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C2 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 2, 2002 `Lot more to Girl Guides than camping and cookies' (Continued from page C1) Cookie sales raise funds for the camps such as Camp Wyoka north of Harriston, Ont. This 100-acre camp was pur chased by the White Oaks District 40 years ago and has been in operation for 38 years. "It has a huge lodge with bunk beds and it's winterized," said Howie. The camp also has kayaking, canoeing, archery, a full play ground, craft area, tuck shop and a puppet theatre - among other amenities. She's been going to Camp Wyoka for 28 years, and wears her camp T-shirt with consider able pride. One camp experience, in par ticular, stands out. "We had to do night maneuvres, and we leaders had to take six to eight girls hiking in the middle of the night - without flashlights. We had to develop our `night eyes,' and feel our way through the woods with our other senses. I remember some of the girls were afraid while others were cocky and sure of them selves. It was a `cool' challenge for them. "One girl who came from the Northwest Territories said `I never stood under a tree before.' She lived north of the tree line," said Howie. "Another girl was convinced there are no stars in Philadelphia. We told her the night lights and the pollution obscure the stars from view." m m m But perhaps the most startling Was a leader down on her hands and knees feeling the grass. "Don't tell me there's no grass in Saskatchewan?", Howie recalls asking her, only to leam there's no dew there. "She had never experienced dew." The outdoor experience is replacing the `myth' of the Girl Guide movement, said Howie, adding the organization has seen some "drastic changes" since the mid-1980s. "We've lost a lot of member ship and we were at a loss to understand why," explained Howie. "We did a survey across Canada, from Newfoundland to Vancouver, both rural and urban, focusing on three groups - par ents of daughters who are cur rently in Girl Guides, parents of girls who used to be in Guides and parents of girls who never joined the organization. "The cuiTent members wanted to retain the status quo, believing Girl Guides always supported good roll models, the former members were disappointed, and the non-members and their par ents thought we met in dark church basements and taught the girls `wife skills.' They didn't equate us with `life skills.'" The survey, completed in the mid-1990s, concluded Girl Guides had an "image problem," said Howie "People knew about us but we were not known well. "There's a whole lot more to Guides than camping and cook ies." So, it was out with the old monochrome uniforms and in with brightly coloured outfits and co-ordinates. Gone are the brown Brownie uniforms and the metal lic blue Guide dresses. They have been replaced by long and short-sleeved T-shirts, shorts, tracksuits, vests, and pants - including blue jeans. Sparks wear pink, Brownie dress in peach and navy, and the Guides wear shades of powder and navy blue. They sew their badges on a sash. It alone can serve as the uniform, said Howie. "We want to portray an image of fun," said Howie of the new dress code. "And, w e've stopped the increasing drop in numbers. We were seeing a seven per cent drop in membership annually, and last year it was down to a four per cent drop." Other than paid staff at the office, everyone involved with Girl Guides is a volunteer, and is trained. "Everyone has to go through a police check. Our squeaky clean image is clean." Volunteers are trained in everything from accounting to group management and public speaking. "You name it, we have the training, and it's all free," said Howie. "Some of our leaders feel they can handle more girls and say `yes' to running two units," said Howie. For more information, visit www.girlguides.ca or www.whiteoaksgirlguides.ca or call the White Oaks Area office at 905-279-2790. The organization is looking for new leaders. 1OO' s of M o d e l s I n S t o c k f o r I m m e d i a t e D e l iv e r y ! £ LA-Z-BOY 1 FURNITURE 1 BURLINGTON POWER CENTRE Q .E.W .& BRANT STREET t N ( 905 ) 331-7600 [TORONTO-* ^ |B r a n t St. Guelph Line k i Mon.-fri. 9 am-9 pm, Sat. 9 am-6 pm, Sun. 10 am-5 pm Glen Thiessen · Special to the B eaver CYCLE FOR AUTISM: Mike `Pinball' Clemons of the Toronto Argos encourages children par R B n S h op E x h ib ito rs m A tte n d S e m in a rs Sponsored by: ticipating in the Cycle for Autism. Shown with the football star are Kelsey, Marco and Curtis. The event, held at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, raised $50,000, for the neurological disability. B a b y T im e S ta g e E v e n ts Free arthritis talk tonight to Members of the public are invited to attend a free seminar titled Treatment and Early Management o f Arthritis. &£& VMF B A & iC S JT g S T h e Show for New & Expectant Parents ...from p r e n a ta l to p r e s c h o o l v O c to b e r 4 - 6 0 & International Centre 6900 Airport Road '« I n te ra c tiv e S essio n s ¥ FREE C h ild Care! W T oddler C ra ft C en tre m F a m ily S a fety C en tre 1? N u rsin g & B a b y C hange R oom s Sponsored by: The Big Comfy Couch daily show s at 12 N oon & 3 p.m. % * Show Hours: Friday & Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission: Adults $10.00 / Youths & Seniors $8.00 Children 6-11 $6.00 / Age 5 & under FREE Binmt & HUGG1ES M ore I n fo r m a tio n & S c h e d u le s The Toy Castle daily show s at j i 10:30 a.m., 1:30 & 4:30 p.m. if * FREE PARKING! Further info: 1-800-291-2085 www.babytim e.ca Meet "Blue" from Blue's Clue's! ^ iS- - This lecture, part of the Living Healthy series, has been organized by Halton Healthcare Services (OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital site), in partnership with The Arthritis Society. It is sponsored by The Community Foundation of Oakville with apprecia tion to Halton Pharmacy and Starbucks Coffee - Oakville. Dr. Elaine Soucy, a rheumatologist practicing in Oakville, will discuss the importance of early diagnosis and treat ment of arthritis and will present a vari ety of management and treatment approaches. Irene Rand, a physiothera pist with The Arthritis Society, will present important information about the physiotherapy and occupational therapy aspects of managing arthritis. This free education session will be held on tonight, Oct. 2 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the 707 Galaxy Banquet Hall. Displays and light refreshments will be available from 6:30 p.m. Call 905-338-4379 or elittle@haltonhealthcare.on.ca for more informa tion or to reserve a seat. Yellow Pages More pages More restaurants More possibilities *