Briefing Weekend #1

L to R: Margaret, Katie, Charlotte (front), Tamara, Emily, Alyson

Last weekend brought all 6 members of our team together for the first time at Tolmers' Scout Campsite in Herts. As always, we arrived as friends in Guiding, but we left a strong team with goals and deadlines ahead of us.

Our journey to GOLD had actually started some months earlier. First an application mid-last year, and then the selection event in October. This event was so large, that you got to know a few people, but by no means everyone. Then it was a seemingly long wait until December/January when we were finally offered a place on GOLD. While we were given names of our other team members in January, I (Tamara) wasn't sure who they were from merely a name! 

So we were at first briefing. It was all very new and exciting. New team members to gel with; new tasks to take on; new information to take in. After arrival and dinner on Friday night, we set about our first task: getting to know each other. We had lots of laughs, went through a large bag of skittles, and by the end of the night we were a team (To learn some of what we learrned that night, head to our Meet the Team page). 

Training by Doing

Saturday morning brought the start of training. Over the course of the weekend we covered topics such as cultural sensitivity, leadership roles, publicity, PR, fundraising, and what to expect of our journey on GOLD. All the sessions were presented by our leaders and other wonderful ex-GOLDies, and used a variety of delivery methods. As well as being interesting, this modelled the Girl Guide Method which underpins all of our projects' delivery. 

Our Great Leader to Support our Team

Throughout the course of the weekend there was a common thread of maintaining personal and team well-being on our GOLD journeys. For some, this may seem counter intuitive; if we are to be delivering projects in less than 6 months, surely project delivery is what we should focus on?!? However, this focus on self is critical for the success of our projects. Think about first aid - one of the critical teachings is DRS ABCD. In order to treat a patient, the first consideration is always danger; 1 - to yourself, 2 - to bystanders, 3 - to the patient. Why? Because you cannot help the injured if you need saving too. Similarly in our projects, we must protect ourselves individually and as a team in order to do the most good in Estonia. 

Team Leaders 2016 in Costume

Saturday night brought some light relief from the intensity of training sessions, with our own Rio Olympics, complete with opening ceremony and medal tally. Our events started out with a 'polo relay', and just got sillier and funnier from there! With crazy costumes, lots of laughter, and solid teamwork, it was a very enjoyable evening. 

Let the Games Begin!

Apart from the training sessions, which continued into Sunday, we also had blocks of time to work as a team We have planned our briefings, challenge badges, group expectations, and uniform requirements among other things. Over the following months we will be sharing these things, our experiences, and ideas for you to share, so make sure you follow us on facebook and bookmark the blog to be the first to know!