#SkillsforLife

Happy Founders Day or Thinking Day,

The name depends on if you are wearing red or blue, but the meaning of the day remains the same. On February 22 of each year Scouts and Guides from all across the world celebrate the founders of the Scouting and Guiding Movements. It’s a time of reflection, knowledge sharing, cake eating, and connecting with others across the globe.

If you have ever had a chit chat with me, or seen my social media pages, you would know that I am actively involved in Scouting, before that I grew up in the Guiding movement. Neither organizations are perfect, and they have a somewhat sketchy history in Canada (I'm not going to try and burry or ignore that).

Today, in the present the work they are doing is important and highly helpful. Offering a safe space for youth to develop their skills and take the lead. Both movements have highly influenced and guided me into the being I am today.

So here at the top 5 things I have gained from both movements.

5. Knowledge and a large variety of skills.

I also have the collection of badges and crests to showcase all of them,

From learning how to cook hot dogs in a milk carton to putting up a tent, finger knitting and using a circuit, lighting a fire in the rain, or on ice. To budgeting, shopping, and cooking meals for thirty people.

All great life (and apocalyptic) skills. Yes some of them are random, but the day shall come when someone will need food cooked and they lack any normal pots and pans, and I will shine.

4. Working in intergenerational teams.

Working with people of all ages, cultures, and education backgrounds in teams with a common goal. Not always the easiest and I still have more to learn. But I have had great opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally.

3. Program planning, curriculum development, and evaluation

Since high school, I have been delivering programming for my peers and younger girls. Moving into leading units and mentoring others to do so. To creating my own badge curriculum and empowering even the youngest youth to plan as well.

Some of my all-time favourite meetings I have designed include Chocolate challenge night, Guides Egg Babysitting project, Candy Science Night, and Beavers Dam engineering.

Some of the most Important meetings I have designed include Mental Health Awareness for all ages, Domestic Violence Prevention for teen girls, Canadian History (done right).

2. Travel + Confidence

I have travelled and done many amazing things through guiding and scouting.

From tent camping under the sun that never sets in the Yukon, to camping in the wettest and muskiest of Alberta.

To the sun and warmth of Ecuador, which pushed me out of my comfort zone with language barriers and culture changes. But allowed me to grow as a leader.

My confidence as a traveller and a solo traveller has grown deeply thanks to these adventures. Plus has kept me lusting for more and more adventure

1. Friendships and Mentors

Through Guiding and Scouting I could have not done any of the above without the lasting friendships and mentors I have met. Locally and across the globe. To have people in your corner, cheering you and offering guidance when needed.

The saying goes, that when you join as a Guide or a Scout, you never really leave. As you are now part of a movement in 171 countries, the brotherhood, or sisterhood. You will meet people in all corners of the globe who hold a connection to Scouting or Guiding. Together you will share stories, show badges (and maybe even trade them), help one another, and work towards buidling a better world.

Happy FoundersThinking Day to those near, and far.