The Girl Guides season is wrapping up and the girls have made some big accomplishments and are many are preparing to move up.
Three girls will soon be awarded the Lady Baden-Powell Award.
Lacey MacFarlane, Alivia Anderson and Kennedy Lanciault will all be given the award in June completing the “extra challenge”.
The Lady Baden-Powell Award is the highest award a guide can obtain, and is given to girls who work hard in their group and in the community while also completing the program..
There are a few more activities and initiatives a guide must go through before earning the award.
While also completing the Guiding program, the girls must also put in the extra initiative in the areas of community service and volunteering, while learning about the life and work of our World Chief Guide, Lady Olave Baden-Powell.
The three girls have taken the time over the last two years to finish all the tasks set to them by the challenge.
Part of the challenge is to do a presentation on Baden-Powell to younger guides.
A.J. Lichty, a Guide Leader, said it was a real challenge for the girls.
“It really gets them out of their comfort zone,” said Lichty. “The girls have to prepare a presentation and give it, which is something they aren’t really used to.”
Kennedy Lanciault said it was a lot of hard work to get to this point.
“I’m excited, I feel really good about what I accomplished,” she said.
The three girls receiving the award will be given a pin in recognition as well as a certificate.
According to Judy Scanland, one of the Brownies leaders, two girls have achieved all of their badges. Brooklynn and Jayda have both worked hard to earn each one of their badges.
Two more Brownies, Chloe and Maya, are also close to the same recognition. Scanlan says they will be in the same position within the next two weeks or so.
“I’d like to give recognition to three girls who have been tremendous,” said Scanland. “Our Junior Helpers, Kennedy, Jordan and Masaii all deserve a shout out.”
More than half of this year’s Sparks will be moving up to Brownies next year.
Jennifer McLean, Sparks leader, said she is very proud of the girls and all they have accomplished this year.
“We had a lot of fun this year, and we learned to challenge our selves,” said McLean.
McLean said even simple things like washing dishes were sometimes seen as challenges to over come.
While the Sparks are moving up, Sylvan Lake will have it’s first group of Rangers in quite a long time.
“Up until now, the girls who wanted to continue from Pathfinders had to go to Red Deer,” explained Matasha Lanciault.
The girls are currently fundraising for a 15-day trip to Europe. While there they will visit two of the “world centre.”
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has World Centres, located in Mexico, Switzerland, India, Africa and the United Kingdom.
“It is really exciting for the girls because they are spread out around the world and it isn’t easy for them to visit one, let alone two,” said Matasha.
With changes and large number of girls associated with the program in Sylvan Lake, more leaders are needed for next year.
“Next year we will have enough girls for a second guide group,” said Lichty.
Anyone invested in volunteering with the Guides can contact Scanland at 403-877-4371.
“I keep come back year after year,” said McLean. “It is very rewarding. You are making a difference in these girls lives.”
megan.roth@sylvanlakenews.com
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