The Eckville Girl Guides are in need of adult female volunteers who are looking to instruct young girls, who are passionate about guiding.
“Eckville really needs some more women who want to make a difference,” Kuusamo District Commissioner Monica Hamilton said. “We have some amazing women who have been working out there for the last few years, but a couple have relocated right out of the area. It’s always the same volunteers who are stepping up and sometimes they start to burn out. We need some fresh interest. We have girls that want to be there and we just need some adults to fill the leadership roles.”
Hamilton wanted potential instructors to know that a familiar connection is not necessary to become an instructor.
“I do not have a child in the program anymore,” she explained. “My own daughter is an adult leader.”
Becoming an instructor, according to Hamilton, is way to help young people and also relive some childhood experience for a lot of women - it also is a way to expand their careers.
“The interaction with the kids keeps me younger and it is also a chance to revisit those phases that are over for some of us,” she said. “Its perfect for if you are thinking of a future interacting with kids, whether in education or child care. It is a great opportunity to work with kids while you are exploring your education.”
Being able to help young people is what is most fulfilling for Hamilton.
“The way the little girls look at you when they realize they can do something new is so fulfilling,” she said, adding that the time commitments are fairly flexible.
“Realistically, we are asking for about three hours per week,” she said. “That wont necessarily be every week, with some weeks being as simple as touring the fire hall while other meetings will be preparing for other trips. Certainly if you have more to give, there are opportunities to take the girls on other activities like full-day field trips and overnight camp outs.”
To qualify you must be a female who is 18 years of age. Hamilton added that they are very welcoming to the LGBTQ community.
“The most important things we are looking for is someone with a clean police record check - including a vulnerable sector check,” she said. “We will do our best to pair you up with a leader with more experience and we will train you as you go. If you are unable to make a full-time commitment but still want to help out - I’m willing to talk to you about it. I’m passionate about it, we can talk about it and you can think about it.”
todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com