It is not often that the 22nd of February falls on a Saturday. This is the day, both Lord and Lady Baden Powell’s birthdays, that Guides and Scouts think of other Guides and Scouts all over the world.
Our region, Gauteng Central organised a fun celebration at Trefoil Park to celebrate the occasion. Two Waverley Guides and five from Rays of Hope attended (Thanks to Trevor Jacubus, father of Nina, one of the Waverley Guides, who helped transport the Rays of Hope girls to and from Alexandra). It was a family event and parents, brothers and sisters were all included. Teams of not more than eight were formed and given a map to various stations scattered around Delta Park. Each station represented one country where there are Girl Guides or Girl Scouts. There was the promise from each, the flag and information about the country or activity.
Besides the 7 girls we had Gummi Bear, my assistant Guider, her husband, Graham, Nina’s father, my son, Chris (Grizzly Bear) and Kathleen (Kitty Bear) We split into two teams with three adults in each.
Our first stop was Japan, where we got to catch plastic fish in the shallows of Braamfontein Spruit.
Next we went to Australia where we found out why they wear corks on their hats and got to transfer corks from a basin of water using tongs. The group of Brownies and a mother and little brother who were ahead of us scored better than we did.
Off to Italy and boat races (jet propelled!)
At Mexico we learned about Piñatas and as a team got to break one in two blows, scattering sweets for all.
At China we got to watch the team before us measuring the “Great Wall” before it was our turn.
Canada looked like the most fun – getting the whole team plus a tea set across the chasm using stepping stones but it was so popular that there was quite a queue so, because our time was running out, we skipped it and went to India where the girls got to get their hands painted.
Back in Trefoil Park we got to go skiing in Switzerland and make up a song to the tune of Shosholoza in Zimbabwe.
Our last stop was England where we got to do a traditional Guide activity, make dampers over an open fire. A mixture of self raising flour is rolled into a sausage and wrapped around a green stick and cooked over the coals until it sounds hollow when knocked and comes off the stick when pulled. Jam was put into the hole and it’s ready to eat.
At each station, once the activity was successfully completed, a puzzle piece was given to the team leader. At England we got to glue the pieces together and despite the lack of the Canada piece, we got to make the South African flag.
The morning ended with a small ceremony, where thinking day coins were collected in a wishing well and a map was displayed showing all the countries where Guiding takes place.
Well done to the Hillcrest district who organised such a well planned and fun day. The support was great, over 20 teams took part with plenty of family involvement.
