Last updated: February 25, 1999
Compiled by Jennifer Walker, Edmonton AB
Information on Senior Branches from B.C. Council website (external link)
Senior Branches Homepages and Unit Information
Administration of Senior Branches in Various Provinces
Special Events for Senior Branches in Various Provinces (updated)
Senior Branches Program (updated)
Encouraging Senior Branches Members -
Senior Branches Homepages and Unit Information
Quebec
Rosemount Rangers ("Cyber-Rangers")
1st Westward Rangers (The "Charged Elements")
Ontario
167th Nepean Andover Rangers - their sample recruitment letter
Many Ranger units select a name for the unit, instead of being identified only by the unit number. The full name of our unit is the 167th Nepean Andover Rangers. Were not quite sure how the name was chosen, but we do know that Andover is the name of a ship as well as a British University. There are also a lot of towns and cities named Andover (for example, Susan has been to Andover in England, and Marianne has been to Perth-Andover in Nova Scotia).
SOCREO Rangers
26 April 1998
SOCREO is the name of our Ranger unit and stands for Serving Our Community
and Respecting Each Other. When the Ranger program was divided up into
Land and Sea, quite often Sea Ranger units would take the name of a body
of water, i.e. the Saguenay Rangers. So when I started up a Ranger unit,
the girls brainstormed, came up with a couple of options and voted. SOCREO
won.
For those of you who went to AGGIE this past weekend, those 4 young
women who were walking around in grey fleece jackets with SOCREO in red
lettering on the back are half of my unit!
--Liz Lovis, SOCREO Ranger Guider, Trillium Area
Manitoba
5 May 1998
October we went on a Fall camp, a get-to-know-you sort of thing. We
stayed at the cabin of one of the leaders and managed to have a nice enough
day that we did a little canoeing. November brought along the Caddy Lake
Tea. This is an annual event that the Guiders from Winnipeg to put on to
fund raise the Caddy Lake Girl Guide Camp. There is a tea area that the
Guides serve and a coat check that the Pathfinders help with. The selling
booths the Brownies and Sparks help run, and the Sr. Branches are in charge
of the Kiddy Karnaval. The Kiddy Karnaval is a spot that the younger kids
can go and play a few games. Over the next few months we attended a Symphony
and visited the Art Gallery to work on our Art Appreciation Challange.
We have a group that is rather ambitious and for their Enrolment Challange
they organized a Swim Meet for about 150 Kids ranging from 5 years old
to 15. We are in the process now of planning for our spring camp- we have
decided to do a three day hiking trip in the western part of Manitoba.
We are excited to go on our adventure and are looking forward to the challenge.
--Stacy, Ranger Guider, Winnipeg MB
As I promised, here is a copy of the letter an information we send out in the summer to potential Ranger members:
Dear Susie,
Greetings from the Andover Rangers! We -- Susan and Marianne -- are
the Guiders of the Southwest Division Ranger unit. The purpose of this
letter is to give you some information about the Senior Branches of Guiding.
We would like to invite you to join us for a year of fun and friendship
in Rangers. However, we know that Rangers may not meet your needs or interests
and we encourage you to make the decision which is best for you. Enclosed,
you will find a page of information entitled The Senior Branches: Who Are
We?, which briefly outlines the three Senior Branches -- Cadets, Junior
Leaders and Rangers, as well as a page of information about the Andover
Rangers so that you know a little bit more about our unit and some of the
things we do. For more information about all three branches, you can talk
to either Susan or Marianne at the numbers listed below. You can also contact
either of the Ottawa Area Senior Branches Council Co-Chairs: [name &
numbers here]. For information about Junior Leaders you can contact the
Junior Leader Coordinator, [name and number]
Please look over the information and think about what you want to be doing in the Fall. If you have any friends who you think would be interested in Senior Branches, please feel free to share the information with them, too. Our first meeting of the year will be September 21st at 3:00 pm, at Marianne's home, [address] (we know its intimidating to meet people for the first time in a strange house, but we promise we dont bite!). Bring your calendar, as well as all your ideas and suggestions for the coming year. Please call us and let us know if you are interested in joining our Ranger unit, and whether or not you can come to the meeting on the 21st. Feel free to come to a few meetings before making your final decision about joining. In the meantime, if you have any questions at all, please feel free to give either Susan or Marianne a call. We are really very approachable, and we would love to talk to you! We look forward to seeing you!
Marianne Mitchell Susan Thorpe [phone number] [phone number]
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The Andover Rangers
Many Ranger units select a name for the unit, instead of being identified
only by the unit number. The full name of our unit is the 167th Nepean
Andover Rangers. Were not quite sure how the name was chosen, but we do
know that Andover is the name of a ship as well as a British University.
There are also a lot of towns and cities named Andover (for example, Susan
has been to Andover in England, and Marianne has been to Perth-Andover
in Nova Scotia).
Meetings
Because the girls in Rangers often have many time commitments, including
part-time jobs, their meeting schedules tend to be a lot more flexible.
Units may meet in schools, community centres, or individual homes. Meetings
are usually held on evenings or weekends, and how often meetings are held
depends on the unit. The Andover Rangers usually meet on Sunday afternoons,
rotating between the homes of the unit members. Meetings are held approximately
every two to three weeks, depending on when the girls are available, and
what other special activities are happening. Meetings are used to pass
along information about upcoming events in the Ottawa Area, as well as
provincial or international trips. They also involve planning for activities
such as unit camps, museum trips, presentations to other Guiding units,
or sleepovers. Sometimes a special event might be planned for a meeting,
such as watching a movie, exploring the Promise and Law, or doing a craft.
Best of all, meetings are a time to hang out, talk about stuff, and eat
snacks..
What do we do?
What the unit does is based on what the members want to do or accomplish.
That way, each person can get as much as possible out of their time in
Rangers. It also means that as members of the unit change over time, the
style or focus of the unit will also change. A Ranger program is available,
but work on it is optional. The Duke of Edinburgh Program, and the Commonwealth
Award are also available. Some of the things that the Andover Rangers have
done in the past few years include: bowling, pizza parties, unit camps,
volunteering at Winterlude, leading Thinking Day campfires, crafts for
Meals-on-Wheels, visiting the Museum of Science and Technology, cooking
lasagna, and much more. Of course, we also do service work, and we sell
calendars and cookies! There are a lot of Area activities that are open
to Senior Branches to participate in, including the March Onward training
day and Senior Branch Sundays. There are provincial events for Senior Branches
each year, too. Ottawa Area Senior Branches are lucky to be able to participate
in Joint Council of Ottawa, an organisation set up to provide the opportunity
for co-ed activities with older members of Scouts Canada. There are monthly
J. C. meetings, cool events, and two camps each year.
Rangers enjoy Fun and Friendship while facing new Challenges and experiencing
Personal Growth. Check us Out!
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The Guiders
We know you're probably thinking who the heck are these Guiders anyway?
You're probably also wondering what we are like, and other stuff like that.
After all, it can be a major factor in deciding whether or not to join
a unit. So here's a little bit about us ...
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