Blog / January 28th, 2021
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: Bedfordshire
Buzzin in Bedfordshire
We are very excited about joining in the Anglia Region 50th birthday challenge and can not wait to get started.
For me 2021 is a year of celebration, as well as Girlguiding Anglia, being 50, my unit, 1st Flitwick Guides, and Flitwick district will be 100 years old. It’s a year of celebrating and coming together. This has inspired our theme for 2021 being community, fun and friendship.
To get this underway, during lockdown we have been busy bees working with our local partners, Shuttleworth, Wrest Park and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo to ensure we have some exciting events and activities to launch within the county during 2021.
Our residential centres, Mollivers in Bedford, Haverings and Woodcroft in Luton are all ready to welcome girls for both indoor and outdoor meetings, and when we can, residential events.
I am constantly amazed by how creative our volunteers have been across the county adapting our programme, meeting virtually and finding new ways to come together and have fun and supporting each other to gain new skills. From the community projects including NHS parcels to the Bedford Bridge Walk, the bake off competitions, the pantos, the campfires, the VE day windows to mention just a few. It is truly inspirational and I cannot wait to see what girls and leaders do to make 2021 special.
Guiding is alive, well and buzzin in Bedfordshire and I am extremely proud to be County Commissioner of such a vibrant and exciting county.
Karen Keeling
Girlguiding Bedfordshire County Commissioner
Wrest Park Quest
Girlguiding Bedfordshire in partnership with Wrest Park (English Heritage) has created the Wrest Park Quest creating an opportunity for members to visit a local historic landmark and to complete an Environmental Quest at the Education Centre and go on a Treasure Quest through the glorious grounds.
Shuttleworth Quest – launching 2021
Girlguiding Bedfordshire is in partnership with Shuttleworth to create a Quest. The quest can be completed in an exciting day out exploring the Shuttleworth Collection and Swiss Garden. An opportunity to explore some of the vintage aircraft and take part in activities based on inspirational women, as well as following a treasure trail around the beautiful gardens.
Shuttleworth Vintage Show – 4th-5th September 2021
Some Guides and Rangers members have been invited to take part in the Shuttleworth Vintage show in September. The show displays many vintage aircraft and vehicles and many members of the public dress up in period clothes. We will be setting up a vintage camp, and putting on some traditional camping activities for the public to participate in, before watching the vintage air display. The girls participating will have an opportunity to gain their guiding history badge.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Challenge – launching Jan 2021
Our latest partnership is with ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Girlguiding Bedfordshire has links with the zoo throughout our history. We have worked together on a challenge that can be done either individually, in virtual and face to face meetings and is open to any unit that wishes to take part. The challenge includes Animal Fun, Conservation, and the history of the zoo and Girlguiding.
We’re all going to the zoo zoo
Girlguiding Bedfordshire are planning a county outing to the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo as soon as we are able. We cannot wait to see all the rainbows, brownies, guides and rangers exploring the largest zoo in the UK. It will be amazing to get back together and talk to animals.
In the meantime, the zoo has made a video to launch the challenge which can be found here.
Guiding my way at a time that suits me
As part of our response to COVID we have set up lone Brownie, Guide and Ranger units. These units are open to anyone who would like to would like to continue guiding but can not join a regular meeting. The leaders send out activities and use a variety of different ways to communicate and interact with the girls. For more information contact BedsLoneGuiding@gmail.com
