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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Welcome to Go For It! Take your
toothbrush
What’s this Go For It! about?
Planning on going away with Guides or want to find out what it’s all about? This is the
Go For It! for you! Whether you’re having a one-night sleepover, or going on a holiday
or camp, there are loads of activities here to help you get ready to have the best time
ever, and tons of fun things to do while you’re there too.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been away with Guides before or if you’re an old hand
– there’s something for you. You can do anything from practising your camping skills,
to organising a glittering awards ceremony, to making delicious holiday snacks – and
plenty in between. And after you’ve done this Go For It!, your Patrol will be the one
that’s thought of everything when you are next away. Sound good? Then get going …
and don’t forget your toothbrush!
How does it work?
Do one activity from the ‘Get started’ section (pages 2–5), then choose three more
sessions’ worth of activities from the rest of the pack. Depending on the time, you
might be able to fit more than one activity into a session. You should spend at least
four Patrol sessions (including planning time) on the Go For It! to gain the badge. If
you’re doing an activity from the Go For It! during your time away, this can still count
as a Patrol session – talk to your Leader and let her know you want to count it as part
of your Go For It!.
If you enjoy Go For It! Take your toothbrush, check out the ideas in the ‘Take it further’
section at the end of the pack.
Team work
You’ll need to work together all the way on this Go For It! – there are lots of decisions
and plans to be made. How will you make sure everyone’s voice is heard? Think about
everyone’s strengths and how best to use them.
Go For It! Take your toothbrush badge
When your Patrol has completed Go For It! Take your toothbrush you will each gain
this great badge!
1
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Get started
For every problem there’s a solution. Choose one of these activities and see if you
can get round some tricky situations to prepare for going away.
Absolute agony
Help out Agony Aunt Alice and give your advice – then you’ll be ready to
help out any worried Guides in your unit.
You will need
 Pens
 Paper
ll t
It wi ake:
20-25 minutes
What to do
Read through these letters and come up with your own replies.
Dear Alice,
Dear Alice,
I’m a bit worried about
going to our Patrol
sleepover. I love sitting
up all night chatting,
but when I’m tired I
get massive headaches
that ruin the next day.
What can I do?
Last year at camp, some of
the Guides I was in a Patrol
with seemed to want to
spend all their time talking
about boys. This time there
are Scouts on the camp
too, and I think it’ll be even
worse! What can I do to get
them more involved in the
fun camp activities instead?
From,
Concerned Guide
From,
Sleepy Guide
Dear Alice,
I’m going on a Guide holiday soon
and I’m really looking forward to
it. Except for one thing. Last time
we went, one member of our Patrol
was so untidy I couldn’t cope. She
left dirty clothes and personal
stuff all over the place, as well as
dropping litter and food. It looked
horrible! Our Patrol got a bad name
because of it and everyone was
upset. This girl is still in our
Patrol. What should I do?
From,
Tidy Guide
Take it further
Why not hold a question and answer session in your Patrol for girls who haven’t been
away before about what it’s like to go away with Guides?
2
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Food for all
Some people have to be really careful about what they eat – not
because they’re fussy eaters, but perhaps because of health reasons or
their faith. Plan a delicious menu that everyone is able to enjoy at your
holiday or camp, no matter what their needs.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
 Pens
 Paper
 Food magazines/cookbooks (optional)
What to do
Using the table below as a template, plan out meals for a day while you’re away,
leaving out food from one of these food groups:
 dairy, such as milk, cheese or butter
 meat
 nuts, including nut products such as peanut oil
 wheat, such as pasta, bread or pastry.
Meal
Ingredients
needed
Preparation
time
How it’ll be cooked (eg
on a fire, gas, oven etc)
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Ask whether there is anyone in your Patrol or unit who has special dietary
requirements – why not plan your day’s meals to accommodate her needs?
Top tip
You could use food magazines or cookbooks for ideas, but
don’t forget you’re planning meals for your whole unit – don’t
make it too complicated!
3
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Take it further
 Ask your Leader if you can make one of these meals as a Patrol on your next camp
or holiday.
 Why not design a cookbook of your meal ideas to help your unit feed those with
dietary needs in the future?
What are we going to do?
Plan a fun day out in the area you’re visiting.
