On Sunday 22nd February, girls and volunteers from Girlguiding Retford came together to celebrate World Thinking Day – a special day dedicated to the global Girl Guide and Scout movement. More than 100 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers aged four to 18 gathered at Elkesley Memorial Hall to mark the occasion, enjoying a day filled with music, movement and friendship.
Girlguiding Retford is the area’s local guiding division, offering opportunities for girls across Retford, Ordsall, Tuxford, East Markham, Elkesley, Ranskill and Misterton to meet new friends, try new activities and grow in confidence. Through adventures, creative challenges and community events, guiding helps girls develop in a safe, supportive and fun environment.
World Thinking Day is celebrated each year on 22nd February, the shared birthday of Girlguiding founders Olave and Robert Baden-Powell. The day is an opportunity for members of the organisation around the world to reflect on the friendships and connections created through guiding. First celebrated in 1926, this year marked the special milestone of 100 years of World Thinking Day celebrations worldwide.
To mark the centenary locally, girls enjoyed a series of workshops delivered by BeatFeet Ltd. These sessions were made possible thanks to generous funding from Retford Rotary Club. The workshops combined storytelling, rhythm, African drumming, movement and dance, giving girls the chance to try something new, perform in front of others and meet new friends from across the area.
Throughout the day there were plenty of smiles and laughter as girls from the different sections took part in the energetic sessions. Parents and carers were invited to watch the performances and were even encouraged to join in during a final performance at the end of the day. Another highlight of the event was the ‘friendship tree’. Each girl added three leaves describing acts of kindness they had shown to others in the weeks leading up to the celebration. As the day progressed, the tree grew steadily as every group added their contributions.
To mark the centenary year, each girl also received a commemorative World Thinking Day badge designed by local volunteer Jade, along with a specially created World Thinking Day challenge pack developed by volunteers within the division. Girlguiding Retford offers girls aged four to 18 the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and make lasting friendships while having fun. From games and creative activities to outdoor adventures and special events, there is always something exciting happening within the local groups.
Spaces are available for girls aged four to 18. Anyone interested in joining can find out more and register at http://www.girlguiding.org.uk.
Events such as this are made possible thanks to the dedication of Girlguiding Retford’s volunteers. Volunteering with Girlguiding offers a rewarding way to support the community, learn new skills and be part of something special.
Opportunities are flexible and include helping run activities, supporting events or assisting behind the scenes.
Anyone interested in volunteering can email enquire@girlguidingretford.co.uk.