Holiday archive
Click on the links below to see what we got up to on previous holidays:
Residential activities are fun – Brownies and Leaders consistently rate them among the best things about guiding. They offer opportunities not only for learning and having fun, but also for developing skills like teamwork, leadership and independent living. Leaders are able to get to know the girls in their unit better, in a pleasant environment and over a period of time.
Originally Brownie units went to outdoor camps like their older sisters, but many people felt that Brownies were too young to cope successfully with outdoor life. In 1922 it was suggested that Brownie units had holidays in furnished houses instead of camping. Brownie holidays caught on quickly; girls everywhere delighted in the fun and challenge of living together as a family, playing and working without time restrictions and getting to know each other better.
Today’s Brownies can experience many different types of residential event and venue, including camping – overnight or for a longer period of time.
Holiday Archive 2010-2014
This page is all about our Brownie Holidays from 2010 to 2014. For other years, please use the menus on the left.
27th-30th October 2014
We stayed at the Earth House, Northern Heights near Elstree/Borehamwood for an Owl themed Brownie holiday. The sixes were Sapphire Owls, Emerald Owls and Ruby Owls. The leaders were Sparkle Owl (Jenni), Golden Owl (Jan), Cookie Owl (Lynne), Silver Owl (Maria) and Little Owl (Amy). We did lots of crafts: owl stained glass style decorations; cross-stitched owls; owls from of loom bands, hama beads and toilet rolls; owl magnets and owl bracelets. We enjoyed the out-of-doors: having fun with a wide game based on the Owl & the Pussycat, exploring the woods; going on a ditch walk and playing outdoor games. We had an owl themed cake decorating competition and played bingo. Our last night was an owl themed pyjama party with party food, party games, face painting, nail art, temporary tattoos and balloons. Jenni received her Girlguiding 20 years service award during the party.
4th-7th April 2014
Five Brownies (Neve, Isobel, Georgia, Nicola & Hannah) along with Jenni, Amy, Charis & Bronte and about 40 other Brownies, Guides and Leaders visited PGL Caythorpe Court in Lincolnshire on a district holiday. We stayed for 3 nights and took part in some really exciting activities: abseiling, adventure course, jacob's ladder, survivor, climbing, raft building, trapeze, sensory trail, tunnel trail and giant swing. The food was really good and some of the Brownies ate seconds and thirds from the salad bar!
21st-23rd June 2013
We went to Macqueen House in Twywell, near Kettering for our Brownie Holiday. Our theme was "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here...", and the sixes of Snakes, Spiders, Scorpions and Centipedes spent the weekend undertaking bush tucker trials, exploring the jungle (Twywell Hills and Dales), creating Austrailian themed art work, making creepy crawly crafts, making slime and enjoying a campfire. The leaders were Jungle Jenni, Mosquito Maria, Jaguar Jan, Rattlesnake Rebecca and Alligator Amy. The bush tucker trials were great fun and included having balloons popped over our heads, putting our feet in slime, eating snakes, putting our hands in all sorts of things and eating some digusting bush food.
5th-7th October 2012
We went to Mollivers in Bromham near Bedford for a "Sweet Shop" themed Brownie holiday. The sixes were Haribo, Milky Bars and Candy Canes. The leaders were: Jelly Tots (Jenni), Minstrels (Maria), Juicy Fruit (Jan), Kit Kat (Kath) and Aero (Amy). We decorated bon-bon dishes using decopatch, made our own sweets, made sweetie necklaces, played the chocolate game, had an indoor camp fire and visited the local park which we thought was fantastic. We also enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at completely the wrong time of year and took part in sweet quizzes and games.
13th-15th April 2012
Eleven Brownies visited PGL Caythorpe Court in Lincolnshire, accompanied by Jenni and Sarah (Rainbow Guider). Our activites were Climbing, Quad Biking, Zip Wire, Low Ropes, Aeroball, Vertical Challenge, Orienteering and High Ropes. Our accommodation was very nice, as was the food. Our group leader, Rachael, was very friendly and taught us some new games and songs. We had a great time.
3rd - 5th June 2011
We went to Macqueen House in Twywell, near Kettering for our Brownie Holiday. Our theme was "It's a Mystery?" and the sixes of Spies, Investigators and Codebreakers spent the weekend trying to discover who stole the treasures belonging to Captain Horatio Smith. The leaders were James Bond (Jenni), Sherlock Holmes (Maria), Miss Marple (Jan), Mrs White (Rebecca) and Mrs Peacock (Amy). Activities included fingerprinting, invisible ink messages, spy ID cards, memory games, geocaching, a treasure hunt and finding lots of clues. When the mystery was solved and the treasures were rediscovered, the gems were used to decorate picture frames.
8th - 11th April 2011
Eight Brownies and Jenni joined the District Holiday to PGL Caythorpe Court in Lincolnshire. There were almost 80 Brownies, Guides and Leaders in our group. We took part in lots of different activities over 4 days. Our activities were: Archery, Fencing, Jacob's Ladder, Sensory Trail, Quad Biking, Vertical Challenge, Canoeing, Zip Wire and High Ropes. In the evenings we had games on the first night, Saturday night was a campfire and there was a disco on the last night. Some of the leaders got to play on the high ropes whilst the Brownies and Guides were at the disco.
4th - 6th June 2010
Sixteen Brownies went to Houghton Chapel Centre. Our theme was Alice in Wonderland. The sixes were Cheshire Cats, Caterpillars and Dormice. The Leaders were Alice (Jenni), White Rabbit (Jan), Mad Hatter (Laura), and Queen of Hearts (Amy). We made mad hats and had a Mad Hatter's Tea Party, we decorated "Drink Me" bottles, we played card games and croquet, and we baked jam tarts and cookies. We went on a village photo trail, visited the park and the local shop, and fed the ducks at Houghton Mill. The weather was very hot and sunny.
