We’re getting together on Wednesday for an in-person meeting, starting and ending at the church. The weather forecast is for rain, so come dressed for the weather (rain gear, toque, waterproof shoes and a headlamp are a must).

We’ll be playing games, practicing some tips and tricks for COVID-safe cookie selling, and gearing up for enrolment!

Cookies are scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday morning, so should be available for distribution tonight. Pathfinders should plan to take 1 – 3 cases to sell, if you’re able to. We’ll be bringing 2 cases per person, and more for anyone who has asked for more in advance.

Don’t forget to bring your forms and payment for the Day Camp at Muskrat Meadows on November 11 this coming week, so we know how many people will be attending next week. Cheque are preferred. Please make cheques payable to “Girl Guides of Canada” and write “9th Vancouver Pathfinders” in the memo line.

Read on for a really cool opportunity to meet Dr. Bonny Henry during a provincial STEAM event on November 7!

On Saturday, November 7, girls aged 11-13 (first/second year Pathfinders) are invited to Girls & STEAM – a FREE virtual symposium exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.     This online event, hosted by Science World and supported by BC Girl Guides, will offer girls an action-packed morning of workshops, mentorship and keynote speakers who are making incredible contributions to the world of STEAM. Participants will meet Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer, during a live keynote address!     How to Register Pathfinders can register on their own at the Science World Eventbrite page and enter the special promo code (GirlGuideSTEAM2020) to access one of 500 reserved Girl Guide registration spots. (On the Eventbrite page, click “Register”, then “Enter promo code”.)

Just because we are meeting online, doesn’t mean we can’t have a fun Halloween gathering.

Join us in costume on Wednesday night for our Halloween meeting.

We will start the evening with a guessing game of “what is your costume?” Everyone will start with their cameras off and one by one we will go around the group with everyone giving three clues connected to their costume. Once everyone has given their clues, we will turn on the cameras and see how close we were! So please wear a costume and turn off your camera when you join the meeting.

We will also do a craft, watch a short Halloween film, and test our skills at an online escape room.

For the craft you will need:

• toilet paper tubes
• black markers OR black paint
• white paper
• scissors
• string
• sticks OR popsicle sticks
• orange paper OR orange markers OR orange crayons
• tape
• glue

Please have a paper and pen nearby. Snacks are also encouraged (I plan to make popcorn).

Looking forward to it!

Tonight’s meeting will be ONLINE via Zoom! We will be thinking about the year ahead and our Unit’s budget: how much money do we have and what will do we plan to spend it on?

We will also be working on program work from the Program Area Build Skills and the Theme Money Sense.

We look forward to seeing you virtually on Wednesday. Details for logging onto Zoom can be found in the Meeting Calendar.

Also, we’re heading to Muskrat Meadows at Deas Island Regional Park on November 11 for a Fall Day Camp! At this fun day outdoors, we’ll be building outdoor skills, doing a cool craft, learning all about fires, and more! The day camp costs $17 to attend, which includes a craft and custom toque, snacks, and all of the activities for the day. Due to restrictions due to COVID-19, girls are asked to bring their own lunches.

More information and forms are available here. Please return your scanned forms via email to Karla, or in person no later than November 4. Payment can be returned at our next in-person meeting.

We are meeting in person tomorrow night for a fall scavenger hunt and games in preparation for our fall enrolment! Pick up and drop off is from the church, on the St Margaret’s Street side of the building.

Remember to:

• complete the COVID-19 self-assessment prior to coming to the meeting, and please stay home if you’re unwell
• come dressed for the weather – that includes wearing sweater/sweatshirt, water-appropriate jacket, and warm/sturdy shoes plus your mask!
• bring a backpack with a water bottle, headlamp and toque!

See you all tomorrow night!

We’ve also posted the meeting information for the remainder of the fall term, so check out the fun activities planned now until the end of December!

We are meeting for our first in-person meeting tonight! Here’s what you need to bring with you:

• Mask
• Personal Sized Hand Sanitizer
• Pencil case / writing utensils
• Uniform
• Clothing that’s suitable for the weather (including toque, jacket, boots etc.)
• Headlamp
• Snack & Water Bottle
• Completed Girl Guides of Canada COVID-19 waiver (you can also complete this in ePACT, in which case you don’t have to bring a hard copy)

We’ll meet outside the side entrance to St Thomas Anglican Church (2444 E 41st, on St Margaret’s St). Pick up and drop off will be outside. Please review the COVID self assessment before you come to the meeting.

