Games & Programs
Games have to be one of the best parts of Guiding! Through games we build friendships, learn skills, and become leaders. Plus, the adults can get away with playing too! This page shares some of my favourite game resources that I have created, or curated. The programs here are either a meeting full of games, or what some might call a 'wide game' - a series of activities as part of a bigger story line.
GAMES
This resource was to help Guides learn where badges go on their Girl Guides Australia Uniforms. There is a sash template and a Guide bag template, along with HEAPS of badge pieces. Print enough sashes & bags for each group, and then cut out all the badges. You can use this as a jigsaw challenge in a group, or make it more interesting by turning it into a treasure hunt or relay game. There are LOTS of badges included, but I suggest starting out only using the most common ones!
You can never go wrong with a scavenger hunt! I often keep these as a back-up activity if we finish early. It's a great, outdoor, creative activity. This template was made for 5-7 year olds, but will work for any age.
You can't pass up old part games for excitement! I think these were created for a Thinking Day activity. There is a "base" Guide and Scout, and then their "accessories" which you can cut out, add some blutack and use as the "tail".
Activities here are from The Guide Association's 1975 Book " Activities & Games for Patrols". My unit liked the activities, but found they didn't use the book often as it wasn't very colourful, & hard to read (especially while playing). The Guides choose their favourite and helped illustrate some of them. Print it double sided, cut into A5, laminate, punch a hole in the top corner and use a ring clip to create a booklet that is easy for Guides to use when running an activity.
This little booklet has lots of different beanbag games to play on your own and with friends. It also has instructions on how you can make your own beanbags to play with.
Also created for Thinking Day! I have only provided the "tails" which you can print in A4 to use. The base images are these posters from Activity Village (make sure to print in A4: BP, Olave, Agnes.
Another old-school favourite. A quick Pass the Parcel is a good way to divide Guides into teams, unwrap facts about a topic or celebrate for a "Promise Party". Forfeits are little "challenges" or tasks that you might unwrap, as opposed (or with) to a gift - they help to break it up a bit. These ones were written for 5-7 year olds, but there is also a word template so that you can add your own around any theme you like.
PROGRAMS
The Great Christmas Challenge!
It’s patrol verses patrol for the Great Christmas Challenge! Who will carol? Who will break a bauble? And who will win the coveted Christmas Challenge Trophy?!
This is a series of fun, energetic, Christmas-themed games which we use every second year as our end-of-year activity. We have a Unit trophy (a garden gnome painted in red & green) which is presented to the winning patrol. Facilitate the challenge with lots of energy, drama, and a giant scoreboard (with plenty of bonus points) & everyone will have a great time.
The Great Easter Challenge!
It’s patrol verses patrol for the Great Easter Challenge! Who will bunny hop? Who will break an egg? And who will win the coveted Easter Challenge Trophy?!
Like the Great Christmas Challenge, This is a series of fun, energetic, Easter-themed games which we use every second year as our end-of-year activity. We have a Unit trophy (a small bunny statue) which is presented to the winning patrol. Facilitate the challenge with lots of energy, drama, and a giant scoreboard (with plenty of bonus points) & everyone will have a great time.
This meeting was written for a unit of 5-7 year olds and includes different basic "Guiding Skills" including trail signs, reef knots, morse code, compasses skills & sewing. It's themed around a jungle adventure to search for mysterious gems! Would be suitable for older Guides too.
This program was for a unit meeting at the end of term, when the leaders needed to get some paperwork done! Guides played this independently in their patrols, with some assistance from Junior Leaders. It has program evaluation, planning, pen pals & games.
I suspect I may have adapted this program from some other resources, which I can’t recall now, so I won’t take full credit. It was for a 1.5 hour meeting for 5-7 year olds for ANZAC Day, which follows an the WWI ANZAC Story including games, 'exercises', semaphore, first aid, building 'trenches', passing messages & eating ANZAC biscuits.