On 22 June 2024 we had a fantastic time at Glow, a South West England Region event held at Woodhouse Park Activity Centre in Almondsbury! It was a brilliant opportunity for girls from all sections of Girlguiding Somerset to come together, try new activities, and make new friends.
GLOW encapsulates the essence of our event: Guiding fun at its brightest, a deep-rooted Love for our environment and wildlife, a passion for Outdoor adventures, and a global perspective that expands our Worlds.
Excitement about trying new things
The girls absolutely loved the day. “Desy loved so much the rock climbing, the ice cream and shopping. It was an amazing day for her,” shared one parent. Another said, “Grace loved the abseiling and demonstrating her hula hoop skills.” There was excitement about trying new things, like Harriet who “loved making her bat”, and Emilie who “enjoyed acrobatics”. Even the youngest girls had a blast, with Elodie loving “the climbing wall, especially jumping off to come back down”, and Laurel and Scarlett declaring, “We loved the trapezium!” Keeley and Ava were simply thrilled with everything!
It was clear to see the joy and excitement on the girls’ faces as they challenged themselves and cheered each other on.
Not just fun for the girls!
Glow wasn’t just fun for the girls; it was also a rewarding experience for the volunteers who helped make the event a success. Two of our volunteers, Karen and Laura, shared their perspectives on the day:
“Volunteering at GLOW was the best keep fit workout with a smile I have had for ages! I volunteered to help as I wanted to spend time with the young members from all sections in the Region and be a small part of this big event. The activity I got asked to help at was…… Sumo wrestling activity. I lost count of how many girls I helped in and out of a Sumo suit that day!
I was paired with a lovely enthusiastic Leader from Bristol and we helped the tallest Ranger to the smallest Rainbow put on these heavy suits and have a fun sumo wrestle. We had giggles, groans about how heavy the suits are, lots of red faces (it was a very warm day) and cheers as some girls ended up on the ground!”
Karen
“I volunteered at Glow with the inclusion team as part of my Queens Guide Award. It was really exciting to be a part of the ‘behind the scenes’ and witnessing all the incredible work that went on to organise such a large event!
I arrived the day before to take part in the setting up of the day and the feeling of anticipation and excitement in all of the volunteers was unexplainable! It was fascinating to see the empty site come to life with fun and laughter when the girls and leaders arrived.
It was a really good day, although it was extremely busy! I met several of the SWE region ambassadors Laura, Debbie, Hollie, Brogan and Jude Terry (and got their special ambassador badges too!). I also had the opportunity (by luck!) to meet Sally Kettle, the deputy chief guide (and get her special badge!). It was a great day and I loved seeing everyone enjoying themselves and catching up with friends from around the region!”
Laura
If you’re interested in volunteering at a future Girlguiding Somerset event, keep an eye out on our website and social media for upcoming opportunities. Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to the community, support girls in their Guiding journey, and have some fun along the way!
We hope this blog post has given you a glimpse into the excitement and joy of the GLOW event. If you’re interested in learning more about Girlguiding Somerset and the opportunities we offer for girls and volunteers, please get in touch!
Girlguiding Somerset county 