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
You will need
 Books/magazines about the area or internet access (at home if
necessary)
 Pens
 Paper
What to do
in
m
h
arc
eeting
plus rese
1. Research the area you’re visiting and what there is to do there. For example there
might be zoos, theme parks or museums to visit, or outdoor adventures on offer like
hiking or kayaking.
The internet is a great place to start. Type ‘visit’ and the name of the place you’re
going to (eg ‘visit Cornwall), into a UK search engine. You could also use the library to
find inspiration, or contact the local tourist board.
2. Share what you’ve found out and plan your ideal day. Think about the following
things.
 Have you done the activity before? Why not be adventurous and search for
something you haven’t done?
 How many people can go?
 Is there something for everyone to enjoy?
 What happens if it rains?
 How will you get there?
 How much will it cost?
Top tip
Do you know anyone who’s already been where you’re going?
If so, ask them for advice.
Take it further
Why not give all your plans to your Leader to show her what you’d love to do while
you’re away?
4
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Survival guides
Have fun in an unfamiliar place while being aware of risks and staying
safe.
You will need
 Coloured pens
 Paper
 Magazines (optional)
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
What to do
1. Think about the place your unit is visiting, whether it’s a big city or the remote
countryside. Consider the places you’re staying, the people you’ll meet, how you’ll
travel and so on, and list the problems you might come across, no matter how silly
they may seem.
2. Now come up with solutions – and use them to make a survival guide to visiting
that place! You could use pictures from magazines to liven up your guide.
Take it further
When you get back from your trip, can you add more information to your
survival guide?
What next?
Now you have had a chance to think about different aspects of going away. What
interests you the most? Check out the activities in the following sections:
 The great outdoors
 That’s entertainment
 Nutty for knots!
 Fabulous food
 Get creative
Choose which ones you want to do for the rest of your sessions on this Go For It!.
Over the three sessions you should make sure you do at least one activity from three
of the five sections. You can either plan the next three sessions in one go or allow
time at the end of each one to plan the following session. Your Leaders will be able to
help you with the planning.
5
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
The great outdoors
Thinking of going camping? Or having an outdoor adventure? Try these activities and
you’ll be a pro in no time!
Roly poly
Fancy waking up in a soggy, muddy bed? Didn’t think so. Once you’ve
learned to make a good bedding roll, every night at camp will be cosy
and warm.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
 A sleeping bag
 Two blankets
 A camping mat
 A groundsheet
 A small cushion/pillow
 Thick cord (3–4m should be enough)
What to do
1. Layer up your bedding and pyjamas. Then make
them into a neat parcel by wrapping them up in your
blankets as shown.
2. Lay your parcel on a groundsheet. Fold in the sides
and roll the groundsheet edges in as shown, so you
get a tight seal.
3. Secure with cord using a Packer’s Knot (not sure
how to do one? Find out!). Whose bedding roll is the
tightest?
1
2
3
6
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Top tip
While you’re practising, throw your bedding rolls around
the room (making sure there’s nothing in the way). Do they
fall to bits? What if this happened to your warm, snuggly
bedding while on camp?
Take it further
Do you dare to chuck your bedding roll in a bath or put it under a shower? It should
stay completely dry…
Get cosy under canvas
Find out more about different tents and why they are so much fun to
sleep in!
You will need
 Tents
 Space to put up tents
 Camping magazines (optional)
ll t
It wi ake:
1-2 meetings
What to do
1. Do your research. Know your tunnels and domes from your geodesics and ridges.
Look at a camping catalogue or go on a trip to your local camping shop and find out
the prices of a variety of tents. Discuss which seem good value.
2. Try it out. Ask your Leader to help you borrow some different kinds of tents from
other Guide or Scout units and learn how to put them up. Which do you prefer?
Lightweight tents are often quicker and easier to put up than old-style patrol tents, but
they don’t have as much room to get loads of girls in together for a gossip!
3. Look after it. Choose one type of tent (if your unit owns any, use one of those). Find
out how to care for it and how to fix it if it breaks or tears.
4. Crawl in a tent once you’ve put it up and imagine spending a night there with all
your friends, talking by torchlight.
Top tip
Ask your local Senior Section unit to come and show you how
to put up the tents, and chat to them about which they prefer.
