Guides have fun at Urban Sands camp

Hundreds of Girlguiding IW members attended an all-Island camp at Urban Sands Ryde, led by joint Island Commissioners Lesley Gifford and Shirley Saunders.

Visitors to the event included Isle of Wight Council Chairman George Cameron, Ryde Town Councillor and Mayor, Michael Lilley, Councillor John Hobart and President of Girlguiding Isle of Wight, Mrs Gioia Minghella-Giddens. All enjoyed seeing the various areas of activities and speaking with the leaders and girls.

Gioia Minghella-Giddens said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Girlguiding members to get out into the countryside whilst learning new skills and having a lot of fun.”

There were plenty of exciting activities for everyone to join in, including camp-fire lighting and toasting marshmallows, making boats of tree bark, recognising tree species, den building, painting with mud and camping skills. Leaders were on hand to help with activities and some of the Rangers ran the activities for the younger members.

With a theme of Four Elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water all activities were based on the environment and science sections of Girlguiding’s New Programme.

Lesley Clifford said: “How great it is to enable girls from across the Island to join together for this All Island Camp giving them a chance to meet with girls from areas of the Island other than their own.”

Shirley Saunders added, ”All the volunteer leaders have given up their time over this weekend to enable the girls to experience a large camp on the Island. Everyone has had a wonderful time and it is fun to have outdoor activities.”

Two Brownies from the Wroxall Unit were quick to say how they were enjoying the experience with Kaitlyn Starling, aged eight, saying. “I liked the dot printing the best and I am really looking forward to the sleepover.”

Elizabeth Wray. also eight, added. “I am really looking forward to the sleepover and I have enjoyed the activities.”

Annabel Barber, who is 10 and a member of Newport Guides said: “Making the slime and swimming were really fun and it was my first time sleeping in a tent. I shared with four others from Newport and before the night in camp we sang my favourite songs around the camp-fire.”