Guide FAQ Directory
Choose a category to view questions.
When does Registration open?
Typically registration for the next Guiding year opens in the spring on the following schedule:
2nd Week of May
Guides returning to the same unit can register
3rd Week of May
Guides advancing or switching units can register
4th Week of May
Try Now, Join Later participants get early registration
1st Week of June
Registration opens to the general public
Outside of this early registration window, Guides can register at any time during the year as long as space is available in the unit.
Girl Guides typically runs a half price discount for any registrations that happen between January 1st and April 1st.
Kids new to Girl Guides can also try Girl Guides for free during the month of April and May through a program called Try Now, Join Later where space allows.
I need my Child’s iMIS number. Where do I find that?
You can always find your family account iMIS number and your child’s iMIS number by logging in to the registration portal at https://register.girlguides.ca
For convenience, you can see all our unit iMIS numbers listed here.
My child’s friend wants to join. How do they register for the same unit?
Guides can join any point during the Guiding year as long as there is still space available in the unit. They can register by making an account at https://register.girlguides.ca
The Guide unit is called the 584th Toronto Guide Unit. You can find it on the Unit Finder map near Don Mills and Steeles.
Can my child’s friend try out a meeting for free?
Non-Members can only try out meetings in specific situations. Just like members, they must complete the Health Form to participate in meetings.
- Kids new to Girl Guides can try Girl Guides for free during the month of April and May through a program called Try Now, Join Later, where space allows. They must register to participate, and can find info on the main Girl Guide website on how to do so, usually near the end of March or beginning of April.
- Occasionally, the unit will hold a Bring-A-Friend meeting, which allows non-members to try Guides.
- Outside of this, non-members are allowed to try up to 1-2 meetings before registering if space allows in the unit. In order to ensure we are still meeting ratio requirements, please check with us first.
Can my child’s sibling also join your unit? How old do they have to be?
It is important that Guides join the right branch for their age group so programming is at the right level for them. So if the sibling’s age means they should be in a different branch, they should join the unit for that branch, even if its not our unit.
Guides starts at age 9. If your child is born in the fall, Girl Guides defaults to when they joined school (ie., did they start school at 4 years, or did they wait until they turned 5?), so they may start Guides at 8 years old as long as they will turn 9 before January 1st.
Guides ends at age 12. Guides may turn 12 years old between January and July and still be in Guides. They will start their new branch in September.
Does my child have to advance to another unit? Do you also run that unit?
It is important that Guides join the right branch for their age group so programming is at the right level for them. So even though we will miss them, it’s time for them to move up.
The leaders are different in every unit, so you will not have the same leaders at each branch.
However, at least for our community units, we know the other leaders and know that you are in good hands and your child will have a great experience, even if they do things a little differently from us.
In exceptional circumstances, exceptions may be granted in the child’s best interest, and are considered on a case by case basis. Exceptions will not be granted for convenience or to keep a child with a friend.
What unit should I register my child in if they are advancing?
You can register your child for any Pathfinder unit that is close to you or on a night that works for you.
However, the neighbourhood unit we usually do activities with is the 114th Toronto Pathfinder Unit.
Pathfinder aged members may also consider other unique opportunities through Girl Guides instead of or in addition to their Pathfinder membership at no additional cost.
There are a couple Trex units in Toronto that focus more specifically on Outdoors and Adventure based experiences. Pathfinders may also consider becoming a Junior Leader with a Spark or Embers unit to continue fostering their leadership skills.
You may need to contact Girl Guides to assist with registering for these special units.
My child wants to become a Junior Leader? How do we do that?
Guide aged members can volunteer with Sparks as a Junior Leader. They cannot volunteer with Embers until they are in Pathfinders.
Contact info@girlguides.ca with the name of the unit they want to join and Girl Guides will connect you with a leader in that unit to see if they have capacity to take a Junior Leader.
For our local Spark unit, please speak with Amanda first as this unit is quite popular with Junior Leaders.
I paid registration fees. Doesn’t the whole amount go to the unit?
Only a small portion of your child’s registration fee goes to the unit (about $25 per kid). Most of the fee goes to supporting national and provincial level administration, supporting our Girl Guide subsidy system, and developing program. Most of our unit funds come exclusively from cookie sales, from which we receive about $12 per case.
Why do I have to pay dues if I already paid for registration?
The unit only receives about $25 of the registration fee you paid. Most of this is gone in the first month or so once we order your child their first badges and pins, as well as any other equipment we give them or yearly consumables the unit purchases at the start of the year.
