This is the first time that many of us have met in person, although we were brought together over the Internet. So let us sing few “getting to know you” songs!
Now that we’re all warmed up, it’s time for us to sing joyously! Join me in singing Tzena.
When we go to Manitoba, we’ll have many challenges to overcome. I keep hearing that the mosquitoes will be something else. So let’s sing about them for a while... perhaps we’ll scare them all away!
But don’t worry... we are, after all, Girl Guides, and we always get by! Remember to Keep on the Sunny Side.
Another challenge we’ll face will be keeping ourselves - and our clothing - at least marginally clean! Those good ol' Black Socks...
Now it is time to be just plain silly!
Another challenge we will hopefully not have to face too much will be the rain. At Echo Valley in 1988, I think it rained once during the entire camp. Let’s hope for many sunny skies in Manitoba! But just in case...
We should all be very proud that our Guiding organization is putting together such a great event! And we should be equally proud to be Canadian Girl Guides. Here’s a song I’m sure many of you know, but have probably forgotten:
After a long day of cooking, sessions, hiking, and all the other activities we’ll face at camp, it’ll be great to slow down, take a breather, and enjoy a few quiet songs around a campfire...
And now it is time to close our campfire...
BC Commissioner's Conference Campfire - June 6 '98
Thanks very much to Shelagh Walsh, who e-mailed me this campfire plan!
Theme: "Our Guiding Toolbox"
HELLO! We're going to start by saying "Hello" to each other in glorious 4 part harmony. [Divide into 4 parts.] In the middle of the song are 2 lines [sing them.] Remember, you have to meet someone before you greet them. That's the way to make new friends, which we will then sing once together & twice as a 4 part round. Take a deep breath, & when we give you your note - just keep holding it as the other parts join in.
Sing "Make New Friends"
You've come together this weekend to talk about your Guiding Toolbox, which is the theme for tonight's Campfire. Well, it's true that in Guiding we have an important job to do, & we must have the right tools. Our friends are very useful tools. We use each other for inspiration, comfort & support. So take care of your tools. Another tool at our fingertips is our hands. Working with children & youth, we really hold the future in our hands, or at least the female half. Here's a litte twist on an old favourite; we've got our little Guiding sisters in our hands, beginning with Sparks & Brownies.
Sing "We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands" [same tune as "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands"] (Verse 1: We've got the Sparks & the Brownies, verse 2: We've got the Guides & Pathfinders, verse 3: We've got the Senior Branches, verse 4: We've got our little Guiding sisters...)
As we sing Loo La La, I want to hear everybody yell out loud & clear the tool you would use for the job. For example, after this verse, let's hear what you would use to build a fire...
Other suggestions: make a craft, play a game, run a meeting, etc.
A handy tool to unify a large group is a theme song. Here is the theme song for BC's Provincial Camp, the Spirit of Adventure Rendez-vous '98, S.O.A.R. in the Sun.
Echo song: S.O.A.R. in the Sun
Did we mention camping? All our tools are tested at camp, especially our sense of humour. Humour is a great tool for making light of a heavy situation, like camp breakfasts. Let's cook ham & eggs. Sing "Ham & Eggs" (found in the Campfire Activities book).
Another vital tool in Guiding is our imagination. Let's all pretend to be birds. Because of the size of this crowd, just do bird actions instead of the circle dance.
Action: Bird Dance: [Play a tape & lead actions, ham it up.]
We are very fortunate to live in Canada where we have the tools to raise our girls as good citizens. Our American sisters sing about justice, freedom & love between our brothers & our sisters all over this land. Sing "If I Had a Hammer".
Tools can be used for good or bad purposes. "And into plowshares turn our swords, nations shall learn war no more. And every man 'neath his vine & fig tree, shall live in peace & unafraid." Those are the words to our next song, which we will sing as 2 parts, first separately, then putting the 2 parts together. Sing "Vine & Fig Tree" (from the Jubilee Song Book).
It has been a privilege to sing with you all tonight. I know you will come away from this conference with lots of tools for your Guiding toolbox. Are there any announcements before we stand for the vesper & Taps? One of my favourite tools to bring everyone together is music, especially music that everyone knows. The tune is "O Christmas Tree" which you can sing la or hum if you don't know the words to Softly Falls, followed by Taps.
Division AGM Campfire '98
Thanks very much to Shelagh Walsh, who shared this campfire plan with the Guiding Mailing List!
Materials needed: songsheets of photocopiable materials only, Dr. Suess' book "Oh the Places You'll Go!" (Readings from this book are shortened with "..." for the sake of brevity here, but you can read the whole quote)
Theme: "Oh, The Places You'll Go!"
