Our training program (National and in our local area) is designed to provide adult members with the opportunity to obtain the skills and resources needed to carry out various Guiding positions confidently. Training is a great way to connect with other Guiders, share ideas, and remain energized about Guiding. Ranger-aged members are also welcome to take these trainings.
Link to National training opportunities: https://mbr.girlguides.ca/MZ/Training/Copy_of_Training_for_Adult_Members/MZ/Training/Training.aspx?hkey=85453872-e9aa-45b9-9e62-1563006f9f7e
Upcoming Training and Events 2026 – 2027
ROVING OUTDOOR SKILLS AND CAMP TRAINING
Does your Unit need or want more personalized training in indoor or outdoor camping, or other outdoor skills? We can come to you and provide hands-on training tailored to you and your Unit’s interests, experience level, and needs.
Here are some examples of the training we can offer:
- Tent Skills – Learn how to pitch (put up), strike (take down), and properly care for your tent.
- Tarps and Shelters – Learn how to erect large and small tarps for shelter and shade, including techniques for setting up tarps in less-than-ideal conditions.
- Campsite Selection and Organization – Learn the A to Z of selecting, setting up, and organizing a fun, comfortable, and safe campsite.
- Campfire Skills and Safety – Learn how to safely light a match, build and maintain a campfire, and properly extinguish it.
- Packing for Camp – Learn what to pack and how to pack for both warm-weather and cold-weather camping.
- Outdoor Cooking – Learn a variety of outdoor cooking methods, including box ovens, burlap wraps, tin-can cooking, Dutch ovens, roasting, folding ovens, and more.
- Menu Planning and Recipes – Explore recipe ideas and learn how to plan practical and enjoyable menus for summer and winter camps.
- Knots, Lashings, and Gadgets – Learn essential knots, lashings, and how to build useful camp gadgets and giant catapults (ballista’s).
- Orienteering and Compass Skills – Learn basic compass and navigation skills.
- Geocaching – Learn the basics of geocaching and how to use it as a fun outdoor learning activity.
- Hiking and Backpacking Skills – Learn how to prepare for, plan, and safely enjoy hiking and backpacking adventures.
- Survival Skills and Emergency Shelters – Learn basic survival techniques and how to construct emergency shelters.
- Winter Camping and Cold-Weather Skills – Learn how to prepare for and safely enjoy camping in cold-weather conditions.
- Kayak Camping Preparation: Learn how to prepare a route and pack your kayak in preparation for your next Kayak adventure.
- Outdoor Games and Activities – Discover fun, engaging outdoor games and activities suitable for a variety of ages and skill levels.
- Knife skills – Learn how to safely use a pocket knife and the basic skills of whittling wood.
- Chopping wood – Learn how to safely use an axe and hatchet to chop wood and kindling for your campfire.
If you are new to camp (either indoor or outdoor) we will happily guide you through the process from preparation (budget, paperwork, kit lists, etc.) to camp activities, takedown and clean up. Contact Clare at lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Be Bear Prepared – ZOOM
Tuesday, October 20 at 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Our speaker is from the North Shore Black Bear Society and our own Val Clark will tie in Safe Guide for outdoor activities.
This valuable session will be of interest to everyone!
Basic/Emergency First Aid – Blended*
Saturday November 21 from 9am to 1:30pm
- 4 hours online before the in person training date
- In person @ Life Preservers First Aid in North Vancouver
Winter (Snow) Camp
February 26 to 28, 2027, Callaghan Valley
This red level camp and training is open to Pathfinders, Rangers, Trex and their Guiders. Also individual Guiders interested in learning how to camp safely in the snow. Click this link for more information.
Guide Camp Skills Day
Sunday April 11, 2027 (Morning or afternoon sessions), Cates Park/Whey-ah-Wichen
This 3 hour session offers opportunities for Guide aged girls to learn basic camp skills: tarping, outdoor cooking and fire lighting.
Registration opens in Double Knot in the New Year.
Pathfinder, Ranger and Trex Challenge Day
Sunday April 25, 2027, Cates Park/Whey-ah-Wichen
This fun team event challenges participants in their outdoor skills abilities. Lots of cool prizes.
Registration opens in Double Knot in the New Year.