Dues allow the unit to gather a small amount of collateral upfront to improve the experience we can provide your child and allows us to have the balance to put down booking deposits for special experiences like camping or outings before they sell out.
At about $2 per meeting in the year, it is a small amount that can make a big difference to your child’s experience.
What do we do if we can’t afford an extra cost or fee?
Finances should never be a hindrance to any child getting the full experience that Guides offers them. Regardless of whether you received a subsidy on registration fees or not, there are subsidies available at the national and provincial level for all activities like extraordinary experiences and camps.
Please do not be embarrassed or hesitate to speak to us if any fee during the year is preventing your child from participating. We can either assist with connecting you to available subsidies, or help through the unit directly as appropriate.
How do I make payments to the unit?
See the payment instructions page for more information about making payments.
What do I do if I made a payment to the wrong unit?
Send us the account address you used. We’ll connect you with our unit treasurer and our unit banking clerk to track it down and get it transferred to the right place.
If you sent it to someone completely outside of Girl Guides, then you’ll have to contact your financial institution for assistance.
Can I get a receipt?
If paying by card, Square can send a receipt at the time of payment. For payments by other methods, please speak to us as we can generate a receipt manually.
What are Cookie Bucks and how do I use them?
We will be offering a credit to any Guide who sells more than two cases of cookies (one for each campaign).
For every case sold after the second, Guides will earn $5 per extra case sold that they can use as a discount off of any payment for extraordinary adventure activities and/or special events.
When paying for an event, please let the leaders know you would like to use your Cookie Bucks towards payment. You can ask us at any point after the first cookie campaign how much credit your Guide has earned.
Example:
| Cases Sold | Cookie Bucks Earned |
|---|---|
| 1 case | $0 |
| 2 cases | $0 |
| 3 cases | $5 |
| 4 cases | $10 |
| 5 cases | $15 |
Examples of extraordinary activities and events:
Camps, Theater Trips, Weekend Outings, etc.
How do I add another email to the mailing list?
You do not need to re-add your email if you are already receiving emails or you included this email in your child’s registration.
Click the Join Mailing List link here. This will take you to MailChimp where you can subscribe to the weekly email blast.
I have never received or have suddenly stopped receiving the weekly email.
The only emails automatically subscribed to the mailing lists are the ones included in your child’s registration. If this is a different email, add it to the mailing list by clicking the Join Mailing List link here.
If you used to receive emails, check your spam folder as they tend to go there if you don’t mark me as a safe sender. Emails are usually sent on Saturday or Sunday (I do my best, but sometimes I’m away on the weekend!). Otherwise, please contact us here.
I contacted Girl Guides and haven’t heard back.
Please be patient! They will get back to you. They have to answer questions for the whole country, and during peak times (ie. registration, beginning of the year, etc.) it may take them longer to respond. If you like, you can copy us on emails in case they are waiting on any information from us.
Why do I have to fill out the health form?
Not all the information provided when you registered lets us know everything we need to keep your child safe and give them the best experience we can. It is mandatory in order for your child to participate. We have the right to turn away your child if we do not receive this form.
My question isn’t answered here. Who do I contact?
For all questions pertaining specifically to our unit and our unit’s activities, you can reach us here.
For all questions about registration, refunds, official subsidies, or Girl Guides generally, please contact customer care at info@girlguides.ca
What do I do if my child has a social/mental/physical concern that I’m worried about?
Please PLEASE tell us. The more we know about your child up front and what works best for them, the better we can modify the program to either accommodate them or better suit their needs. We can also discuss whether if it is best you attend some or all meetings/activities with your child to support them as an aid if necessary.
My child is fasting for Ramadan. Can they break their fast during the meeting?
Yes! While we ask kids not to bring snacks with them to meetings so that we can ensure anyone with allergies is safe, an exception is always made in this instance.
My child has a food allergy. Do I need to send food for them?
Unless your child has a very unique or particularly challenging set of allergies, the unit will always accommodate to ensure any food present is safe for them or an alternative is available. It is important you indicate any allergies or sensitivities on the health form so we are aware of them.
My child is required to take medication while in your care. What do I do?
As long as the child can take the medication themselves with assistance and oversight from an adult, our first aider can assist with ensuring they take any medications while in our care.
Let the leaders know in advance, and place the medication in its original packaging in a ziplock labelled with your child’s name, the dosage, and when/how often they need to take it.
However, if the child cannot take the medication independently (outside of emergency situations) or is not old enough to do so, please speak to us so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Can you help my child work on a behaviour or self-esteem?
Within reason, yes! A lot of parents sign up their child for Girl Guides to help them gain critical social skills.
