01/08/2021- More than 1,000 Girl Guides from 10 countries are developing adaptability and resilience skills during Irish Girl Guides’ first ever online international camp, Octagon, which is taking place this weekend (Saturday 31 July to Monday 2 August).
Octagon is Irish Girl Guides’ (IGG’s) 14th international camp, but the first to take place online. The original plan to hold it under canvas in Clongowes Woods, Co Kildare, had to be adapted to the Covid-19 world in which we are currently living.
Participants are camping at home – either in tents in their gardens or in makeshift shelters or dens they have made outdoors or indoors – and they are taking part in online and offline activities, which are being livestreamed from the host location of Dublin City University (DCU).
By taking part in a variety of challenges, many related to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Maths (STEAM) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), girls from age five-plus are developing adaptability and resilience – exactly the skills everyone needs in this Covid-19 world.
The theme of Adaptability was chosen three years ago, long before the start of the pandemic. Little did the organisers know at that time just how appropriate the theme would turn out to be!
Octagon Camp Chief Helen Concannon says, “Octagon Camp centres on the idea of Girl Guides harnessing technology to be innovative and bring girls together for peer support and mentorship. We know from our 110 years of youth work in Ireland, that this connectedness tackles isolation, promotes solidarity and creates a weave of positive support for girls and women across the globe.
“It’s an honour to lead a team of dedicated volunteers who have worked for three years on this project and excelled in adapting to the challenges of pivoting a week-long in-person Guide camp to a three-day virtual event streaming from DCU.
“It’s been an amazing experience! I can feel the power of these girls and women, all united in their mission to develop responsible global citizens.”
Ms Concannon says the theme of Adaptability was chosen long before the Octagon Camp team knew how adaptable they would have to be when organising the camp. “In true Girl Guide style we started putting our resilience skills into practice and learning by doing,” she says. “Girl Guiding teaches us to be adaptable – the skills we learn in our regular meetings help us out in our life’s journey.
“Girl Guiding is not simply a weekly activity,” she continues. “It is a belief that we can change our world and, along with our 10 million sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world, that we can make a difference. I am confident that everyone taking part in Octagon will take action locally to ensure we do all we can to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to create a more just world.
“Everyone can make a difference, everyone can play a part in helping make the world a better place. Let’s start where we are, where we can and where we have a chance.”
Irish Girl Guides welcomes new youth members from age 5+ and volunteer leaders from age 18+. No previous experience of Girl Guides is necessary. To find out more, see www.irishgirlguides.ie or telephone 01-6683898.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
Irish Girl Guides has approximately 11,000 members. Guiding started in Ireland in 1911 and operates throughout the 26 counties with 1,600 volunteer leaders providing an informal educational programme of fun and challenging activities that foster confidence and leadership skills in girls and young women, enabling them to develop to their full potential and to become responsible citizens. Girls from age 5+ can choose to earn a wide range of badges, including Community Action, Climate Action, Cultural Diversity, Disability Awareness, Drug Awareness, Engineering, Europe, Science Investigator, STEM and Global Traveller. www.irishgirlguides.ie