-Don’t burn out right away! You don’t have to do it all or know everything.
-Go to trainings!! Even if you have been in Guiding forever and a day! Trainings are NOT just about gaining more skills or knowledge--trainings are about rejuvenating our Guiding spirits! Trainings are where Guiders get to relax, have fun, play, connect, share ideas, learn new skills, and make new friends! Trainings keep you fresh and up-to-date!
-Make use of Guiding Resources: The Canadian Guider and Pipeline are resources published for your Benefit. Take some time to read these publications—they are FULL of great ideas!
-Also, draw on the experience of other Guiders in your District. Use your International Advisor, your Camp Advisor, your Music Advisor… that is what they are there for! Help arrange Guider get-togethers in your Area so that you can swap ideas and rejuvenate your Guiding spirit!
-Make use of community resources! Parents, friends, even local professionals you look up in the yellow pages are often very willing to come to your meetings to share a passion! (we're talking dentists, nurses, hairdressers, first aid instructors, bike repair technicians, etc, etc)
-Listen to the girls and find out what they like best! Some years you will have a really “crafty” bunch, while another year you may have a group that just loves games.
-Communicate with parents! Be sure to keep them in touch with your unit’s goings-ons! Also, use parent helpers—delegate, delegate, delegate! (Cookie blitz organizers, phoning moms, badge testers, Treasurer, craft prep, etc.)
-Have a planning blitz in the beginning of the year and again after Christmas. Get a long range plan down on paper and fill in the details closer to the date—it makes week to week planning FAR less stressful!
-Have an Owls-only dinner! Take a break and get together just for FUN! Try not to talk about Brownies!
-Embrace your inner child! Learn to be silly and laugh at yourself!
-Prepare templates and blanks for crafts in advance, depending on the fine motor skills of your group.
-If in doubt, pre-prep!
-Keep in mind that things CAN and DO flop!! Don’t get discouraged--try to learn from your mistakes and carry on!
-Find out what works best for YOU and your group of girls!