Organised Group Activities
The best known of the organised activities are undoubtedly the Guides and the Scouts, and their junior sections the Brownies and Cubs. However, there are a couple of other options you might want to consider, especially if you'd prefer your child to be in a mixed-sex environment.
All of these groups stress the importance of developing self-esteem, tolerance, understanding, and self-discipline, and they all offer a wide range of creative, sporting and practical activites, plus excursions, camping trips and so on.
Beyond that, there are some differences in style and emphasis, and it would probably be worthwhile talking to the leaders of your local groups, and perhaps visiting (if that is allowed) before you and your child make a decision about joining.
This organisation provides activities for girls and young women from the age of five:
- Rainbow Guides (five years and over - or, in Ulster, from the fourth birthday)
- Brownie Guides (seven years and over)
- Guides (ten years and over)
- Senior Section (14 to 25 years)
Girls are able to join (or leave) at any point - it isn't necessary to start at the bottom and work all the way through! Membership is open to girls of all backgrounds and faiths.
There's quite a lot of research that shows that girls do better academically in single-sex schools, perhaps because it's easier for them to get attention and build self-esteem. The Guides might be of special benefit to quieter girls, especially if they seem a bit lost or overlooked in a mixed-sex primary school.
The Guides are a uniformed organisation, but their Trefoil Guild section offers a similar range of activities - only without the uniform, and, perhaps, in a less formal atmosphere.This is for adults (18+).
Like the Guides, the Scouts offer a formal, uniformed organisation and a range of activities. Unlike the Guides - and perhaps contrary to most people's expectations - the Scouts are open to both boys and girls. The emphasis is on outdoor and practical activities, but that now includes a number of exciting activities such as racing home made vehicles. There are special sections for Air Scouts and Sea Scouts.
There are different sections for different ages:
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St John Ambulance is, of course, well known for its first aid training. There are over 57,000 St John Ambulance volunteers, and over half of them are in its junior sections:
- Badgers (6 - 10)
- Cadets (10 - 16)
Badgers' activities are a mixture of first aid and safety training, and outdoor pursuits, though activities can include everything from cookery to gardening.
Cadets receive training in first aid, social care and communications. There are also social events and excursions.
The Woodcraft Folk is the children and youth's organisation of the co-operative movement. Its motto is 'Span The World With Friendship'.
Children are divided by age range:
- Elfins (6 to 9 year olds)
- Pioneers (10 to 12 year olds
- Venturers (13 to 15 year olds)
- District Fellowship (16 to 20 year olds)
The Woodcraft Folk provide a range of activities including crafts, drama, singing, outdoor pursuits and games. There's a strong emphasis on international understanding, which is supported by an active exchange programme.