Keep in mind that our leaders are volunteers and not trained experts, but we can tailor programming or encourage the Guides in our unit to positively participate in certain ways. We often get asked to help with encouraging independence, resilience, teamwork, and speaking up for yourself.
How do they pick leaders for the unit?
Any female identifying person can apply to volunteer to become a leader! Adult members go through a rigorous application process, a vulnerable sector police records check, and extensive safety training before joining or starting a unit. If you are interested in joining, please contact Girl Guides directly.
Do leaders get paid?
We don’t! All of the leaders in our unit are volunteers who give our time to make this experience the best it can be for your child. Please be patient and understanding with us, this is not our day job!
Can I stay with my child at meetings?
Unless your daughter requires assistance to be able to participate, we encourage you to let your child explore on their own! If there is a special event where parents are welcome, we will let you know. For everything in between, Guides is for kids! Girl Guides offers a different membership experience for adults. If you have any concerns about what goes on in meetings, check other questions in this FAQ or talk to the leaders.
Why doesn’t my child call you by your real name?
In Girl Guides, it is tradition for leaders to have special names called “camp names” or “Guider names.” You may know us by our real names in your emails with us, but at meetings, your child may know know us as Sparkles, Poppy, Rainbow, Beans, or Silver.
What should my child bring to meetings?
Each week, your child should wear their uniform.
In Guides, they should also bring their blue bucket and journal (we will give them this at the start of the year), indoor shoes, and a water bottle. They may also want to pack a sweater in case they get cold. You should encourage your Guide to prepare these items independently each week as they get patrol points for being prepared.
Other than this, if they need something special, it will say in the weekly email.
What if my child can’t attend due to a cultural or religious holiday?
While we do our best to be considerate of every religious or cultural holiday we are aware of, the best thing you can do is tell us in advance when these holidays are so that we can avoid planning special experiences or important programming on those days where possible. Everyone celebrates and practices differently, and so we appreciate your help.
What do you do at Guides?
The program is largely Guide driven. While our job as leaders is to help them accomplish their program and organize activities, we take direct inspiration from ideas the Guides share with us at the start of the year.
This means that each Guide year looks a little different depending on the kids in the unit, but through the Guide’s suggestions, we have done activities like:
- A scavenger hunt in IKEA to learn budgeting
- Visited the observatory
- Volunteered in a retirement home
- Learned basic robotics and coding
- Cleaned up the ravine
- Held a mock election
- Baked mug cakes
- Learned about exchanging money
- Gone to sleepovers and camping
- and so much more!
What is the program about?
The Guide program is called Girls First.
It has eight core program areas:
- Guide Together
- Into the Outdoors
- Exploring Identities
- Build Skills
- Be Well
- Experiment & Create
- Connect & Question
- Take Action
Through these areas and the suggestions from the Guides on what they want to explore, they can earn different theme badges based on what activities they choose.
For example, if the Guides suggest that they want to learn Robotics, we might focus on the Design Space theme in Experiment & Create.
What do I do if I don’t like what you are discussing as part of the program?
If your concern is for something that is preventing your child from participating, please speak to us. We always want to hear how we can provide every Guide with the best experience.
If your concern is for the content itself, please speak with Girl Guides directly by contacting info@girlguides.ca. When planning any activity, we look to the national program team for guidance on how to deliver activities that are age appropriate and align with the values of the organization. We will also let you know in weekly emails what we plan to discuss so you can decide accordingly whether your child will participate.
What does my child do with their badges and pins?
Put them anywhere that your child likes! They can sew/pin them on their shirt, keep them in a memory box, buy a sash to sew them on and wear it with their uniform, or even sew them with other crests on a camp blanket.
How do you attach the badges?
The traditional way is to sew them on. However, you can also attach them with fusible backing like “Heat and Bond” or “Badge Magic.” You can usually find these products online or at craft supply stores.
Are special crests allowed to be sewn on my child’s sash?
Yes! Just like badges, your child can keep or show off their crests however they like.
Can my child wear pins and badges from their old unit with their uniform?
Yes! They can mix and match how they like once they earn them. However, some children like to keep each of the branch badges separate or have a separate sash for each branch. They might also want to move old badges and crests to a memory box or camp blanket and just wear their new ones.
What is the difference between a badge and a crest?
Badges all have a similar design and the border colour will be the same as the branch they are in (blue for Guides). They will be either hexagon or diamond shaped. Badges represent the achievements your child has accomplished by participating in the program.
Crests will have special unique designs and come in all sorts of shapes and colours. They represent completing a special challenge, participating in a special event, or just for fun!
