We shared our favourite games and songs and all said our Brownie promise together (over the phone) on Thinking Day.

We have swopped letters and learned a bit about each others’ villages.  Our new Assistant Guider, Helen, lives in Heaton Chapel and comes to help at 2nd Histon while she is studying at University down here.

We made postcards of Histon and sent them to the Brownies at Heaton Chapel.

The Guides enjoyed helped out by collecting litter, and pulling ivy from the trees. Weeding the hedge – was not a popular activity nevertheless the girls managed to complete a fair distance. The girls also helped to dig some holes to plant trees. Filling wheel barrows and spreading chippings (or chickens as the girls say) on the paths is always a worthwhile challenge.

By helping out on this project the Guides are working towards their Community Action badge for which they have to complete a minimum of 12 hours service.

A good time was had by all despite the rain and we are looking forward to the next opportunity to help.

Last August Amy Seaman from 3^rd Histon Guides was lucky enough to  be presented her BADEN POWELL CHALLENGE AWARD  by Liz Burnley the Chief Guide at the International Centenary Camp that was held at Hereward House.

The Baden Powell Challenge is the highest award a Guide can achieve,  girls have to have made their Promise, completed at least two Guide Challenge badges and gained at least two interest badges to show her commitment to Guiding before they can start work on this award.

The challenge is divided into five zones:

Healthy Lifestyles – to encourage Guides to lead a healthy lifestyle by promoting physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

 Global Awareness – to increase awareness of global issues and of the contribution each girl can make.

 Discovery – to challenge Guides with new experiences and adventure.

 Skills and Relationships – to develop Guides self-confidence and self worth and to improve their interpersonal and life skills.

 Celebrating Diversity – to promote active citizenship among Guides, develop their awareness of rights and responsibilities for all.

Girls have to plan, organise and complete ten clauses from these zones.

To complete the award girls have to take part in a Baden-Powell Adventure these are usually residential events Amy went to Newmarket for her adventure.

We congratulate Amy on all her hard work making her the first Guides in our Unit to complete this award for many years.

Our Oak Tree

On Thursday 4^th November, the ‘3^rd Histon Guides’ met in Homefield Park armed with torches, glow sticks, spades, loppers and hammers where we planted an Oak Tree to mark the Girl Guiding Centenary.

The girls did all the work for planting the tree, they cleared the area of overgrowth, after removing the Oak from its pot they carefully separated its roots to help the tree to flourish, once they had dug a deep enough hole the tree was planted and heeled in. Next the girls erected the wooden frame, tightening the bolts and hammering it into the ground, to protect our tree. The tree was watered in and mulch was added to protect the tree from drying out.

Whilst the tree was being planted other girls enjoyed their time exploring the park in the dark.

After our tree was planted we marched into a traditional Guiding Horseshoe and six girls made their Promise and were enrolled beside the Oak. We then sang our ‘Tree Song’.

We are hoping to watch this Oak Tree grow and become a feature of Homefield Park ready for the Girlguiding Bi-Centenary in 3010!

Transporting the Tree

Removing the pot

Seperating the roots

Positioning the Frame

Tightening the bolts

It stands on its own!Hammering inMore Hammering

 

Hammering in.More Hammering

Building the Frame

Programme

Histon Guides travelled to Ely Cathedral to take part in the Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East Centenary Finale. The event was called VISION and the Cathedral was full.

There were singing and dancing performances, a pageant called ‘Before Darkness’ was preformed and the girls waved their coloured materials at key points during the performance.

We watched a TV link where all branches of Guiding gave their VISIONS for the future. And at 20:10 20/10/2010 we joined with the rest of the world to renew our Promise. Led by the Chief Guide, Liz Burnley.

A video showing pictures of some of the many events that have taken place this year as part of the Centenary Celebrations was shown.

The evening ended with everyone joining in a song that was written for the event called “I am One Voice”.

After our promise renewal the girls received a commemorative Promise Badge, Histon Guides would like to send a very special Thank You to the Histon Feast Committee who kindly gave us the money to buy these badges for all the Guiding Members of Histon Division.

Here are some of Histon Guides VISIONS for the future;

……..every girl to be able to follow her dreams.

………all children should get the help, support and care that they need.

……..there is World Peace.

………everyone everywhere is happy.

………..everyone will be equal.

………be kind to everyone.

……… to end World hunger.

……..I won’t be disrespected because I’m different.

Cambs East Guides organised a County Camp at Quy Park as part of their Centenary Celebration. The camp had 6 sub camps and 8 of our Guides joined with Willingham, Hardwick, Barton, Camborne and Great Grandsden Guides along with Irean and Doris from Taiwan to form a sub camp called MICROSCOPE.

The camp was officially opened by the County Commissioner and President during ‘A Mad Hatters Tea Party’ (with some amazing costumes).

The daily activities were divided into 5 zones LOOK AROUND (environment), LOOK INTO (arts, crafts and performance), LOOK @ ME (relaxing & pampering), LOOK WIDE (traditions of Guiding) and LOOK OUT (adventurous activities)girls spent days at Mepal doing water sports, at Bassingbourn – skiing, and at Bottisham for swimming, dancing, trash band and gym. Conservation and orienteering took place at Milton Country Park and camping skills and 1950’s Guiding were learnt at the Jarman Centre in Newmarket.

On site there were crafts, pamper sessions and learning about water and its uses around the world. Not to mention the ‘Spider Mountain’ which was loved by children of all ages? A ‘Ready Steady Cook’ competition took place during the week – which Microscope won (well done girls).

Evening activities included a Night Incident Hike around Lode, a Camp Fire. Film Show, Disco, Cheili and the Grande Finale on Friday with each sub camp taking park as well as others showing some of the skills they had learnt during the week.

It was fantastic how all the girls got to know and formed friendships with girls from other units.

We would like to thank everyone in Cambs East who helped to make this such a memorable experience and a great way to remember the ‘Centenary’.

3rd Histon Guides at LOOK 2010

Night Hike in Quy

The Door Mouse at the Opening Ceromony

Alice going to the Tea Party

Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee

The Mad Hatter at the Tea Party

Making Water Clocks in one of the Zones

Surviving a night under the stars on the last evening

The much loved SPIDER MOUNTAIN

There were over 20 performance areas scattered over the estate and no matter which way you turned there was something else to see or do. Workshops to join in on- balloon modelling and circus skills to name a few. A tree cosy was knitted for one of the estate trees! Adventure play grounds, Geopods with lots of hands on activities.

They even managed to import a beach (shame it wasn’t really beach weather!)

At the end of the day everyone assembled in front of the house for the Grand Finale. For this everyone had been asked to bring a piece of pink material. After Mexican waves and dance routines with everyone waving their ‘pink material’. Two hugh balls appeared to rise from behind the crowds and travel forward through the sea of people, suspended to these balls were gymnastic performers.

The group of Guides and Leaders from Cambs East travelled to ‘FUSION’ by mini bus, leaving I.V.C. at 7.30am and not arriving back until 9pm. A very long day. But it was well worth it! To experience this ‘never to be forgotten once in a life time day’!