Centenary Launch Party: Bath Division

Girlguiding Bath Division held its Centenary Launch Party on Saturday 5th September at Bath Racecourse. Over 500 current members and 350 guests who had previously been members came along. This was a huge undertaking for the Division, involving many months of planning but it really was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all to get together to celebrate such a remarkable event.

On arrival the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members joined five coloured groups and received their matching colour party bag, containing the Greatest Adventure booklet. Leaders, Trefoil Guild members and adult guests received blue or red bags and a souvenir booklet.

On offer to the girls were age-based activities in five zones:
Adventure: Pioneering, Bouncy Castle, Giant Games and Inflatable Obstacle course
Music/Dance: Drumming Worksop and Campfire Singing
Heritage: ‘Cinema’ for viewing the Girlguiding UK Launch Party, a timeline, old uniforms and a ‘what was it used for’ picture quiz.
Creativity: Head Dresses and Spoon Pals for Rainbows and Brownies, Bead Brooches, Bookworms and Pot Pourri for Guides and above and card making for all.
Common Threads: Memory Wall, putting a stitch or two into a Centenary Banner, a shopping opportunity and a re-join us point.

We were fortunate that Gill Slocombe, our Region Chief Commissioner was able to visit and cut the celebration cake, which had been made by local chef Martin Blunos. We are delighted that the Mayor of Bath could also join us and had time to tour the site.

We were not deterred by the weather from finishing our event with ‘campfire’ singing, albeit inside our very large marquees sheltering from the rain rather than on the grass in the sunshine. We hope the following pictures give you a flavour of the event and the fun you can have as part of Girlguiding Bath Division.

Changing the World: BookAid International Book Fair: 31st Bath Rainbows, 31st Bath Guides

31st Bath Guides and 31st Bath Rainbows completed their Changing the World project by holding a book fair on May 9th.

African-inspired artwork such as masks, bookmarks and jewellery, which was created by the Guides during meetings was sold at the event. Hundreds of books were donated and sold; some visitors enjoyed the comfort of our book tent with a cup of Kenyan coffee or tea. All this, along with cake, lucky dip and treasure hunt stalls led to a very successful and enjoyable event!

We raised a fantastic £172 for BookAid International, who provide free books for some of the poorest countries in the world. Our donation will enable 135 books to be sent abroad to help other people improve their education by reading!

Thankyou to everyone that was involved, we really have changed the world!

Rainbows Meet New Member: 1st South District Rainbows

1st South Bath Rainbows met their newest recruit on Tuesday 20th January 2009. Assistant Rainbow Leader, Linda (aka Daffodil) visited the unit with her new baby daughter Sophie Ann who was born just a couple of days before Christmas. The girls were absolutely delighted to meet the new arrival and had lots of very interesting questions for mum!
Pictures of the new member can be seen here.

Nativity Service: 1st South District Rainbows, 24th Bath Brownies

Rainbows and Brownies from the United Reformed Church, Odd Down, Bath have ended the term with a Carol Service and Nativity play. The Rainbows dressed as Angels and the Brownies came as Shepherds and Kings. Some of the 24th Bath Guides also attended and a promise ceremony was held, during the service, for one Brownie and one Guide. Family and friends packed the church and there was even a visit at the end from Father Christmas. You can see pictures from the nativity here.

Everyone at the URC Rainbows, Brownies and Guides wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Prize Winners Visit Bristol Zoo: 1st Bath (St Luke's) Rainbows

On Saturday 8th November 1st Bath (St Luke’s) Rainbows went to Bristol Zoo. The trip was our prize for winning the Scrapheap Challenge Competition.

We went to visit lots of animals – the lions, the lemurs, the Gorillas, the hippopotamus, the kangaroo rats, the meerkats, the fish, the crocodiles the hamsters, the flamingos and the frogs. We saw rats in a house; they were in the oven, in a glass cake box and in the suitcases.

We played on the playground. We had our faces painted by Jasper. We had a photo taken all together then we went to the shop and bought things.
We had a lovely time, it was great fun.

Written by
Meg (aged 7) and Katrina (aged 7)

Christmas Celebration Craft Evening: 1st South District Rainbows, 24th Bath Brownies

Rainbows and Brownies from the United Reformed Church at Odd Down have been taking part in a joint Christmas Celebration Craft Evening. The girls aged 5-10 took part in a variety of Christmas themed activities with a host of crafts and cooking on offer.

Each Rainbow and Brownie who attended received the unique U.R.C. Rainbows and Brownies Christmas Celebration Badge.

