9th Vancouver Pathfinders

We are heading to beloved Camp Olave on the Sunshine Coast for a weekend of fun and adventure on the seashore!

We are staying at the Ah Ah Wah Kie site right on the water, and will be doing a tonne of outdoor adventures including hiking, practicing outdoor cooking, doing archery, and exploring the beach and tide pools at Camp Olave. We will also be cooking together, doing crafts, and playing games. We will be sleeping in bunk houses.

We will be taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, and then a public bus from Langdale to Camp Olave. Drop off at Horseshoe Bay foot passenger terminal is 11 am on Saturday May 15. Pick up is at the same location on Monday May 17 at 2 pm.

Please review the attached forms for more information. Forms and payment of $80 are due to a Unit Guider by April 30, 2025. Talk to Christa if you have questions about using your cookie cash towards camp, or about a campership subsidy!

SG1-EN Camp Olave May 2025

SG2-EN Camp Olave May 2025

As a reminder, there will be no meeting on March 19 and March 26 for Spring Break. We look forward to seeing everyone at our regular meeting time and place on April 2.

The Guiders picked up our spring Girl Guide cookies this weekend. Our unit has 45 cases to sell. 

On Wednesday, we will be sending each Pathfinder home with two cases of cookies. If your Pathfinder is interested in selling more, just let us know. These are the classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies. 

Cookies are $6/box and Pathfinders get a portion of the sales in their “cookie cash” account that can be used towards unit activities – like fees for camp or other outings. 

And speaking of camp, we have a reservation at Camp Olave for the May long weekend. The plan is to leave Saturday, May 17, arriving home on Monday, May 19. We will get forms to you soon. 

Cheers,

Amanda, Christa, and Tasha

The church is having an event on  Wednesday, March 5, so our Pathfinder group is headed to the Central Branch or the Vancouver Public Library. Woo hoo! 

We will take the skytrain downtown to explore this beloved Vancouver landmark and learn about all the things you can do with a library card. And for those without a library card, you will have a chance to get one of those too. 

Details:

• Meet at 6:45 pm on Wednesday, March 5 at Commercial-Broadway Skytrain Station – 10th Street entrance close to the Safeway parking lot.
• Wear your uniform as we will be out in public
• Pick up will be at 8:45pm at Commercial-Broadway Skytrain Station

Bring your: 

• Compass card 
• Library card if you have one

If you do not have a library card, this is your chance to pick one up so you can access the myriad of resources for free. To do so, just bring: 

• (If 14 years old and older) Your student I.D. card issued by B.C. high schools
• (If you are younger than 14) bring in this Application Form that your parent or legal guardian has completed and signed.

At this week’s meeting, we will be decorating tote bags – an activity led by one of our third-year pathfinders!

As a reminder, we are currently conducting a bottle drive. Pathfinders are encouraged to bring clean, dry refundable cans and bottles in clear plastic bags to this meeting. Bags were distributed to the Pathfinders at a previous meeting. 

The 9th Vancouver Pathfinders are seeking 2-3 new Leaders who want to work with youth in the East Vancouver area. Pathfinders is a fun and informal group for youth on topics like leadership, outdoor adventures, citizenship, and community service. 

Commitment

• Weekly meetings: Wednesdays 6:45-8:30pm (St. Thomas Anglican Church in Vancouver)
• Weekly prep work to prepare for meetings (time commitment varies)
• Three planning meetings ~ 2 hours each
• Occasional weekend camps and outings
• We’re looking for people who can commit to at least one year (Sept 2025-June 2026), but you’re welcome to start sooner!

Qualifications

• Identify as a woman
• 19 years or older
• Can pass a police record check

No experience with Girl Guides is necessary. Training and coaching is provided.

Apologies but we will need to cancel this week’s Pathfinder meeting. We will resume our regular meetings next week. 

The good news is that we have confirmed a date for our spring camp. We will be heading to Camp Olave on Saturday, May 17 to Monday, May 19 and staying at Ah Ah Wah Kie. Please note that this is the long weekend, there was not a lot of availability for sites in the spring and our choice was limited. Camping on the long weekend does let us leave on Saturday morning and get into camp during the daylight hours instead of trying to rush to the ferry after work/school on Friday. 

We are very excited about this. Stay tuned for more information and forms about camp in the weeks to come.

Until next week,

Amanda, Christa, Tasha 

Pathfinders starts this week on Wednesday, January 8th at our regular time and regular location. 

This week we will be discussing equity and inclusion. We will reflect on the year we had and make some plans for the year to come.

Third year Pathfinders will sign up for a date for the meeting they are going to lead. Instructions for Pathfinder-Led Meetings have been shared by email.

This week we will celebrate our final meeting of the year with a winter walk to enjoy some holiday lights – followed by hot chocolate!

We will meet on the east end of Trinity Street at Wall Street (across from 2964 Trinity Street – near Maple Leaf Storage) at 6:30 p.m.,  and we will do pickup at the McDonalds on 1965 Powell Street at 8:00p.m.

We will be outside for the majority of the outing, so please dress appropriately for the weather.  

At this week’s meeting we will be having our enrollment! This is a ceremony that will officially welcome our new members to our unit. We will have a short ceremony, a pizza dinner, and will play some games.

Pathfinders are asked to come in their uniforms and bring any service pins (aka the pin that has the number of years they have been in Guiding on it).