Connect with the community through the 99th Ottawa Guides in Manor Park

The 99th Ottawa Guides in Manor Park has openings for girls 9 and older. I have been involved with the Manor Park Guiding Units for over 35 years.

During my 35 years we have opened the 85th Sparks, who provide girls advancing to the 99th Ottawa Brownies, who would normally provide girls advancing to the 99th Ottawa Guides, who provide girls advancing to the 99th Ottawa Pathfinders.

Most girls advance with their guiding friends to the next level of guiding. My daughters remain friends with many of the guiding friends they had made over the years.

Some of the 99th’s past outings include the Ottawa Humane Society, Pinhey Forest, the Ottawa Little Theatre and the Apple store by bus to learn programming.

The 99th Ottawa Guides have openings available for girls who turn 9 years old by December 31 2023. Girl Guides do provide financial support for those who need assistance with the registration fee (see www.girlguides.ca). Applications for financial support must be made before you register your daughter in a Unit. Girl Guides will handle all the personal information confidentially and approve the reduced amount for the registration, and then you arrange the registration with them.

The 99th Ottawa Guides in Manor Park have an excellent reputation of having fun, crafts, outings, camping and numerous presentations both in our unit meeting place and on outings.

We discuss program with our girls to hear what they want to do and learn during the course of the term. Mid-term, we have additional discussions to adjust our plans and make any changes to ensure our program remains focused on our girls and how we can adapt to a more challenging program, if necessary.

We have been very fortunate to meet at St. Columba Church, 24 Sandridge Rd., in a large hall which accommodates all our activities, including sleepovers. They have a working kitchen that we use for girls to do cooking and baking. We have baked muffins for a meeting and made a full supper for a sleepover.

We have helped serve at community suppers as part of our community service program. The girls seem to love serving their neighbours and friends during these events and working on badge requirements. The neighbours enjoy seeing the young girls being involved in such community events.

Should your daughter want to join us for one meeting to see if she would like to join our unit, please contact me to make arrangements. We do require a health form to be completed in case of an emergency.

This article was submitted by Gail Somers, a contact guider for the 99th Ottawa Guides. She can be contacted at gailsomers@rogers.com.