We were planning on meeting outside on September 23, but due to the very bad rain and wind in the forecast, we’ve decided to meet online tomorrow, instead! We’ll be brainstorming a whole bunch of amazing program and event ideas for the year!

Bring your creative energy and ideas for events that can be done in person an online, and – bonus – check out the Girls First platform in advance for some inspiration from GGC!

Here is the Zoom meeting information:

Karla Kloepper is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Pathfinders
Time: Sep 23, 2020 06:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84322480599?pwd=RERXekhLZ3NPVWhDUzMrZmFoK3R4UT09

Meeting ID: 843 2248 0599
Passcode: (it’s the same as last time – ask Karla if you need an update!)

Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 843 2248 0599
Passcode: 9445517
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyS4s1wsH

Please create a Girls First Account, log in, and try using the platform. If you already have a Girls First account skip to step 2.

Instructions for Starting a Girls First Account

1. Create a Girls First Account by going to www.experience.girlguides.ca/ggc-register. and select “Register.” Follow the instructions to create an account. You will need:

• An email address (one per girl member)

• A password of your choice

• Your iMIS #

2. Go to “My Unit” and make sure your unit is listed as “9 th Vancouver Pathfinder Unit”

3. Time to Practice!

• Go to “Explore”

• Click through the different Program Areas, Themes, and Activities.

• Practice filtering by Branch Level so you find activities for Pathfinder age

• If you see an Activity that looks fun to you click the “Add to Favorites” button (the heart)

We’re excited for a new Pathfinder year! Guiding will be different than we’ve known in the past due to the continued impacts of COVID-19 on our communities, and we’re looking forward to connecting with all of you in an online and outdoor blended Guiding model to start of the year.

Our first meeting will be on Wednesday September 16 at 6:45 pm on Zoom. The link to join the meeting is below.

At this meeting, we’ll review what’s new for this year, discuss the return to in-person Guiding and the important changes and actions to help keep us safe, learn about the Pathfinder program, and get to know one another!

Parents, please plan to participate for the first ~20 minutes of the online meeting on the 16th to learn about the important initiatives and updated health and safety requirements for in-person Guiding this year. Check out this information on the GGC website to learn more about how GGC is welcoming girls back this year.

We’ve also sent out a “welcome to Pathfinders” email to all families with lots of important information about the year, unit nuts and bolts, etc., so check your email and get in touch with Karla if you didn’t receive it.

Here’s the information to join in the Zoom meeting, and save the weekly meeting series to your calendar!

Topic: Pathfinders
Time: Sep 16, 2020 06:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Wed, until Dec 16, 2020, 14 occurrence(s)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84322480599?pwd=RERXekhLZ3NPVWhDUzMrZmFoK3R4UT09

Meeting ID: 843 2248 0599
Passcode: cookies

Dial by your location
Meeting ID: 843 2248 0599
Passcode: 9445517
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kyS4s1wsH

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZAudeuspjsvE92izq8wezj5S9_RnfDijM2D/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGsrTkoHtyVtRCORpwIA4joa-jxiGJYj_oPlQX0WzdWeAmjBbt9ALx5NNHa

Great meeting this week everyone! Here are a few of the links that we shared.

The library has been increasing the number of titles related to anti-Black racism, so there are many titles you can read (or listen to) right now. All you need is a library card and the free overdrive app: https://vpl.overdrive.com/collection/1088252

If you don’t have a library card, here’s how to get one:
https://www.vpl.ca/borrowing/register-for-a-card-online

Here’s the link to the Hollaback Anti-Harassment training
https://www.ihollaback.org

Here’s Girl Guides of Canada’s statement on anti-Black racism
https://www.girlguides.ca/web/GGC/Media/Notices/Articles/Statement_on_Anti-Black_Racism.aspx

And if you curious how much the City of Vancouver spends on different programs and services, like libraries and police, here’s the link to the 2020 budget book (look on page 6 for the breakdown):
https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/2020-budget-book.PDF

Last but not least, here are the instructions and questions that we would like you to complete before next week:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xF5Y6YBfkxcAlC48gT3pOGuUdfNbfb7pJ0INMZFxsAA/mobilepresent?slide=id.p