Author: Kootenay Area Girl Guides

Beaver Valley Pathfinders and Rangers on our March 2023 trip. We rented a 15 passenger van and went to the big city… Vancouver and area. We rode the sky train to science world, sea bus to guide house, shopped at Metrotown mall, drove to whistler and experienced the sea to sky gondola, went to the Vallea Lumina light show, this was absolutely amazing. Checked out the Van Dusen botanical gardens and then ended at Moon and back Gallery. All in 5 days, that included 2 days of driving. So much fun!

Adventures in the wild-Costa Rica 2019
Trip Report Keegan Hayton  

This summer I went 7,244 km away from my hometown (Trail BC), on a spectacular adventure to Costa Rica. I was away from home for 16 days and 12 of those days where spent right in Costa Rica. I hopped on a 45 minute plane ride alone, to meet the group I was travelling with for the first time. I was quite nervous, but once I arrived in Vancouver I made quick friends and the leaders were super nice and welcoming. While we were waiting for our plane to Toronto, the group and I became very close, very quickly.

I loved everything about the trip from the bus rides, to hiking, to the Bri Bri village, but there were a few things that really stood out for me. Zip-lining I absolutely loved zip-lining. I’ve always been one of those people whose up for new adventures. At first it was a little nerve wrecking, but once I was over the first line it was unbelievable. The Turtle Sanctuary, let me start off by saying, never in my entire life did I think I was going to hold a baby leather-back turtle! This place was incredible! I got to end off my trip in the best way possible, at a turtle rescue centre right on the coast of the Caribbean Sea. Although we never saw a female or male full grown turtle, we still got to see and hold the babies. We released over 50 turtle babies into the ocean during the two days I was there. Lastly, snorkelling, I have never been snorkelling before and I went for the first time in Costa Rica! It was incredible. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for me. While I was in the water I saw thousands of fish, a Jellyfish, a little Shark and a Barracuda. The water was also crystal clear it was so magical. Although I got lots of salt water in my mouth… it was totally worth it!

Despite the many programs in schools, colleges, and unions that seek to get more women to join the trades, the rates of women in trades have not changed since 2000. Guide Leader and Kootenay Area Public Relations adviser Anne Simonen was aware of these statistics, and reflecting on her own lack of exposure to such careers, organized a trades exploration camp for Pathfinders and Rangers.

The camp was held at Camp Rory — a perfect location for its size and facilities– and was attended by Pathfinders from Kelowna, Castlegar, and Nelson, and a Trex unit from Jaffray. On the camp’s first night, Dr. Marcia Braundy, one of the first women in BC’s Carpentry union, gave a talk about the challenges she faced pursuing a carpentry career, but who also gave valuable advice about being resilient and finding allies. After hearing her talk, Amelia Vernham from the Castlegar unit said she was inspired, saying: “Just because [people] don’t think we are capable doesn’t mean we can’t prove [them] wrong.”

Saturday, the Pathfinders completed hands-on projects relating to electrical, carpentry and metalsmithing trades, which were lead by mostly women tradespeople. Through the day they learned how to use the tools of each trade safely and about different career and training options. The camp had two metalsmiths,including one who is also a welder, who showed the attendees how to make a hook, an electrician who was also an engineer-in-training, who lead the attendees through a simple residential wiring exercise, a journeyman cabinetmaker, a civil engineering technologist, and a construction carpenter.

Not every attendee will pursue a trades career, but now they have met women role models in trades and technology, been empowered to look into non-traditional careers, and get practice working with common construction tools — a valuable skill regardless of any future career. Changing the story of women in trades will take more than a single Girl Guide camp, but for attendees, it might be the first step in changing their own stories.