By Isle of Wight Observer
More than 200 Girlguiding members from across South West England gathered at UKSA in Cowes last weekend (Jul 12–13) for a full programme of watersports and adventure.
Girls from 16 counties, stretching from Cornwall to Berkshire, including Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, attended, alongside leaders and Region Chief Commissioner, Rachael Tattum. The aim was to introduce members to activities they may not usually access and reinforce the message that “girls can do anything”.
Participants enjoyed kayaking, canoeing, raft-building, sailing, a water slide and team-building games — with many also making new friends during the action-packed weekend. For some, it was their first visit to the Isle of Wight.
Island Guide Imy said: “I was brick scared before the first activity and didn’t want to do any, but now I’ve tried two I can’t wait to do them all. It is so much fun.”
Three Island girls made their Girlguiding Promise during the event, and a group from Devon said that while they had access to sailing back home, travelling to an Island made the experience feel like a real adventure.
A guide leader, Linda, said: “This is a great weekend. It enables so many girls from across the region to get together and unlock their potential. It would be great to make it an annual experience.”
A few years ago, a team of Girlguiding volunteers from the region took on the 600-mile Rolex Fastnet Race, showing that taking to the water is nothing new for Girlguiding.