Girlguiding launches Adventures At Home to support families during the coronavirus crisis
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Girlguiding has launched an online resource hub called Adventures At Home, packed with activities to entertain children and young people across the UK.
With schools closed and the UK on lockdown, Girlguiding is supporting children and families by bringing adventures into the home.
The charity has curated a collection of their favourite indoor activities, opening up its world-famous programme of badges and activities for everyone to enjoy.
The easy resources are available to everybody for fun and adventure during this challenging time.
People do not need to be a member of Girlguiding to give these a try, nor do they need any special kit.
Adventures At Home is supported by global adventurer and Girlguiding ambassador Anna Mcnuff, who ran 2,352 miles barefoot across the UK to inspire girls last year.
Anna McNuff said: “There’s no place like home…for an adventure!
"Lots of us are staying home at the moment, but that doesn't mean we can't try new things, challenge ourselves or get creative.
"Adventure is in the DNA of Girlguiding; a passion for exploring, having fun and learning new things makes girls in guiding everyday adventurers.
“In these uncertain times it’s easy to think that fun and exploration are left at the door, but being an adventurer is a state of mind.
"Having an adventure is trying something new, it’s embracing play and making the everyday extraordinary.”
Adventures At Home has two key parts:
Activity A Day - Every day, Girlguiding will share a fresh activity on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.
These are for anyone to do, but are particularly useful for parents and carers with children at home.
Activities will include scavenger hunts around the home and story-creating challenges.
Weekly Programme Activities - A selection of Girlguiding’s programme activities will be delivered via resources released online each week on the Adventures at Home hub.
This is primarily to make sure that Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers can still take part in guiding – but the activities are available to all.
Among the first batch of activities are Mascot Makers (where young children can create a friend from household items), Bowled Over (which explains how to make an upcycled bowl), and Jianzi (where older children can keep active using a homemade shuttlecock).
Brownie Jess said: “I love being in Brownies and I’m really missing going to meetings and seeing my lovely leaders and Brownie friends every Monday night.
"It’ll be lots of fun to do games and get my badges at home though, that makes me really happy.
"I enjoy being creative, so I’m looking forward to doing my painting badge and making things.”
Her mum, Clare, said: “My family’s life has been changed beyond belief over the past week - it’s pretty overwhelming, and would have been unimaginable just a month ago.
"It’s amazing that Girlguiding have launched Adventures at Home, as it’ll help keep Jess entertained and busy.
"I feel more positive knowing that she can continue her Brownie activities at this time.”
Many Girlguiding volunteers across the UK have already been delivering virtual guiding with girls, running their weekly meetings using technology like Zoom and Whatsapp.
Scottish Chief Commissioner Moira McKenna said: “At Girlguiding Scotland we’re all about trying new things and pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone which is why adventure doesn’t have to stop while we’re at home.
"The new Adventures At Home activity hub by Girlguiding makes some of our fantastic programme activities available for everyone to try, keeping girls and other young people connected during this challenging time.
"Already, many guiding units have shown their resilience and are delivering guiding in new ways through the power of technology.
"This new resource provides an added support not only our fantastic volunteers, but to parents too, and we’re working hard to find more ways to make sure Scottish members can get the most out of guiding during this time.”
The Adventures At Home hub on the Girlguiding website will provide support and advice for volunteers, as well as wellbeing and resilience resources for children and young people.
The charity will be launching more initiatives to entertain children and bring people together over the coming months.
As part of #AdventuresAtHome, Girlguiding is encouraging its Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers to continue to earn badges, many which are designed to be done in their spare time and at home.
Badges for girls include vlogging, mindfulness, animal lover, inventing, mixology, upcycling, and self care.
Each Thursday at 7.30pm Anna McNuff will be taking the UK on virtual adventures by hosting a live adventure storytelling session on her Facebook and Instagram channels.
People at home are invited to tune in as she flexes her storytelling skills around a virtual campfire and shares tales from her past adventures.
There are also plenty of ideas for adventures at home in Anna Mcnuff’s new book 100 Adventures to Have Before You Grow Up, due to be released on April 2.
For more information on Adventures At Home you can visit: www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/adventures-at-home/
