CAYUGA—With a mix of smiles, certificates, and heartfelt hugs, the Cayuga Pathfinders and other local Girl Guide units celebrated the end of their program year with a May wrap-up ceremony that marked both achievements past and adventures ahead.
The evening event brought together girls from five active units in Cayuga: Sparks, Embers, Guides, Pathfinders, and Rangers. Ranging in age from five to 18, 56 participants were celebrated for a year of learning, leadership, and community service.
Girls advancing to the next level were recognized with certificates and badges in a graduation-style ceremony that reflected both tradition and progress.
Leaders, parents, and peers gathered to applaud the girls’ accomplishments while also looking ahead to a major goal on the horizon: a two-week European trip planned for 2027.
The trip, scheduled for the last week of June and the first week of July that year, will take the girls to Scotland, France, and England. It’s an ambitious project, and one that has already inspired significant planning and grassroots fundraising across the community.
“We started fundraising last year and we’ll keep going right through to May of 2027,” said Nicky Collins, a longtime volunteer leader with Sparks and Brownies.
Collins’ daughter, who recently moved up from Pathfinders to Rangers, is among the girls planning to take part in the trip.
From bottle drives to bake sales, the girls are putting in the work to make their dream a reality. One recent initiative involved cleaning nearly 2,000 chairs at Lions Hall in Fisherville; the donation the group received in return was put toward the trip fund. They’ve also held textile collection drives for Value Village, where fundraising totals are based on the weight of donated goods, organized fall leaf-raking services, staffed grocery bagging days, run a wood-fire starter sale using a self-serve pickup system at the end of leaders’ driveways, and partnered with companies such as True Earth for online eco-product fundraisers that offer the group a percentage of sales.
Collins explained fundraising proceeds are split among those who attend and contribute their time to each event, not only lowering their costs but “getting the girls out more into the community.” With 13 girls currently committed to the trip, each event counts.
While summer marks a break from regular weekly programming for most units, fundraising efforts remain in full swing. A craft show is already planned for September, and other events are expected throughout the year.
Beyond fundraising, the girls have enjoyed a busy year filled with activities designed to build skills, confidence, and friendships. Each weekly meeting might include crafts, life skills training, or science experiments, along with self-care discussions and camp preparation.
One project had the girls make portable first-aid kits by wrapping supplies inside a duct-taped toilet paper roll, designed to hang from a backpack during camping trips. Other nights focused on global awareness, such as “World Thinking Day” activities promoting environmental and social consciousness.
The group also makes time for community engagement, with field trips to local fire halls and ambulance stations, and participation in special camps and large-scale gatherings. Among this year’s highlights was an overnight camping trip at Bing, where the girls learned to pitch tents, cook on open fires, and tie-dye T-shirts.
Collins said her most rewarding moments as a leader come from seeing the joy and growth in the girls themselves.
“The hugs at the end of meetings and the smiles on their faces show me appreciation. It tells me that I’ve positively impacted them and that they are absorbing the knowledge Girl Guides of Canada is passing on.”
As for the girls, food-based fun was a big hit. Collins’ daughter recalled unit nights focused on culinary challenges, including trying to eat grapes off plates without using their hands – which brought plenty of laughs alongside lessons in teamwork and adaptability.
Those interested in learning more about Guiding opportunities can visit the Girl Guides of Canada website.