How can my child earn the Lady Baden Powell (LBP) Challenge Award?
The Lady Baden Powell (LBP) Award is a special challenge that Guides can work on independently outside of meetings to accomplish. It involves sharing the Spirit of Guiding with others, exhibiting good leadership skills, and giving back to your community.
You can see all the details about how to earn the challenge in the workbook available below. Your Guide also has a copy of this in their Blue Journal.
Why does the unit sell cookies?
For those of you new to GGC, Girl Guide Cookies are the primary fundraiser for our organization. Between the mint and sandwich cookie campaigns, these sales help to support administrative costs, fund sponsorships and subsidies for Girl Guide activities, and support local units.
At our unit level, this additional fundraising helps us pay for supplies, subsidize extraordinary adventure activities, and special events.
We make about $11 per case of cookies. The more cookies we sell, the more money our unit receives directly.
Does my family have to take home cookies?
Yes, when you register, you agree that you will participate in the sale of cookies. We ask that each child take at least one case to sell. That’s only 12 boxes!
Teachers, Coaches, and family are all great options for selling cookies to. We typically can sell more than one case of cookies per year just by putting them out on our desks at work.
Where possible, we will also try to coordinate unit cookie sale events for each campaign.
Do I have to take cookies if I already sold some for my other child’s unit?
We kindly ask that you split your cookie fundraising between both units so that both can be supported.
How much do cookies cost?
They are $6/box or $72/case. (That’s 12 boxes in each case)
When are a certain type of cookie sold?
We sell chocolatey mint cookies in the fall and sandwich cookies in the spring. However, we sometimes reserve a few cases of the opposite type to carry over into the next campaign. Please speak to us if you are looking for a certain type and we can let you know if they are available.
When will cookies arrive? What times of year do you sell cookies?
Fall cookies (Mint) typically arrive around the time of our first meeting, shortly before Thanksgiving weekend. Spring cookies (Sandwich) typically arrive around March Break.
How do I pay for cookies or return the money we raised?
Parents have two options for returning money raised by cookie sales:
1) Sell your cookies, then return the funds
If you choose, you may sell your cookies first, and then return the funds to us by a specified date. If you choose to do so, you must sign a Cookie Contract stating that you will return the money raised by the specified date. The cookie contract will be available to sign at the meeting.
2) Pay upfront
If it is easier for you, parents may also pay for cookies when they pick them up. Payment is accepted by cash, cheque, online bill payment, or card via Square.
See the Payment Instructions link here for instructions on how to make payments.
When is cookie money due back?
Check the most recent weekly email. This changes each year depending on when we receive our cookie delivery.
Are Girl Guide cookies Kosher?
To the best of our knowledge, the spring sandwich cookies are Kosher, but the chocolately mint cookies are not.
Please contact cookies@girlguides.ca for the most up to date advice.
What are Cookie Bucks?
We will be offering a credit to any Guide who sells more than two cases of cookies (one for each campaign).
For every case sold after the second, Guides will earn $5 per extra case sold that they can use as a discount off of any payment for extraordinary adventure activities and/or special events.
When paying for an event, please let the leaders know you would like to use your Cookie Bucks towards payment. You can ask us at any point after the first cookie campaign how much credit your Guide has earned.
Example:
| Cases Sold | Cookie Bucks Earned |
|---|---|
| 1 case | $0 |
| 2 cases | $0 |
| 3 cases | $5 |
| 4 cases | $10 |
| 5 cases | $15 |
Examples of extraordinary activities and events:
Camps, Theater Trips, Weekend Outings, etc.
Do I need to buy my child the uniform?
Yes, the Girl Guide Uniform only has one mandatory item: The T-Shirt or Tunic. This uniform shirt is the same for every branch, and Guides can wear the same shirt until they outgrow it. Guides who have old Guide uniforms may continue to wear them if they choose.
The sash and tie are optional. However, we would strongly encourage all Guides to have them as they make the uniform look a little nicer and give the Guides a place to show off their badges.
Please label all your Guide’s uniform items with her full name. If your child does not have a uniform shirt in time for the first meeting or is participating in Try Now, Join Later, they may wear a navy blue shirt.
Can I buy uniform items in person?
No, you can only purchase the uniform online at https://thegirlguidestore.ca
What company makes the Girl Guide uniform items?
The Girl Guide Store is run by a company called Positive Identity. You can reach them by emailing support@thegirlguidestore.ca.
How do I return or exchange a uniform item? What if my package doesn’t arrive?