Everyone involved had a lovely evening and the Christmas Theme kicked off the festive celebrations perfectly!

You can see some pictures of the evening here.

Allison Dagger
1st South Bath Rainbows

CHANGE THE WORLD: 1st South District Rainbows

As part of the lead up to Girlguiding UK’s Centenary Year Girlguiding UK is holding a special awareness campaign, lasting from September 2008 until end of July 2009.

This campaign is called Changing the World and Girlguiding UK has teamed up with 19 partner organisations and have created different projects for girls and young women to change the world. Each is a respected organisation working to make a difference in our world today.

The Rainbows and Brownies at the United Reformed Church, Rush Hill, Bath have been taking part in a variety of activities to raise awareness and funds for the NDCS (National Deaf Children’s Society) Listening Bus via the "Put Your Hands Up" challenge. The Listening Bus is to be equipped with the latest technology to help deaf children improve their communication, develop confidence and independence and enable them to lead their lives to the fullest. It will also help educate hearing children about deaf awareness.

The Rainbows and Brownies have held a Sponsored Silence Night, a Dress Up Loud Night and have been learning to "sign" their promises. The girls have had great fun with the project and have so far raised £404.50. All the funds we raise will go towards the Bus, which will travel throughout the country visiting and helping thousands of deaf children in the Girlguiding Centenary Year, and for years to come.

Allison Dagger
1st South Rainbows

21st Birthday Trip: Bath Division

On Sunday 18th May 2008, two coaches of Rainbows and their Leaders set off on a trip to Slimbridge to celebrate 21 years of Rainbows with every Rainbow unit in Bath represented.

Upon arrival at Slimbridge the Rainbows were split into 4 activity groups; Flamingos, Swans, Greylags and Mallards. Activities included a tour of the grounds, feeding the birds, quiz and a visit to toad hall where the Rainbows were able to handle a tree frog and a salamander. In addition the Rainbows made a badge shaped like a flamingo.

A picnic was held in one of the bird hides where the Rainbows were able to watch ducks with their ducklings having their lunch out on the water at the same time! After a rousing singing session the girls split back into their groups for the afternoon activities. At the end of the afternoon the girls took part in some parachute games, sang a very loud "Happy Birthday" and renewed their promises.

The day seemed to be enjoyed by all and the weather held out which meant that the water-proof coats were thankfully not needed!

Allison Dagger
1st South Bath Rainbows

Visit to Prior Park Gardens: 1st South District Rainbows

To make the most of the summer evenings a group of 22 girls and their leaders from 1st South Bath Rainbows and 24th Bath Brownies (United Reformed Church, Rush Hill, Bath) decended on Prior Park Gardens for their last meeting of the summer term.
In what has become typical fashion lately it rained, no it poured the whole time we where there!! Despite the downpour the girls stayed extremely cheerful and the guiding spirit certainly shone through. A walk around the gardens to the Palledian bridge (where we sheltered from the rain, along with some ducks!!) took place followed by a walk through a wooded area (providing a natural umbrella) to the summer house.
Once in the summer house the girls enjoyed some bug hunting with equipment provided by the National Trust and a whole host of creatures were unearthed for inspection in the magnifying pots.
A final walk through the pasture with spectacular views over Bath was our path home where the girls had a well deserved drink and snack - and yes you've guessed, the rain stopped and the sun came out!!!
All the Rainbows and Brownies that attended were a real credit to guiding, despite the awful conditions fun was still had but next time we want sunshine!!

Allison Dagger
1st South Bath Rainbows and 24th Bath Brownies

For more pictures of the trip, click here.

20 years of Rainbows!: Bath Division

On Sunday 24th June, Bath Division Rainbows had a party to celebrate 20 years of Rainbows. Around 65 Rainbows from all over Bath attended the Fairy Princess party and dressed up in a beautiful array of ball gowns, fairy wings, crowns and tiaras.
The girls took part in a variety of activities including making wands and tooth fairy boxes, traditional party games and treasure hunt. Each girl who attended was awarded a commemorative badge designed (via a competition) by Jasmine Hearne a Rainbow at 44th Oldfield Park Baptist Rainbows.
The Mayor of Bath, Councillor Sharon Ball, attended the event with her husband and enjoyed tea with the girls at the end of the afternoon where a rousing version of "Happy Birthday" was sung.
The afternoon finished with singing and circle games outside and the rain held off!
Great fun was had by all and the event was a huge success.
More pictures can be found here.