Creating memories at PGL
We speak to leader Deirdre on what makes a weekend at PGL so special
For many girls, adventure weekends at PGL are central to their ongoing Girlguiding journey.
Whether it’s moving from just trying out your harness on your first visit, to actually swinging on the big swing by your third, or climbing one extra rung of Jacob’s Ladder with each trip, PGL centres offer spaces where girls can feel safe and empowered to stretch themselves and build confidence.
By returning to PGL, girls can focus on trying new things in an environment where they feel comfortable. The team at PGL work with you to create a bespoke programme which is perfect for your girls and celebrates Girlguiding traditions. PGL centres are spaces where girls can come together and make friends and life-long memories, and where leaders can be confident that their young people will be safe.
And there’s no better place for girls to feel like they own the joint than on a Brownie Takeover Weekend. Deirdre has been taking her girls on these weekends for over 15 years. We find out what makes them so special, and why they're now a staple of her Girlguiding calendar.
Deirdre, Brownie leader
‘The first PGL weekend away was a Brownie takeover at Boreatton Park in Shropshire to mark the start of Girlguiding’s centenary in 2009, followed by another in 2010 at Caythorpe Court just near Grantham, at the end of the celebration year. More recently, we went to a new PGL centre closer to home, in Newby Wiske, North Yorkshire.
I remember our first trip to Boreatton. It started with a 3½ road journey, which was an adventure in itself, with non-stop chatter and singing! On arrival we were met by a sea of Brownie yellow and brown uniforms, differentiated only by allocated coloured baseball hats, to identify our group for the weekend. It’s great for the girls to see that they are part of something so much bigger than just their unit, and they made guiding friends with others from far and wide, many of whom they’ve kept close to ever since.
The group leaders are like the Pied Piper. They’re often dressed as pirates, chickens, Where’s Wally or a unicorn and are eagerly followed by groups of Brownies chanting and singing in unison as they move between activities.'
The Brownies learn to care for each other, and their own possessions in the dorms, learn that encouragement helps team building and that fun can be had in the outdoors.'
'For many it’s their first time away from home, and they are wide eyed as we set off in the dark, for a campfire, when normally they would be on their way to bed. Group wide games that continue into the evenings become quite competitive, and prove a great lesson in learning how to enjoy the fun, whilst also understanding that winning isn’t everything.
The anticipation of staying in one of the big old houses, with high ceilings and impressive staircases leads to stories of knights and legends, but adds to the adventure. The girls’ confidence grows over the weekend, as the realise they can do the activities and games themselves, although always under the watchful eye of the instructors!'
The best memories are seeing the quietest Brownies come out of their shell, and watching the others give encouragement to the rest of their unit. That they can stretch further than they’ve ever stretched to reach that last climbing hold, or really can step off the edge into thin air to fly down the zip wire. Most of all they realise girls can do anything.'
'They are weekends of excitement from beginning to end. And now 15 years on, I’ve already booked to go again this September.’
Join a Brownie Takeover Weekend
PGL Brownie Takeover Weekends are open for bookings for 2025 at 2 centres across the UK. Can’t wait to get stuck into your next adventure? There are still places available for PGL Brownie Takeover Weekends on 13-15 June 2025 at Dalguise in Perthshire and 3-5 October 2025 at Marchants Hill in Surrey. To find out more and book your next unforgettable adventure, head to our Brownie Takeover Weekend page.
Find out more about PGL
PGL has 13 activity centres throughout the UK, with each offering unique Girlguiding experiences. And you don’t need to wait for a Brownie Takeover Weekend. The cost of a 2-night all-inclusive group residential at PGL is £109 per person, plus vat or £119 per person for a Brownie Takeover Weekend. Leaders go free in a ratio of 1:8 on group adventure camps, or 1:6 on Takeover Weekends. Find out more about PGL.
