There are 2500 girls coming into Guelph Lake Conservation Area to celebrate Canada’s 100th Girl Guide Anniversary. As much of a blast this was, you would think it would be a little more organized then it was when we got there. We realized this disorganization mess was going to occur at camp because most of us did not get our travel details until 3 days before camp. Despite schedules not being handed out on time, waivers not being sent to our parents and rain cancelling sessions a great time was there and well used.
The 291 Rangers that attended did not have their schedule of their sessions in their possession until late Friday afternoon. This is AFTER we were shuffled between marquis to marquis to figure out what we were doing on our first day of program. All of us had a bit of disappointment in us because we didn’t get what we wanted, but we turned it into a positive experience because we were now allowed to pick a session and join if there was room. However, there was a hard time getting into crafts because Core Crew was going out the night before and the morning of to buy supplies for the particular craft. Yeah ok here people, where are you expecting to find about 1000 large pieces of fabric for girls to make Pyjama Pants. That’s a lot of stores you have to hit up before the morning that these girls show up to their session because I am pretty sure you are not going to find one store with that much fabric. Not to mention, most girls had at least 3 wasted sessions because there wasn’t enough supplies or it was cancelled by the rain. Girls eventually did get to do their craft sessions hopefully, who knows with the amount of confusion and disorganized this part of the event was.
Two weeks prior to camp we figured out that waivers were needed for certain activities such as Zip lining, Rappelling, Dragon Boating, the Eco Adventure Tour, Scuba Diving and a few more. Parents waited and waited for these waivers to come in, then we were told if we needed one leaders would be getting a hold of your parents while you were at camp. 3 days past and my mother has yet to get a waiver, and I was told that they were sent out. Thank goodness that my program contact in my neighbourhood took care of it and made sure everyone that needed a waiver got a waiver from their parents. Girls were missing out on their sessions and out trips because these weren’t sent out on time like they should have been. A big event like this..... I think it wouldn’t be the first time that they were in contact with the company and the first time they heard about these waivers. At least things got a little more organized by the end of the week and more and more girls were going on their out trips. Along with the girls that missed their out trips because the wrong times were given.
The rain, oh the rain. Were Girl Guides, we can sleep, eat, cook, run, and play in the rain. A lot of the outdoor sessions were cancelled because of the rain. This left us with nothing to do even though we are Girl Guides and we don’t mind the rain, most of dance in the rain. We don’t care. It wasn't only the planning committee that was unprepared; there were times we weren’t prepared for the rain either. We should know by now when we go camping, it doesn’t only drizzle, it downpours. The day that we left for the island raining, we all brought our rain gear to the island. I failed to bring it any other day but the day I was going to the farm. Out of no where it starts to downpour and then it starts to thunder and lightning. Next thing you know were all under a shelter. This happened a few times, minus the lightning and the thunder.
All of these little discouragements warred off by the end of the 10 days and they turned into positive experiences. Myself and many others had a blast and would do it over again in a heartbeat
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