Room 101 ice breaker

Room 101 template



Discovered this in the "Move On up!" Training on the GG UK website. Think it will be like the speed dating activity from the Good Guiding is .... training in that it could be adapted to a number of themes.

The idea is that each participant fills in a slip noting something of relevance to the training topic to be nominated to be put in Room 101. The trainer collects in the slips then picks out a number and asks the nominating leader to argue as to why the subject should be banished to Room 101. I think this could be a good way of exploring myths around the topic. The GG UK guidance is to control the time given to discussion as participants can easily get carried away. I am going to give it a try at the next County Day topic which is on Transitions between the Sections.

eLecta Virtual Classroom

Finally managed to deliver my first virtual classroom as pat of the SW Region trial of eLecta. I've created a set of FAQ's to explain the use of the virtual classroom. The first training was too near to the publicity going live so had no takers so didn't happen. The second was on the Brownie Programme with one leader and I think would have been better if there had been another leader to mix the discussion  up a bit. The lone leader was a bit late logging on so I called her to suss out what was happening to discover her internet had crashed so we were a bit late starting whilst she logged on again. You really do need the headphones as there was a slight echo and I could hear her dog barking in the background.

I gave up on the Brownie Programme powerpoint and focussed on the lone leader and her issues and as a result opened the microphone so that we could talk. So I hope the next session, which is on the theory for module 1 of the LQ has a few more participants to make it feel more like a real training, and to see what other lessons can be learned. The classroom itself is really easy to use but it does need some explanation to get going.

Mash up Brownie Adventure & Misson Spectacular

I do enjoy training in Bristol & South Glos as they are such a well organised County, with a wonderful service team on the day, and the Leaders are so enthusiastic and well informed. This year was no exception the topic was the Brownie Adventure with other resources added in to make easy programme planning for the 5E's. At the last minute I added in Mission Spectacular, the senior section celebration, as proof you can "mash-up" anything as long as it is Good Guiding is ..... and GG UK policy compliant.

Leaders enjoyed he communication cup game from Mission Spectacular and had the opportunity for 2 crafts and a visit to "Risk Assessment corner"  in order to earn points to pick from the Brownie Mission Spectacular jar pictured below. There were 10 bases for circuit training each illustrating a different way to use the Brownie Adventure, and a few bowls of sweets helped.

Surprises - one unit are not using the Brownie Adventure but use challenges and badges instead. There was a lot of debate about whether Leaders should do mandatory training. Risk Assessment corner was a big hit and one experienced leader who has done Safe Space training, was vocal in telling other Leaders that Safe Space training should be mandatory as so much had changed. The idea of the jar was adapted from The USA Girl Scouts who suggest brownies make a family ideas jar - the leaders seemed to like it and were keen to get the 8 points needed to dip into it. One leader is desperate to get a copy of Anglia's Pick & Mix. I gave away my Brownie Section notes only to discover the revised edition is still not available.

Brownie Adventure Spectacular Jar