Guides

Far out Guides - PSG Stuttgart-Neugereut (Caravelle group)

Welcome to Far out Guides, the further afield sister to Unit cam! We thought it only fair to give Guide units outside the UK an opportunity for some fame and fabulousness too. For us, it’s an opportunity to be nosy and find out exactly what our guiding friends get up to elsewhere! Our first unit to take part is the PSG Stuttgart-Neugereut – Caravelle Group from Germany.

Can you tell us an amazing fact about where you live?

• The shops in Stuttgart are great!
• Stuttgart’s football team, VfB Stuttgart, won the German Championships last year.

Can you teach us a game or activity from your country?

• We’d like to teach you a game called ‘sofa’. This is a two team competition where the object is to get all of your team onto your side of the ‘sofa’ without knowing who your players are. It’s difficult for those without good memories! Here are full instructions on how to play this game.

What does your section wear look like?

• We don’t usually wear section wear to meetings but do when we go outside our meeting place or to camp. All sections wear a blue shirt which we sew our badges on to. We also have a navy blue neckerchief; each section has a different coloured strip on it – ours is green for Caravelle!

What’s the biggest difference between Guiding/Scouting in your country and guiding in the UK?

• We hike to camp. Everyone sets off in their groups and travels on public transport to a destination near the campsite – we then hike, stopping overnight in a shelter or farmer’s barn, arriving at camp the next day. This year our group did a cycle hike. It was much better than walking as we didn’t have to carry rucksacks!
• The sections are different: Wichtel (7-10 years old) Pfadi (10-13 years old) Caravelle (13-16 years old) Ranger (16+ years old) Leader (16+ years old).
• There are no Patrols because our group is the size of a Patrol!
• We write our own Promises.

What’s the best thing about boys not being around?

• Boys are noisy (we wish the Cubs didn’t meet at the same time as we do!)
• We can do girly things like beading.

If you could invent a Guiding/Scouting badge, what would it be for?

• peeling potatoes
• completing a week’s sports workshop
• hiking.

What kind of trips have you done outside your unit meeting place?

• Cycle hikes, camps, a trip to the Stuttgart Christmas Market, shopping, a photo scavenger hunt and taking part in the Scouting 100 Landesjamboree.

What has your unit done that you’re most proud of?

• Cycling 70km to camp this year!

What is your Leader like?

• No comment – she’s stood here!

Is there anything you would like to say to all the Guides reading the website in the UK?

• Gut Pfad (The traditional German Scout/Guide greeting. It means ‘Good path’.)