Please refer to the returns page on The Girl Guide Store website. You can also reach them by emailing support@thegirlguidestore.ca.
Why is shipping from The Girl Guide Store so crazy expensive?
Shipping fees across the country are standardized so it costs the same to order a uniform or badges whether you live in an isolated northern or rural community, or if you live in the big city. We don’t pay any less for shipping as a unit. It costs the same for us to order badges!
Does the unit place a group order for uniform items?
No, our unit does not. If the unit places a group order, it makes it really difficult to do a return if you need a different size or there was a problem with the order. However, you are welcome to speak to other parents at drop off/pick up if you want to order together.
How long does shipping take to deliver?
The Girl Guide Store gets very busy during peak ordering times; mainly September/October and May/June.
During peak times, it can take 5-10 business days to get your order.
However, in Toronto, I usually receive packages in about 3 days on average.
What do I do if I can’t afford the uniform?
There is a uniform subsidy available for applicable cases. Please contact Girl Guides directly at info@girlguides.ca and ask about uniform subsidies.
Since kids outgrow clothes quickly, you can also sometimes find second hand uniforms online through neighbourhood Buy/Sell/Trade groups.
If you are still having difficulty, please let us know and we can see what we can do to help.
Do Guides go camping overnight?
Yes! We sometimes even go camping more than once a year if it’s something the Guides really want to do and the unit can afford it.
When do the Guides go camping?
It depends on interest from the unit, but we typically always try to plan at least one camp at the end of the year in June.
Can my Guide still participate if they are not ready to stay overnight?
We encourage you to let them try at Guide age. Sometimes when they are with their friends, they forget any concerns.
However, if they are still very hesitant, we can arrange for them to join us for just the day.
We can’t afford to send our child to camp or buy some of the equipment.
Please talk to us! We can’t help if we don’t know and cost should never present a barrier to any Guide attending camp. There is subsidy we can help you access at both the national and unit level.
My Guide has never gone camping or slept away from home before. Will they be alright?
Know that Guiders are required to complete a rigorous Emergency Preparedness program any time we want to take Guides camping, and between the leaders, we have more than 25 years of experience taking kids on overnight trips.
If you still aren’t sure if your Guide is ready for the overnight, here’s some things to try at home to get them ready:
Be excited about the sleepover and talk about it at home! When we worry as adults, kids pick up on it. The more excited you are, the more excited they will be to try.
Don’t disrupt their routine. Talk with your Guide and help them find ways to replicate their bedtime routine at camp.
Don’t tell them they can call you anytime. It seems odd, but if a Guide knows they can go home, it’s the first thing they will ask for. Instead, let them know they can always ask a leader for help. We will call you if needed.
Remind them of times they have succeeded independently at something new.
Have them try out a sleepover somewhere they know, like at a relative’s or family friend’s house. Send them with all the same things you’d send to camp and see how they do closer to home.
How do I know my child will be safe with you?
In addition to the vulnerable sector police records check we must maintain as volunteers, know that Guiders are required to complete a rigorous Emergency Preparedness program any time we want to take Guides camping.
Between the leaders, we have more than 25 years of experience taking kids on overnight trips. We are also required to maintain lower ratios and have a trained first aider present for all overnight activities.
If you have more questions about our safety procedures, you can contact info@girlguides.ca and request more information about Safe Guide policy.
If my child needs me, will you call?
Of course! But we’re going to try everything we can to try and get them through the night first. Usually a Guider can talk them down and back to bed. But if they are feeling unwell or we really can’t get them back to bed without speaking to you on the phone, we will call and determine if they need to be picked up. (But in 13 years, I’ve only had two kids actually need to go home)
Will my Guide be staying with their friends?
For activities some activities during the weekend, we may mix them with other kids to encourage them to make new friends. However, we usually let Guides choose who they want to share a sleeping space with.
Will the Leaders be sleeping nearby?
Yes. We usually sleep in a separate Tabin or room nearby depending on the layout of the space.
Can I pick up or drop off my Guide at a different time?
As much as possible, we encourage you to let your Guide focus on camp and consider rescheduling or skipping other weekend activities.
While we do our best to accommodate, overnight activities don’t run on an exacting schedule and follows the needs of the kids at the time. So it can be difficult to plan our activities around your schedule.
Do I actually need to send my child with all the items on the kit list?
We have done everything we can to keep kit list items to a minimum and supply unit items when we can.
So if it’s on the list, its a must for your child’s safety and to ensure they have a comfortable and safe time.
I still have other questions.
We’re here to help! Just ask us.
584th Toronto Girl Guides 