7
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Peg bash challenge
Show off your tent peg skills. If it’s raining when you get to camp, you’ll
be the first to get your tent up and take cover!
You will need
 Tent pegs
 Two mallets
 Open ground
ll t
It wi ake:
25-30 minutes
What to do
1. Practise bashing in tent pegs. Your pegs should go in at a 45-degree angle to the
ground. For wooden pegs use a wooden mallet, and for metal pegs use a rubber
mallet.
2. Now take on the challenge! Split into two teams or play with another Patrol. Divide
the tent pegs equally and make sure each team has a mallet. The teams have five
minutes to bash in as many tent pegs as possible in a neat row – do it as a relay race.
3. When the time is up, ask a Leader or a Guide from another Patrol to judge. They
should count the number of pegs in the ground and award a point for each, then take
away points for pegs not in a straight line or at the wrong angle. The team with the
most points wins!
The right gear
Get to know the right stuff you need when you’re out and about.
You will need
A
selection of outdoor clothing (such as waterproof coats, bags,
boots etc)
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
What to do
1. As a Patrol, arrange to bring in a selection of outdoor gear. Your
Leader could help too.
2. Set up a ‘shop’ full of equipment. Two of your Patrol should take on the role of shop
staff. The rest of you will be playing awkward customers looking for advice on buying
equipment for your outdoor holiday.
3. The shop staff must be as knowledgeable as possible when it comes to advising
customers on what they need – make sure you pay attention to the areas the
customers are visiting and think about the conditions they’ll be in. Customers could
be going jungle trekking, canoeing, potholing…
4. Swap roles to give everyone a chance to be an awkward customer.
Top tip
Visit an outdoor shop to get some tips beforehand, and bring
back catalogues to help you out.
8
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
That’s entertainment!
Sleepovers, holidays and camps are a great chance to get creative – try these
show-stopping ideas!
The award goes to…
Hold your own awards ceremony. Try this before you go away to get to
know each other better – or at the end of your time away, once you’ve
collected some hilarious stories.
ll t
It wi ake:
1 hour
You will need
 Materials to make your awards
 Awards ceremony outfits (optional)
What to do
1. Design an award for each person in your Patrol. You could make certificates,
badges, or even model mini statuettes from clay.
2. Decide who wins which – here are some ideas to get you started:
 most enthusiastic in the mornings
 biggest smile
 most organised
 funniest jokes
 stayed awake longest.
3. Hold a glittering awards ceremony in front of the whole unit – wearing glamorous
outfits if you like!
Share your fabulous talents by planning a talent show for the last
night of your time away. This could be for just your Patrol, or you could
organise it for the whole unit.
What to do
1. Find out what everyone’s good at – it could be anything from
an
dp
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rm
o
f
ractis
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an
 Any equipment required for your performance
to pl
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
1 hour
time
It’s show time!
magic tricks, to dancing, to making balloon animals.
2. Work out how much time you’ll have for your show and divide up the time between
your performers.
3. Prepare your outfits and equipment (you might need to plan in advance of your trip
if you want specific things).
4. Enjoy your big moment!
Top tip
Anyone feeling shy? Make sure everyone’s included by doing
one big act all together.
9
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Theme it
It’s fun to have an idea that brings everything together while you’re away,
so come up with a brilliant theme for your trip.
You will need
 Pens
 Paper
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
What to do
1. Sit down together in your Patrol and think of a theme that everyone in your unit will
enjoy. Try to be inventive and use your imagination. Here are a few ideas, just in case
you get stuck:
 festivals – this could be religious festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr or Hanukah, or cultural
ones like Burns Night or Chinese New Year
 a country
 the area you’re going to
 a book or TV programme
 a song
 a colour
 a season
 a decade in history
 sport.
2. Once you have come up with a theme, think about how you will apply it while
you’re on your trip. Your theme could be used for:
 the names of your Patrols while you’re away
 activities you do
 the food you eat
 the clothes you wear.
3. Now pitch your theme idea to the rest of your unit. Perhaps other Patrols could do
the same, and you could take vote.
10
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Nutty for knots!
Using wooden poles and knotted string or rope to make things is called pioneering.
Bring this traditional Guide skill bang up to date by making fabulous and useful
accessories.
Top tip
It’s useful to know your knots before going away. These
activities involve square lashing, snake lashing, reef knots and
clove hitches. But don’t be put off!
