ELORA – Some girl guides troops across Wellington County have more girls than leaders and are looking for additional adult volunteers to help start the season.
Jennine Paul, a guiding leader in Elora, said of the 19 girls signed up to participate in her unit this year, there are only two adult volunteers including herself.
"It's one of those things where, if there aren't enough folks to do it, then unfortunately, it can't happen," said Paul. "We're all volunteers, and we volunteer our time...Yeah, it's a commitment but it's a great one."
Planning and facilitating different outings and experiences on a weekly basis, Paul said her unit often has had to cancel meetings in the past because they didn't have the right balance of adults to kids.
Other groups, like the Wednesday Embers group in Fergus haven't been able to start their season because they need one more volunteer.
A unit needs a minimum of two adult volunteers.
"For two full-time job moms with our own little kids, it's a lot," said Paul. "So it's super helpful, even if we can get a person who could come if (the other volunteer) or myself are sick."
Beyond misconceptions about needing experience with Girl Guides, Paul said they tend to have more trouble finding volunteers as kids get older because parents often volunteer with their children and then move up with them to the next level- leaving a potentially empty spot.
Not alone in their search, units in Fergus, Alma and Drayton are also currently looking for leaders.
"I think that maybe there's a lot of apprehension about not knowing enough about guiding," said Paul. "Maybe people who weren't guides when they were younger think...it would be too structured where, in truth, it's really become a very nice place where you can find adult friends as well."
Starting Girl Guides when she was nine years old, Paul grew up guiding before eventually becoming an Embers leader in Elora. She's been a guiding leader in Elora for three years.
"My favorite thing about (guiding) is that at its core, it's a place where girls and kids, too, from all walks of life, all identities, can find a place where they really belong," said Paul. "I find it really rewarding to get to see these new guys come in who at the beginning of the year might be so nervous and really quiet, and get to watch them slowly come out of their shells."
Anyone interested in volunteering can check out www.girlgudies.ca/volunteer or reach out to [email protected]
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
