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– Irish Girl Guides’ adventure weekend will have a sustainable twist –
Dublin, 29/05/2020 – Members of Irish Girl Guides (IGG) around Ireland will be taking part in an adventure camp at home this weekend [30 May – June], which will incorporate many challenges, including climbing the equivalent of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohil, on their stairs or on a nearby hill.
Over 130 girls and young women, who are all members of IGG’s Senior Branch (14-30 year olds), have signed up to take part in Camp Echo. All the activities will be completed at home or within a five kilometre radius of home with some taking place online via Zoom, including a birthday bash on Monday evening to mark the 100th birthday of Senior Branch.
The weekend will contain numerous activities and challenges, many with a sustainable theme. Participants will either camp outdoors or make a den or shelter inside. Many of those who have signed up are working towards their Bronze or Silver Gaisce and, by completing this weekend challenge, they will successfully complete the adventure journey element of Gaisce.
They will consider who influences their understanding of climate change and investigate dangers to the environment in their area and make posters, videos or TikToks of their findings. They will be asked to go plastic-free for the weekend and to consider ways they can continue to cut down on plastic use in their everyday lives. Similarly, they will keep track of their water usage and come up with ways they can reduce their use of water going forward.
They will write jingles or poems about responsible consumerism and will learn about protected and endangered species. They will do litter picks and nature walks in their area and produce a camp book, including songs and sketches.
The biggest challenge of all will be using their stairs or a nearby hill to see how far they can climb with the promise of a special prize for anyone who manages to complete the equivalent of Carrauntoohil (1,038m) or Ben Nevis (1,345m)!
Given that most Guides and Senior Branch members go on camping trips every summer (this year being an exception because of the Covid-19 restrictions), they will also be asked to consider the environmental impacts that are made when outdoors and how to have a minimal impact on the environment during camps.
They will learn how to make beeswax wrap and they will make bags, purses and party hats out of recycled materials. And, of course, they will all wear their hats during the online birthday party!
Sarah Canavan, one of the organisers of Camp Echo and a Leader with Galway City Senior Branch, says that the multiple challenge are based on traditional Guide camp activities and on Sustainable Development Goal 12 – ‘Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns’.
“Over the course of the weekend the Senior Branchers will be doing multiple challenges based on SDG12 and camping. Challenges include doing a service project in your local community by doing a litter picking walk, making a jiggle about responsible consumerism, upcycling an old t-shirt into a shopping bag and some classic camping activities, like making a tie-dye neckerchief, making a demonstration video on how to tie knots and a bedding roll and a virtual hiking challenge. It links in with ‘Gaisce At Home’ as it will cover the adventure journey section for Bronze and Silver participants.
“We are asking participants to not sleep in their cosy beds over the course of the weekend but to camp in their garden/balcony or sleep in a blanket fort and every evening we’ll be having a tea/chats/campfire Zoom call,” says Sarah. “On the Monday evening we’ll be celebrating the Senior Branch’s 100th birthday. We’ll be making sustainable birthday hats, baking cakes, playing party games and, of course, signing ‘Happy Birthday’!
Sarah adds, “We encourage girls to do their best in all circumstances and it has been really heart-warming to see so many Senior Branchers spreading the ‘Guiding spirit’ over recent weeks during these unpredictable times.”
Irish Girl Guides welcomes youth members from age five-plus and adult volunteers from age 18+. No previous Guiding experience is necessary and ongoing training and support is provided. For further information, see www.irishgirlguides.ie or tel: 01 6683898.
Contact:
Fiona Murdoch, Communications Officer, Irish Girl Guides
Email: communications@irishgirlguides.ie
Tel: 085 8570565
Notes for editors:
Irish Girl Guides (IGG) has around 11,000 members throughout the 26 counties. Its 1,600 volunteer Leaders provide an informal educational programme of fun and challenging activities that foster confidence, independence and leadership skills in girls and young women, enabling them to develop to their full potential and to become responsible citizens. Youth members from age five to 30 can choose to earn a wide range of badges, including Aviation, Climate Action, Community Action, Cultural Diversity, Global Traveller, Engineering, Europe, Responsible Consumerism, Science Investigator and STEM.