Home comforts
A good place to start is by making some things that might come in
handy during your time away.
You will need
 Wooden pioneering poles
 String/rope
 An expert!
ll t
It wi ake:
1 hour
What to do
Ask your Leader or a local Guiding or Scouting expert to teach you how to make one
of these useful items or an invention of their own.
Rucksack holder
Lantern holder
Towel rack
Perhaps you could practise in miniature using lolly sticks and string.
When you get really good, you can make anything from chairs to swings to catapults.
11
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Candle raft
Try this fun idea.
You will need
 Lolly sticks
 String
 Tea lights
 Matches
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
What to do
1. Use a clove hitch to attach a long piece of string to one of the lolly sticks.
2. Use square lashing to make a flat square frame from four lolly sticks.
3. Tie off with a reef knot after each lashing.
4. Use snake lashing to attach more lolly sticks on top of the frame to make
a platform.
5. Test your rafts out. You could use a padding pool, bucket, pond or stream – be
careful that they don’t float too far out!
 Do they float?
 Do they carry a tea light?
 Whose stays afloat the longest?
 Whose goes the furthest?
Take care
Never, ever light candles – or any other naked flames – in a tent. Be extra careful
around hot wax too!
Take it further
Why not try this after dark and use a fleet of rafts to create a beautiful light show?
Take your toothbrush game
Get together for 20 minutes of fun, whether you’re impatiently waiting to
go on your trip, have time to chill with your Patrol while you’re away, or
want to relive the best bits afterwards! Use the board overleaf.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
20 minutes
 A die
 Counters
What to do
Take it in turns to roll the die and move your counter round the board. Whoever makes
it to the toothpaste at the centre of the board first wins!
12
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
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13
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Fabulous food
Going away with Guides is a great chance to try new food – and enjoy some old
favourites – while getting everyone together round a table to swap tales of what
you’ve been up to.
Chocs away
Sweet and tasty fun for a holiday treat.
You will need
 A variety of ingredients, depending on which ideas are chosen
(chocolate, hot chocolate, rose leaves, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg,
marshmallows etc)
 A fridge, kettle, saucepan, hob, wooden spoon (depending on which
ideas are chosen)
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
What to do
Try one or more of these ideas.
 Get everyone to bring along their favourite chocolate bar – try and make sure
everyone brings something different – and have a blind taste testing. Has anyone
changed their mind about which is their favourite?
 Try out lots of different kinds of hot chocolate. Use sachets so you can try more
varieties without the cost. Create your own hot chocolate recipe – you could use
milk, grated chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg or marshmallows.
 Make some chocolate leaves to impress the rest of the unit – you could decorate a
cake with them! Collect some rose leaves. Wash them first and then coat them –
on the veined side – with a thick layer of melted chocolate. Put them in the fridge
to set, then carefully peel away the leaves.
Campfire breakfast
If you’re on camp or are able to make a fire where you’re staying, this is
an unusual way to start the day.
You will need
All ingredients are per person:
ll t
It wi ake:
30 minutes
 2 sausages
 2 rashers of bacon
 1 egg
 1 orange
 1 tomato
 Fire that has died down to hot embers
 Fire bucket with water (just in case)
 Soaking wet, green sticks
 Thick roasting foil
 Orange squeezer
 Sharp knife
 Tongs
14
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
What to do
1. Light a small fire and leave it to reach the hot ember stage.
2. Wrap the sausages and tomato in a double thickness of foil. Place the foil package
in the embers using tongs.
3. Drape the bacon over the wet, green sticks, so that it hangs over the embers and
starts to cook.
4. Cut the top off the orange and squeeze (or cut) out the flesh. You can drink the
juice!
5. Break the egg into the scooped out orange. Put the top back on as a lid and
carefully place the orange in the embers with tongs.
6. The cooking times for all your ingredients will vary depending on how hot the fire is,
so keep a careful eye on your breakfast and make sure that everything is thoroughly
cooked before you eat it (get a Leader to check if you need help making sure).
Take care
 Be aware of any food allergies in your Patrol.
 Follow good food hygiene practice, eg washing hands, tying
back hair.
 Be careful when using sharp knives and when around the fire.
