would like to tell you about a very special Sparks troop. The Spark Promise is "I promise to share and be a friend." Sparks participate in fun activities and learn about friendship. Sparks are either 5 or 6 years old and are the youngest group in Guiding. The 5th Ottawa Sparks meet every Monday at Southminster United Church, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. There are four leaders and 14 girls.
The Sparks have done a lot of activities this year, including a physical health day, where they did relay races and discussed healthy foods. They also had a Teddy bear picnic, where the girls brought their stuffed toys to Sparks and wore their pyjamas. The leaders supplied Teddy bear snacks and the Sparks had a blast.
Since Christmas, the Sparks have been skating at Brewer Park with the 5th Ottawa Brownies, have learned a dance and a song for their Sing Ontario Sing Challenge, and made Valentine Cards.
Now I hope that everyone is as impressed as I am with the 5th Ottawa Sparks. So if you have a 5- or 6-year-old girl, why not think about sending her to Sparks?
For older girls, there is the 30th Ottawa Pathfinders. The unit is special because there are only four girls and one leader. Although the troop is small, it helps the girls to explore their own individual interests.
The Pathfinders have been working very hard at a program that is mainly about the outdoors and camping. They headed off to Camp Woolsey (a camp for Pathfinders, Guides and the like) on the weekend of February 7, with the Rangers. They learned first aid and survival skills, and experienced it themselves.
As a service project, the Pathfinders will soon be making tote bags for Victoria's Quilts, an organization which provides handmade quilts to cancer patients and cancer treatment facilities.
The unit also attended an Ottawa 67's game on February 14, with other members of Guiding in the Ottawa area.
The 30th Ottawa Pathfinders group is small but fun. It is highly recommended for girls 12, 13 and 14 years of age. It is a fun activity of adventure, and a place of learning.