Guiding is a worldwide organization. There are presently 145 member countries within the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and more than 10 million members. The Canadian Guiding program, from Sparks up through all levels of Guiding, encourages us to learn about our sister members in other countries, to explore other cultures, and to examine issues affecting girls and women throughout the world.

Explore the world of Guiding!

International Ideas and Activities for Units

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October 16th is World Food Day. Check out The Right to Food resources on the WAGGGS website!

There are many ideas in the Food Security and Climate Change Challenge that you could use in your unit.

Work on the WAGGGS Global Action Theme challenge in your unit.

Celebrate 100 Years of Guiding with ideas from the Centenary Badges (2010-2012). The 2011 theme is GROW!

The WAGGGS Biodiversity Challenge Badge also has lots of environmentally related ideas. You could incorporate issues such as rainforest deforestation, endangered species and the importance of clean drinking water to bring an international aspect to your meetings.

Our 2011 WAGGGS theme is "empowering girls will change our world". Consider working on our National Service Project for 2011 - EmPOWERing Girls.

Add your voice to the WAGGGS Stop the Violence campaign.

Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada now has two twinning countries - Grenada and Curacao (of the Netherlands Antilles). Details on the projects are still being developed but stay tuned for ideas for your units!


Thinking Day

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The theme for World Thinking Day 2012 is "we can save the planet". Start planning your unit, district, community or area Thinking Day events now!

The five focus countries for World Thinking Day 2012 (one from each of the WAGGGS Regions) will be: Guyana, Japan, Ivory Coast, Russia and Tunisia.

Check out the activities and resources on the Girl Guides of Canada web site and on the WAGGGS Thinking Day web site.

Related activities can also be found in the WAGGGS Global Action Theme badge curriculum.

Thinking Day crests can be ordered from the WAGGGS online store .


Canadian World Friendship Fund (CWFF)

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Monies contributed to the CWFF help support our four World Centres, mutual aid projects, including donations to WAGGGS member countries that have experienced natural disasters, twinning projects, Thinking Day, GGC members who volunteer at World Centres and expenses for adult members who support girls on national service trips.

Each member is challenged to contribute $5 to the CWFF each year. You may remember collecting friendship pennies many years ago. We all know a penny doesn't go far very far these days and that is equally true of our donations to the CWFF. All donations to the CWFF, big and small, are gratefully accepted, but we encourage all Guiders and Units to introduce the concept of donating a "Fiver for Friendship".


Nationally Sponsored Events

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Girl Guides of Canada is offering 4 new and exciting Nationally Sponsored International Trips in 2012:

• Environmental Service and learning trip to Costa Rica
• Ayrwaves 2012 event in Scotland (for Pathfinders)
• "Change the World" International Camporee in Connecticut, USA (for Guides)
• "Northwest Centennial Roundup" Camporee in Oregon, USA (for Pathfinders & Rangers)

For more information click here .

Deadline for Nationally Sponsored trips is November 30th, 2011 to Area International Advisers.


Independent Travel

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Did you know that you can plan an independent trip to a World Centre or another country with your unit or for a group made up of girls from your district, division, area or province? If you are interested in more information on planning an independent trip you should contact your Area International Adviser for assistance in getting started. It takes approximately two full years to plan an independent trip. As you move forward in developing your plans you will need to continue to be in close contact with the International Adviser for approval of your plans.

Trips must be planned using Safe Guide and should contain a Guiding component. Fundraising takes place only if 75% of the participants are youth members at the start of planning, and only after receiving approval from your Commissioner. Fundraising is not permitted for adult-only trips.


Volunteer at the World Centres

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Did you know that volunteer opportunities are available at the four World Centres?

Click here for more information.