GIRL GUIDES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 11

GIRL GUIDES

ACTIVE IN CANADA. WIDE SCOPE OF sekvkt:. VANCOUVER, March 2. There are 35,000 Girl Guides in Canada, commanded by Mrs. H. D. , Warren, Dominion Commissioner, and one of the original founders' of tho movement. At the age of eight, tho girls who join the organisation receive training as varied as they wish. 'They may take a course in cooking, woodcraft, hairdressing, nursing or forest tire fighting. The junior appeal is made through the teen-age, or B on nic branch, and to the older girls the Rangers offer special work of citizenship and community service. Those who love the sea and its traditions may join the Sea Ranger branch, which is an influential unit of tho Vancouver organisations. Physically- disabled girls have a special unit in the Guides, known as the Extension branch, and girls in remote rural settlements are reached by tho Lone Guide branch. Cadet. Ranger Companies afford special training. Warrants, or diplomas, for qualifications as guides, were issued last, year to 541 candidates, i>aking a total of 2074 tn date. Thr-r? leaders are carefully chosen, after special courses at training camps . Girl Guides are encouraged to develop the physical, as well as the mental and spiritual side of their nature. Competent instructors train them in various sports activities. Each girl is given her choice of sport. Ac-

sport that counts, rather than the re suit of the game. Phe Guide calendar common to the I whole Empire is followed in Canada. ! Empire Day is observed by a church . parade, appropriate sermons and cel--1 icctions for charity. The wife of the I Governor-General, who is patron, at j tends the Dominion convocation pn j rado. Camps, arranged by Provincial commands, are a feature of the sum Hiner calendar. There are in addition, , Ifwo permanent camps: a seaside camp . near Vancouver, the other in the Laui J rent inn Mountains, in Quebec. There i l ’ an annua] excursion to England, to visit. Pavhill, the home of tho Chiefs, and Foxlcasc. the school for Guiding. On the Prairie and in Eastern Canada, when winter halts outdoor activitiy. community service is do velopcd. such as providing food and clothing to needy families, and gifts to children in hospitals. These activities extend to Gio Canadian \ retie and Labrador. The movement in Canada is about 20 years old. <if a total world mcmhei ship of 900,000. Britain is first, with a membership of 460,00<\ United States is second. i"nn:it!;i third.