For tonight's Campfire, I wanted to quote from a great literary work, one which befits the mature & enlightened company here present. Who better to inspire us in our Guiding than the incomparable Theodor S. Geisel, or Dr. Suess. "Oh the Places You'll Go" is our theme for tonight. (Read from Dr. Suess's book "Oh the Places You'll Go!" "Congratulations...any direction you choose.")
Let's get to know our travelling companions:
Opening: It's a Good Time
(Read "You'll look up & down...not-so-good street.") When I was a Guide, the most unbreakable oath you could utter was "Guide's Honour!" from our old 1st law of Guiding, "A Guide's Honour is to be trusted." It's that honour which will keep our girls from going down those "not-so-good" streets, & THAT'S why we're all in Guiding. Sing On My Honour.
(Read "And you might....in the wide open air. Oh the places you'll go!") Let's begin our travels in the Land of the Silver Birch, where some of the loveliest scenery in the world can be found.
(Read "You'll be on your way up...high heights.) Guiding has given many the opportunity to travel to exotic places. This song is about "My Country Spain" but it's in French, combining 2 cultures! Sing Dans Mon Pays D'Espagne.
(Read: "You won't lag...top all the rest.) We love to go to exciting, wonderful places, but we know it's all the different people who make up a world. High fliers like archers, birdwatchers, & hippies. Sing If I Were Not a Girl Guide.
(Read: "I'm sorry to say...happen to you.") Interactive Story: Where in the World is...[name of whoever is acting this out]? (Adapted from "Where in the World is Sandpiper?" by Therese Preece of Surrey BC.)
(Read: "You'll find the bright places...under the sky. Oh the Places You'll Go!") Sing & Shout (from "Celebrate With Song")
(Read: "You'll get mixed up..Great Balancing Act.") Sing Make New Friends
(Read: "But on you will go...sneakers may leak.") Sometimes it all seems so high, you can't get over it. Sing Rock My Soul
(Read: "On and on...whatever they are.") We are teaching our girls about the reality of the modern world, & how to face up to their problems, & turn swords into plowshares. Sing Vine & Fig Tree (from "Jubilee Song Book")
(Read: "Congratulations...any direction you choose.") Oh, the places you'll go! Barges expresses the dreams of all girls & women who would like to "sail the ocean blue" to places of enchantment, & to the limitless heights of their abilities. Traditionally, this song is often sung with a third verse which is just hummed to the tune.
Announcements/Goodbyes: Thank you for your dedication to Guiding, & for joining me tonight at Campfire.
Vesper: Irish Blessing (from "Celebrate With Song")
Thanks very much to Laurene Nason for sending me this campfire! It was put together for a very special occasion indeed...
Saturday evening Camper/Trainer's Conference September 13, 1997
Members of Guiding from across Canada and the National Board gathered in Toronto the last of April. Marsha Ross, our former Chief Commissioner, presented a moving reflections Saturday morning. She opened with:
"Today, throughout the world, more the 8.5 million girls and women in 136 different countries share a common love for what we call "Guiding". You might ask how so many people, from such varied circumstances, could possibly share anything? The answer lies in the simple fact that when human beings have similar values and beliefs, they tend to also share similar hopes and dreams that girls and women are important and valuable members of society. It is not surprising, then, that we also share the common dream of seeing girls and young women develop to their fullest potential and take their places as responsible world citizens."
Tonight, we celebrate as we take part in a ceremony as two young women "take their place" in yet another facet of the guiding world.
Kathryn Henderson & Joanne Curran have almost completed the requirements for the Trainer's lamp, I ask for them to come forward fulfill the final requirement to receive their lamps.
(Pam) Join with us as we sing When ‘ere You Make a Promise.
As we continue to celebrate let's reflect on why we became Guiders:
(PT's come forward one at a time, light their candle, and read their portion of "An Affirmation for Guiders". As they return to their place they will light the candle of those around them.)
As last reader returns everyone sing Pass It On
(Everyone take a seat)
Let's take off in our canoe and check out other celebrations going on in Canada.
Here we are in Newfoundland - the Matthew has just landed at Bonavista. John Cabot's the guy who built the boat. I'se the B'y
As we paddle across the Gulf we hear sounds of New Brunswickers as they celebrate Festival by the Sea - If You Want Peace of Mind
On we go on our journey to Quebec where there is always a festival to join - Riding on a Donkey
Land of the Silver Birch can be heard around the lakes as Ontario Girl Guides meet with Girl Scouts to celebrate yet another bridge to the American shores.
As the farmers celebrate the season for sowing their crops they do have Something to Sing About.
We have reached the mountains and must gain some spirit as we climb The Happy Wanderer.
What a view - What a sight - They All Call It Canada
Thank you for celebrating and taking the journey with us - as we close our evening lets us go our separate ways and reflect on our day. Abide With Us O Lord
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