Treetop adventures in Wales
Braving the heights with Girlguiding Caernarfonshire
As we enter a new Girlguiding term, let's celebrate all things adventure by looking back at a magical day at Zip World, Caernarfonshire.
In July, Girlguiding Caernarfonshire hosted a Zip World Adventure Day, an event that organiser and County Commissioner, Lyn Hamer explains, was only made possible due to funding from our adventure fund.
'We had looked at Zip World, with a longing to take the girls there for an adventure,' she says. 'But on pricing the activities and transport, it would have been expensive, and possibly out of reach, for many of the girls. Being a rural and spread out county we have to rely on coaches to transport us to any event.'
She continues, 'so when we were offered the opportunity to apply for a grant to help with this, we jumped at the chance and were so grateful to receive enough money to cover the cost of our coaches and the cost of the leaders who had to brave the heights to take the girls up.'
Taking to the treetops
Over 100 girls and leaders took to zip wires to challenge themselves and support each other in being brave. Nervous excited energy, music and laughter made it feel like a magical wonderland.
Girls could either do a 3-hour trek in the treetops, including zip wires to get from tree to tree, called Zip Safari or Tree Hoppers, similar but on a lower level. And Forest Coaster, which was a mini rollercoaster through the forest.
The day was open to Brownies, Guides, Rangers and young leaders, with girls from different sections inspiring one another. 'We decided to use the day as a transition event, opening it up to 9+ girls giving the older Brownies a chance to meet with Guides and give them a taste of what was to come' Lyn says.
Girlguiding led adventures
It’s this chance to experience adventure and grow that Vicky Williamson-Hughes, co-leader of Y Felinheli Guides, feels is unique to Girlguiding. 'The change you see in them doing something like this is incredible,' she says. 'Quite often they don’t do things like this in school, so to get them out doing something completely different is amazing. The smiles by the end of the day are amazing to see!'
Sera Williams, leader with 5th Pwllheli Guides, agrees. 'They’re girls from quiet rural areas so to be able to take them to different places is fab because otherwise not everyone will have the chance to go,' she says. 'Guiding is perfect for that, to give more girls more opportunities to do something they won't be able to do with school or at home.'
Building confidence together
Vicky’s co-leader Bethan Hughes sees the clear links between doing adventure and building confidence. 'Adventure definitely builds courage,' she says, 'some of them were really nervous to do some of the activities and then by the end they were saying ‘I want to do it again!’
Just as the girls get to build confidence so do the leaders, Bethan says. 'I love it because it’s an experience for us as well,' she continues. 'I’ve never done anything like this before, maybe because I was too scared, but being able to see the girls do it and achieve is like I’m doing it through them so it gives me the sense that yeah, I could do that like them.'
For Vicky this is the case too. 'You get a morale boost because you see them having so much fun and just letting go and loving their day,' she says, 'and it gives us a confidence boost as well.'
Check out what girls from Llandudno Rangers and Nant ffrancon Brownies had to say about the day:
Adventure is really fun. I’m most excited about the high ropes course, because I want to face my fear of heights.'
I enjoyed doing the tree hoppers and going on the forest rollercoaster with my friends.'
I’m excited and happy. Doing this makes me feel nervous but excited at the same time.'
I’m so proud to have done the course.'
I love doing adventure!'
For leaders who might not be confident about taking their girls on adventures, Sera says a county event like this is perfect. 'If you do adventure activities as a county you’ll have more leaders going who have been before.'
Although leaders still have to do their own risk assessments for the things in their control, Sera highlights that you can be doubly confident doing adventure in established venues like Zip World. 'These places have got their own risk assessments for all the activities and they’ve had thousands of kids before,' she continues, finishing on a call of encouragement. 'Go for it, because unless we do it no one else is going to, and your girls deserve the opportunity to do it!'
A huge thanks to all our volunteers
Thank you to Lyn, Vicky, Bethan, Sera and all our amazing volunteers who are leading adventures and helping build confidence with their girls whilst having fun!
Find all the different places you can find adventure through Girlguiding with our adventure map.