Meet the team
The smiles are real! Our trainers take to the Broughton Archipelago waters, Northern Vancouver Island 2023.
Alison Speirs, Area Training Advisor
alison_s@eastlink.ca
Alison has been a Trainer for more than 30 years and is presently the Area Training Advisor. She feels that Guiding has shaped her life in a thousand wonderful ways and has many happy memories of Guiding growing up. Alison has been a leader in all branch levels, and a District Commissioner. She invites you to share her passion and enthusiasm for Training!
Val Clark, Deputy Training Advisor and Registrar and e-learning
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Valerie has been involved in Girl Guides for as long as she can remember. She’s worked her way through the girl programs and was a Sparks leader for 8 years. She has been with the Training team for the past 20 years. She looks forward to meeting you at the next Training!
Katie Caple
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Katie loves music in Guiding, camping, walking and hiking, having fun, and basically anything to do with the Arts (not so much crafts). She has been Guiding for more than 50 years – from Vancouver to Prince George and now the Sunshine Coast. She is currently a member of the Panther Trefoil Guild on the Sunshine Coast, and she loves to do anything and everything with her grandchildren.
Tracy L. Clark
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Tracy has been a Guider in Lions Area for over 40 years, with positions ranging from Unit Guider to District, Division and Area Commissioner as well as several Provincial Guiding positions – adding to her illustrious Guiding career.
Tracy loves Sparks and Embers and seeing their eyes light up with they accomplish a task or craft, or seeing something on a hike they did not expect. She loves to do crafts and show everyone that they are not as scary as they seem. She is passionate about making sure everyone is having FUN!!!
Susan Gilmour
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Susan is passionate about sharing her experiences as a Unit Guider with new Guiders. Susan started as a Sparks Leader many years ago and has been a leader with Embers, Guides and Pathfinders. She enjoys the traditions, community service opportunities, and outdoor activities associated with Guiding.
Tamsin Guppy
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Involved in Girl Guides for many years, Tamsin continues to be involved because of her love of the outdoors and her desire to share her enjoyment with others. Tamsin’s favourite guiding activities are back-country camping, hiking, kayaking, cycling and snowshoeing. Tamsin enjoys helping get groups outside and can come to your unit to help you develop skills for future camps or other outdoor activities. Look out for Tamsin teaching at any outdoor training.
Clare Lakes, Area Camp Advisor
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Clare, our Area Camp Advisor, is happiest when cooking over a camp fire, sleeping in a tent, hiking in the mountains or digging a shelter in the snow at Winter camp.
Clare has enjoyed leading girls through Sparks, Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders. She continues to be involved in Guiding as she shares her experience and love of the outdoors as a Trainer.
Maureen Rennie
lionsareatraining@gmail.com
Maureen wants more girls to experience outdoor camping and adventurous activities. Serving as a trainer has been a rewarding way to share her experience and perspective and encourage new leaders to take their girls out into nature for fun and challenging experiences with friends. Maureen also loves leading campfire singing and teaching canoeing and kayaking skills.
Evaluations from Training participants…
…New Guider Training Day was just so much fun! I really was dreading going and wasting a full day but the time flew and I learned so much that will help me this year with my Brownies! Thanks!
I was really shy about attending New Guider Training Day but my District Commissioner picked me up and brought me to the training and it was just great! I met so many new Guiders just like me! A group of us are planning to meet for coffee…I was so impressed with everything…thanks!
My Guiding buddy and I arrived together not expecting anything special…but wow! Someone with balloons met us right in the parking lot…we had no doubt that we were in the right place! Thanks!
The Trainers at Guide Camp Skills Day were just great…so patient and kind! The best part was the look on the girl’s faces when they lit a match for the first time! So much fun…we can hardly wait to go camping and try out our new skills!
Safe Guide wasn’t boring like they told me…every moment was full of good, clear, concise information…thanks to Val…she was awesome! I am actually looking forward to completing my first set of Safe Guide forms for our next camp!
…I cannot fully express how connected I feel to Guiding at the moment…what a weekend! I thought that I had seen and done everything Guiding but this was purely magical…I highly recommend an enrichment retreat/overnight to everyone!
I was totally feeling overwhelmed…but now I feel like this is doable…
I love how the training has given so many great take home ideas to try out immediately…thanks!