Riverbank theme to this year's Brownie Pack Holiday
Brown Owl was Ratty on Chelford Brownies' Pack Holiday weekend, but it was all under the theme of the holiday – 'Wind in the Willows.'
Activities and crafts during the annual break, held this year from Friday May 10th to Sunday 12th, were themed around Kenneth Grahame's story about Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad on their Riverbank adventures.
Thirteen Chelford Brownies enjoyed the weekend at Ashley Activity Centre near Mobberley, a purpose-built Guiding holiday house owned by Greater Manchester Guides.
A sunshine-weekend enabled the group to make the most of the surrounding countryside, with a variety of nature hunts and outdoor play. Craft activities included painting a 'frog house' for the garden, making a 'bug box' for bug hunts, putting together a toad hanging decoration, and creating chocolate 'spring nest' cakes.
One of the adult helpers, North Yorkshire Guide Guider Karen Fielding (nee Hyatt), whose parents live in Chelford, helped each girl to make a special blanket square. These squares have now been sewn together into a 'magic carpet', which will be used on special Brownie occasions, such as enrolment ceremonies.
Karen's 11-year-old daughter Heidi, who is a Guide in North Yorkshire, also helped over the weekend, together with 'Snowy Owl' Helen Roskell (née Jenkinson) who managed the catering. Helen is a longstanding Pack Holiday helper who previously lived in Lower Withington but now lives in York with her husband and two children.
Chelford Brownies' Rainbow Owl Sue Roycroft said: "We had a lovely weekend, and every Brownie played their part in making it a success. Hopefully they all made some wonderful memories and learned more about the countryside and a traditional children's storybook. Helen, Karen and I would like to thank Brown Owl, Alison, for all her hard work and preparation in organising pack holiday again."
Brown Owl Alison Richardson added: "Thanks go to all the helpers over the weekend, and to all the girls who joined in enthusiastically with everything – even the washing-up and tidying their bedrooms!"