Edible energy
When you’re on a Guide holiday, you’re likely to be busy for most of the
day. You could be hiking the hills, paddling a canoe, rock climbing… For
all of this you need energy. Make these bars beforehand to keep you
going. Dried fruit, cereals and honey are all good sources of energy.
You will need
ll t
It wi ake:
1.5 hours
 100g butter
 75g demerara sugar
 75ml clear honey
 225g porridge oats
 75g ‘no soak’ dried apricots
 75g seedless raisins
 50g shelled, split almonds
 20cm square baking tin
 Greaseproof paper
 Large saucepan
 Oven with hob
 Metal spoon
 Oven gloves
 Sharp knife
15
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
What to do
1. Line your baking tin with greaseproof paper.
2. Preheat the oven to 160°C/Gas Mark 3.
3. Place the butter, sugar and honey in a large saucepan. Stir over a gentle heat until
the sugar has dissolved.
4. Stir the porridge oats, apricots, raisins and almonds into the melted butter, sugar
and honey. Mix it well so that everything sticks together.
5. Put the mixture into the lined baking tin. Press it down with the back of a metal
spoon.
6. Place the baking tin on a shelf in the centre of the oven.
7. After 40–45 minutes the mixture will be baked. Carefully remove from the oven
using oven gloves and use a sharp knife to mark out squares.
8. Leave in the tin to cool, then carefully remove and cut along the marks to separate
into squares.
Take care
This recipe contains nuts. If you know someone with a nut
allergy, be aware that they must not come into contact with nuts
or nut products at all. So it’s no use picking the nuts out – the
person could still be badly affected. Just don’t put them in!
16
© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Get creative
Being away overnight gives you time to make something that takes a bit longer than
just one meeting. And you all get something to take home that will remind you of the
fun you’ve had.
Personalised pillows
Create a gorgeous design and make your pillow unique!
You will need
 Paper
 Pens
 Plain pillowcase
 Fabric paints
 Brushes
 Newspaper
 An iron
ll t
It wi ake:
1 hour
What to do
1. Begin by sketching out your design on paper first, so you can get it just right before
you do the real thing. Think about a theme – how about nature, films or music? Or
could you link it to the theme of your sleepover or holiday? Look at magazines or even
pictures of existing bedding ranges for ideas. Make it fun and pretty. Perhaps you
could design a matching set!
2. When you’re ready to paint, spread newspaper on your working surface.
3. To stop the fabric paint seeping through to the other side of the pillowcase, put a
wad of newspaper inside. Then get painting.
4. Let your design dry. Most fabric paints need ironing to set them – read the
instructions on the paint carefully.
5. Once you’ve finished, compare your dazzling designs.
Top tip
Look out for cheap pillowcases in sales and cut-price
bedding shops.
Take it further
Make your pillowcase into a drawstring plate bag instead!
1. Fold over the open edge at the top of the pillowcase by about 2–3cm.
2. Thread through the string and sew up your fold, leaving one end at each edge
open for the string to stick out. Make sure there is about 5–10cm of string either side.
3. Pull the strings to close your bag!
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
You’ve been framed
Display your favourite holiday photos in a beautiful natural frame.
You will need
 12 thin twigs (you can also use canes, dowels or even straws)
 Low-temperature glue gun
 String
 Stiff card
 Photo of your Guide holiday
ll t
It wi ake:
40 minutes
What to do
1. Look around for long, thin twigs. If you haven’t got any trees in your immediate area,
use dowels or canes instead.
2. Remove any leaves from the twigs and break six of them so they are about 27cm
long. The remaining six should be slightly shorter and should fit the photo you are
framing.
3. Arrange the twigs into a frame shape. The picture on this page will help.
4. Secure the twigs
with a little bit of
glue while you wrap
the corners with
string. Can you find
out how to square
lash?
5. Glue the ends of
the string down to
keep the frame
together.
6. Glue the twig
frame on to the card.
7. Trim your photo to
fit in the middle and
stick it on.
8. To finish off, stick
a loop of string to
the back of the card.
The frame is now
ready to hang up.
Top tip
For a summery touch, add a fabric flower or two.
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Cultural creations
Dip into the culture of another country and be inspired to create
something fantastic. This is an especially good activity to do if you’ve
chosen to give your trip an international theme.
