Girl Guides membership - our daughter cannot join?

skivenov

I'm a Scout Leader. In Scouting, and Guiding, we work to encourage the physical, spiritual and emotional development of young people. So long as someone has a spiritual belief, be it Christian, Muslim, Rasta, Wiccan, or even an agnostic that believes that we were created by a higher force (I've had all of these), we are able to accomodate them.

As a leader, I'm not particularly religious, our members are invited to attend two services a year at the church (St George's Day and Rememberance Sunday), but so long as they attend the wreath laying at the memorial, I'm happy. Some groups that are run within a Church do insist on more, but most groups aren't.

We don't have many requirements for what most parents see as a cheap babysitting service, but making the Promise is one of them, and in that, we do insist on a pledge to the member's State and faith being made.

Would you be having the same desire to go to the press and wreck havoc if she'd wanted to go to Sunday school and been turned away?

Remember Scout and Guide leaders are volunteers, giving up their time for absolutely no financial reward. No child or parent automatically has a right to expect membership to be granted.

Person_one

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

If the girls want to do something more adventurous, then they need to speak up and tell their leader what they'd like to do, rather than run away.

No need to get so defensive that you start insulting 10 year old girls!

I'm not sure how finding a group you prefer counts as 'running away' anyway.

Welshwoofs

skivenov wrote: »

So long as someone has a spiritual belief, be it Christian, Muslim, Rasta, Wiccan, or even an agnostic that believes that we were created by a higher force (I've had all of these), we are able to accomodate them.

Why does it matter whether or not someone believes that we were created by a 'higher force'. What bearing does it possibly have on making cupcakes, helping old ladies cross roads and tying knots (or whatever it is that Guides do these days)

Welshwoofs

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

They learn a wide range of useful skills that they will be able to use in years to come.

Yeah? Well they certainly didn't teach me how to make a good G&T.

poet123

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Why does it matter whether or not someone believes that we were created by a 'higher force'. What bearing does it possibly have on making cupcakes, helping old ladies cross roads and tying knots (or whatever it is that Guides do these days)

It matters to the guiding association because it is part of their Promise. No one is obliged to join, but if you want to join the ethos has to be considered. If you feel unable to make the declaration, don't join. Simple.

Owain_Moneysaver

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Yeah? Well they certainly didn't teach me how to make a good G&T.

Would that be for when your husband comes home from work and you have his slippers and G&T waiting :rotfl:

They probably wouldn't teach this one anyway.

valk_scot

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about Guiding on here.

Knitting!!? Making tea!!? Pamper parties??

Yes we teach our brownies how to make a decent cup of tea, and to ask if people would like milk/sugar etc, but we also teach them how to put up tents, cook on barbeques, research their local history, etc etc.

They learn a wide range of useful skills that they will be able to use in years to come.

When I was in Guides we camped with proper tents, went skiing, abseiling, canoeing, did a 50 mile 3 day hike etc etc.

If the girls want to do something more adventurous, then they need to speak up and tell their leader what they'd like to do, rather than run away.

DD did tell her Brown Owl she wanted more fun things to do. And so did I. BO told me they did what the majority of the girls wanted with regards to activities and camping and that in her experience seven year old girls didn't really enjoy tent camping in groups. DD rolled her eyes at this a bit but the choice was clearly do what was on the program or leave. They had a huge waiting list at the time for both Brownies and Guides but the Guides weren't much better re sporty and outdoor activities, we clearly have a lot of very delicate girly girls locally! So the minute we did find a group that suited DD better she went there instead. It just happened to be Scouts but she didn't care about that as long as she got to do the sort of activities she found fun.

She can knit too btw, I taught her that. I'm quite famous for going along to Cub and Scout camps to help (I'm pretty good with tents) and spending my evenings knitting socks by the campfire and telling spooky stories.

Sweet_Pea_2

My daughter is a guide and she loves it. Have just asked her and her guide leader did not discuss religious belief etc with any of the guides in her unit when they joined, although I was aware that guides is a christian organisation and have no problem with that or church attendance etc.
All I wanted to say really is that guides has been a godsend (please excuse the pun) in a way as my daughter has been through a phase of being quite unhappy at school and with her group of friends etc, for example she was really upset for the first couple of weeks of term at returning to school - however she loves going to guides and seeing all her friends there (she doesn't go to a local guides so doesn't go to school with any of the girls there) it has really cheered her up when she was feeling pretty miserable.

Welshwoofs

poet123 wrote: »

It matters to the guiding association because it is part of their Promise. No one is obliged to join, but if you want to join the ethos has to be considered. If you feel unable to make the declaration, don't join. Simple.

Then why are there groups, as demonstrated by first hand reports on this very thread, that say the 'god' part of the promise can be skipped if a child wishes? Why do many groups (again, as demonstrated on this thread) not interrogate children about their religious beliefs before accepting them?

poet123

Welshwoofs wrote: »

Then why are there groups, as demonstrated by first hand reports on this very thread, that say the 'god' part of the promise can be skipped if a child wishes? Why do many groups (again, as demonstrated on this thread) not interrogate children about their religious beliefs before accepting them?

Perhaps because it suits that particular leader, that doesn't mean that generally the ethos has changed. It is what it is. If you find a group that is more relaxed about the criteria so be it, if you don't again, so be it.

I cannot abide people who know the membership criteria who then rail against it because it doesn't suit them personally. Again, this is an organisation which you choose to join, if its ethos doesn't appeal, don't join. Simple really.