Pippins are the youngest section of Guiding in NZ. A girl can become a pippin at any time after her fifth birthday and can stay for two years, moving on to brownies when she turns seven. Strong family support is encouraged within each pippin unit. A popover (a simple tabard) is worn over over everyday clothes as pippin uniform. Popovers can be either aqua or navy, with all girls in a unit wearing the same colour. The pippin badge which is sewn onto the popover has a picture of an apple on it.
The Pippin programme is informal. The girls do not make a promise, or have an enrolment ceremony. They do have a saying - see the page on Promise and Law - and they do have a patch of their own to work on called the catepillar patch. Most units meet for an hour a week and they play games, sing songs, read stories, as well as learning about the world they live in and about the Guiding movement. The emphasis is on activities that increase a girl's awareness of herself, other people and her environment. Pippins are involved in immediate programme planning - they suggest and choose games and activities with unit leaders.
Pippinics are special events for the pippin section where 2 or more groups gather together for games and activities. Often a province organises them on an annual basis - but they can be held at any time. It is hoped that at least 50% of any section programme will be run in the outdoors.
Brownies are the second youngest section of Guiding in NZ. Brownies are girls aged 7 to 10 1/2 years old. Brownies usually wear a uniform of navy bottoms and Guides NZ aqua tops, and have a navy sash for badges.
The Brownie programme is more formal than the pippin one with a set structure. Most units meet for about an hour and a half a week. Brownies do make the Promise and use our guide laws and motto. Brownies are involved in programme planning and have girl leaders, sixers who have more responsibility. Within the unit the girls work in small groups called sixes. The sixers are chose by the unit and they, with the help of a leader, invite another girl to be her seconder.
The programme is a progessive one, based on learning and developing personal skills, learning about other people in the community, learning about the Guiding Family at home and overseas and understanding something about their differences and similarities, and developing an awareness of and care for the natural world.
The Brownie programme consists of:-
Brownie Revels are special events for the Brownie section when 2 or more units gather together, preferably outdoors, for games and other activities. These may be held at any time but are sometimes held by a district, division or Province on an annual basis.
Holidays and overnight adventures are times when they girls stay together overnight or for a few nights. It is hoped that at least 50% of any section programme will be run in the outdoors.
A girl becomes a guide at any time after the age of 9 1/2. She normally spends about 3 to 4 years in the unit leaving between the ages of 13 or in her first year at secondary (high) school, and 14 1/2 to become a ranger. Guides usually wear a uniform of navy bottoms and Guides NZ aqua tops, and have a navy sash for badges.
Guides belong to a unit in which they work in small groups called patrols. The patrol is the normal activity group within the guide section. Each has a patrol leader elected by the guides, and a patrol second who is chosen by the patrol leader and retires with her. The patrol may also choose other officers as required. The patrol works both separately and as part of the whole unit. Patol Leaders attend Patrol Council to relay their patrols wants / needs and to programe plan.
Camping and indoor holidays are an important part of the guiding experience and are always popular activities. It is hoped that at least 50% of any section programme will be run in the outdoors.
Guides form a horseshoe or open-ended circle to show that they are open to influences beyond their immediate surroundings and are looking beyond themselves to give service to others. Most units sing taps at the end of their guide meetings - either daylight or evening taps depending on the time of year.
The Guide programme consists of:-
A girl may become a ranger at any time after the age of thirteen or in her first year at secondary (high) school. After her 19th birthday she is encouraged to become a unit leader if she is not one already, or to join guide reserve or trefoil guild. Ranger uniform is basically the same aqua and navy as the previous two sections, but they also have a special association with red and have a special promise badge with a red centre. Rangers do not wear a sash - but instead have a badge tab like adult leaders. This is red to indicate that they are rangers.
Rangers work both as a unit and in smaller interest groups which vary in size and membership according to the activity. The rangers themselves are responsible for planning and putting into operation the programme of the unit and for managing its affairs, with advice and guidance from the unit leader(s).
In large units a committee is elected to manage its affairs. This elected unit committee is made up of a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and any other officers the unit considers necessary. One or more of the leaders attends meetings of the unit committee in an advisory capacity.
Every ranger has a voice on the provincial youth council which also includes all Young Leaders (warranted / appointed leaders aged under 25 and in some circumstances under 30) in the province. The Youth Council is self-governing using a committee to manage its affairs, with advice and guidance from the provincial youth adviser. They elect a ranger and a Young Leader as chairperson and deputy chairperson (with position being allocated according to polling) and other rangers or young leaders to fill offices they consider necessary.
The ranger programme emphasises community service and consists of various challenges, certificates, badges and permits which follow investiture and help a ranger's all-round development. From within the framework provided by the structure of the programme, each girl is able to choose her own activities. Amongst the choices are lightweight camping, tramping, boating, leadership training, emergency and personal skills, social skills, service, international opportunities, as well as the gaining of qualifications such as the Queen's Guide Award and Duke of Edinburgh's Award (which is an International Award made up of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold). It is hoped that at least 50% of any section programme will be run in the outdoors.
On formal occasions the unit uses V formation. The V signifies the extension of the unit's activities into the community, and carries on the theme from the brownie ring and guide horseshoe.
Any ranger may choose to take on the regular commitment of a leadership role in a pippin, brownie, or guide unit, and become a "ranger in leadership" or RIL. The RIL is an active member of the leadership team in the unit she works with and has certificates and permits within the ranger programme to encourage her to improve her leadership skills. On completion of the Practical Leadership Certificate a RIL may become a warranted leader.
My thanks to Cheryl W. for editing and adding to the ranger information on this page!
This Scouting section is open to all young adults, aged from 18 years to 25 years with Associate Members aged 26 to 34. People with a Guiding background are welcomed as well as those involved in Scouts.
Members of the Rover section form themselves into groups called Rover Crews. The crews elect executive officers from among their own members. The officers elected are responsible for leading the crew, as well as for organising a programme of community service and social activities. While many of the crew members are Adult Leaders in other sections of Scouting or in Guiding, membership of the crew is open to any young adult in the community, who is within the age range specified. Crews are encouraged to recruit from the wider community. Rover Crews generally operate under the guidance of the Scout District Commissioner, and the Area Rover Leader.
The Rover section provides service to the community and Scout movement. Rovers also continues with the general Scouting / Guiding philosophy of helping members develop as individuals by expanding personal skills, and provides a friendly pressure-free group where members can enjoy fellowship, social events and cultural activities; as well as increasing and practicing their outdoor skills.
Rover Crew meetings are usually held fortnightly at local Scout or community Halls, or in Crew members homes. Crews also have a few weekend meetings a year for major activities.
Most of this information about Rovers comes from the Scouting Otago Page
My thanks to Bruce C. for kindly allowing me to use this information!
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This page is not in any way an official Guides NZ page but information from
A Guide to Guiding in New Zealand has been used.