Girl guides from across Canada and around the world have gathered on the shores of Sylvan Lake for Girl Guides of Canada’s 13th international camp Guiding Mosaic 2016.
Almost 2,000 guides between the ages of 12 to 18 and from 13 countries will be at Camp Woods for the week-long camp.
About 90 per cent of the Pathfinders and Rangers are Canadian, with about 40 per cent from Alberta, but there are also close to 100 girls from Peru, Trinidad, Scotland, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and elsewhere.
Campers are sleeping in 13 tent villages named after mountains in the Canadian Rockies.
Ranger Nicole Kundert, 16, of Red Deer, said even though it’s a massive campground, there are tents everywhere.
The camp is hosting a total of 2,752 people.
Guides are involved in a variety of programs from boating on the lake to computer coding. Kundert said it was her first time coding and she will be focusing on media arts like photography and videography while at camp.
“It’s a fantastic experience, plus you get to meet people from all over the world. They’re all really, really lovely people,” Kundert said.
Camp director Brigitte Trau said Girl Guides may still be known for their tradition of selling cookies, their mainstay fundraising activity, but guiding teaches girls skills that help them today.
“The world is changing and we know that. Guiding is very proactive and is very current,” Trau said.
She said camp food is catered so guides don’t have to build campfires and cook and cleanup so they can participate in more programs with fellow guides.
“They do programs side by side and talk to each other and get to know each other. Some are pen pals for life.”
Trau said attending a national camp leaves a lasting impression on a lot of girls.
The camp runs until Sunday.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com