You will need
 Access to the internet or a library (optional)
 Craft materials as required
ll t
It wi ake:
This depends on the
creation you choose
to make
What to do
1. Make a list of the countries you’re interested in. A map might help!
2. Now list things that are associated with those countries. For example, Japan –
chopsticks, sushi, kimonos, origami, karaoke, rock gardens, miniature trees. If you do
some research, you might find out something new about the country.
3. Use this list to decide on something you could make for yourself. What about a
new item of clothing or an accessory, a work of art, an ornament or a mini garden?
4. Grab your craft materials and get making!
Quick ideas
If you’re stuck for creative ideas, have a go at learning a brand-new skill
on your holiday, camp or sleepover.
You will need
 Craft materials/ingredients as required
ll t
It wi ake:
This depends
on the activity
What to do
Pick one of the following arty activities, or think of something else you’d
like to try.
 Glass etching – decorate glass with permanent frosted patterns.
 Decoupage – update an object by coating it with pretty paper and varnish.
 Wirework jewellery – make eye-catching jewellery using wire.
 Manicures and pedicures – give each other a makeover with some arty designs.
 Body art – use face paints to try mehndi patterns or create your own designs.
 Art with food – making dinner or dessert? Think about the colours you use and
where you place food on the plate to make it look beautiful.
Can your Leader or Guide friends help you find an expert from your community who
could come and teach you how to do these?
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Further info
Where to go
 Find out more about areas of the UK you could go to at www.visitbritain.com.
 Fancy going to the seaside? Discover the best places to go here:
www.goodbeachguide.co.uk.
 Looking for a trip that’s full of adventure? Girlguiding Training and Activity Centres
(TACs) and PGL both offer action-packed holidays in locations across the UK and
overseas. Visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/activity_centres.aspx and www.pgl.co.uk/
guiding to find out more.
 Enjoy your stay come rain or shine – find out what the weather holds for you at
www.metoffice.gov.uk.
Places to stay
 Girlguiding Training and Activity Centres – for more information visit www.
girlguiding.org.uk/activity_centres.aspx.
 Your local Girlguiding campsite or building – check out your County’s website.
 Youth hostels – for a list of locations use http://hostelfinder.org.uk/.
Getting there
Why not take public transport? It’s good for the environment and can be lots of fun.
 Trains – start at the National Rail enquiries site: www.nationalrail.co.uk.
 Buses – search for the local bus company in the area you’re going (eg ‘Newcastle
bus’) for timetables and routes.
 Ferries – are you going somewhere with a river? Find out whether you can travel on
the water.
 Go by bike – get help and advice from Sustrans, including maps of the National
Cycle Network: www.sustrans.org.uk.
Resources and ideas
 Great for campfires – get musical while you’re away with Let’s Hear it for Music!. Ask
your Leader if she has a copy you can look at.
 Icebreakers or activities – check out the ideas on the Guides website:
www.girlguiding.org.uk/Guides/activities/index.html.
 Games – prepare for camp with this fab online game: www.girlguiding.org.uk/
Guides/games/campsite.htm.
Take it further
If you enjoyed this Go For It!, why not try…
 Go For It! Camp out
 Guide Camp Permit badge
 Camper badge
 Camper advanced badge
 Holiday badge
 Outdoor cook badge
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush
Notes for Leaders
A balanced programme
One of your responsibilities is to ensure that your Guides experience a balanced and
varied programme. Chat to the Patrol and find out what their plans are – encourage
them to choose a variety of different activities.
Remember you can ensure a balance by doing unit activities, games and so on in
addition to Go For Its!.
Safety
Ensure the Guides are safe. You should always adhere to the rules within The Guiding
Manual and, depending on the girls’ ages and abilities, you may need to give extra
support with:
 staying away from home in unfamiliar surroundings
 the use of specialist equipment such as tents
 the use of knives and fire
 personal and food hygiene
 allegies and what to do in the event of an allegic reaction.
©The Guide Association 2013
Project Coordinator: Jennifer Giangrande
Project Editor: Jessica Feehan
Series Designer: Yuan Zhuang
Girlguiding is an operating name of The Guide Association. Registered charity number
306016. Incorporated by Royal Charter.
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© The Guide Association 2013 www.girlguiding.org.uk
Go For It! Take your toothbrush