My Queens Guide

The Queens Guide Award is the highest award members can work towards in guiding. It gives you the chance to develop your own skills while contributing to guiding and your local community at an impressive level. It's open to members ages 16 to 25 and must be completed within 3 years or before your 26th birthday, whichever is sooner.
Within the award you are expect to complete different elements. Here is a run through of them and what I have done so far.

Service in Guiding.
Element 1.
This has to be done over 12 months and is probably the easiest part of the award. Service in guiding has to mount up to 60 hours, for this you could use your weekly meeting and any trips or meetings you attend. In them 60 hours 20 of them has to be on something specific, for example taking part in a task and finish group or organising an event. I haven't done my 20 hours yet but I am hoping to take part in a task and finish group on Senior Section in November.

Element 2.
For this you need to attend a residential guiding event and accept a responsibility that furthers your guiding experience. I went away with the new unit I am with to complete this element, I went away not only for the first time as a leader but also as the camps first aided. This was a new experience for me as although I have always been first aid trained for work I have never had to use it on a larger scale. Luckily there was no major accidents but I did have to put up a first aid tent, manage health forms and medicine and keep the camp clean and safe.

Element 3.
You need to take an active part in the planning of an event that involves at least two units. I haven't done this part yet but I am hoping to plan something for thinking day next year for the district.

Element 4.
For this you need to actively participate in a working group or committee run by Girlguiding UK or your county or region or get involved in a association issue. I recently attend Innovate for a weekend and helped work on the Stop The Violence campaign. More information on this will be on another blog.

Outdoor challenge.
The aim is to develop leadership and teamwork skills in an outdoor environment.

Element 1.
You need to complete the first 6 modules of the camp and holiday scheme. I will be doing this hopefully next summer with the Senior Section.

Element 2.
You need to participate in an exploration or expedition lasting 4 days (3 nights) accompanied by your peers. Again I will be doing this next summer and I think I want to do an exploration in Bath as I have never been there and there is a lot to see and do.

Community Action.
Over a 12 month period, undertake two projects on a chosen topic. One of these should be of a practical nature and the other should be research based. For this part I have chosen to do child abuse so I am looking to volunteer for the NSPCC ChildLine. At the end of the year I will need to gather research on the matter at a local, regional and national level and present it to my unit. I am finding this part the most challenging as there is a lot of steps you have to take before you can volunteer for ChildLine. At the moment I have done all the interview stages and I am now waiting for my training dates.

Personal Skill.
For this you need to develop a skill over a 12 month period. For this I have chosen to do sign language. I have always wanted to do it and this now gives me a reason. At the end of the classes I have to take a test so fingers crossed I will pass.

Residential Experience.
You need to participate in a residential experience run by Girlguiding UK orbit another agency lasting no fewer than 3 days (2 nights) and where the majority of the participants are unknown to you. For this part I attended the Cuham Centenary Camp as a member of staff also known as a pinkie. This camp had over 500 girls camping and it was my job to look after a sub camp. It was such a fantastic week and a great way to celebrate the centenary.

And that is everything so far. I hope that t wasn't too long and I hope it gives girls doing their Queens Guide some ideas or encourages others to start theirs. Will keep you updated on how I am getting on.