Volunteer in new zealand with the girl scouts

In the grocery store store, I found a sign reading “Picton Guiding Group.” A girl scout all my life, I had looked up Girl usher New Seeland on the Web and sent them an email request if I could get involved. I had forgotten about it until I saw the sign inviting the grownup of Picton to learn about their local group. It was an open invitation and I took it.

It turned out the ground for the meeting was to decide what was to be done about the group. It had no leader, and it was jolly clear that everyone there had already turned down the job. They turned to me, and I admitted I was just a alien who had seen a sign and decided to investigate.

Before I knew what was occurrence, I was asked to lead the Picton Guides. In exchange, I lived for free in the Guide Hall.

I had the edifice to myself except on Thursdays for Guide meeting and wed nights when the scots country dance group met.

I lived there until the end of the school term, wash dishes at a local café, planning scavenger hunts and political party for the usher, and being part of Picton. Some days I’d walk to the waterfront and hire a kayak and on days off I would take trips to see the dolphinfish of Kaikoura and the wineries near Blenheim. I sold biscuits with Guide kids and leaders and was invited to speak at a meeting of older Guides about Girl Scouting in America.

After six weeks, I finished my career as Picton’s Guide leader and traveled to Christchurch…where I found a convention of 400 Guide leaders. I told them about my adventures in Picton and was invited to join their activity. “I’m not a Girl Guide,” one of the women told me. “I’m a Girl Scout, from the U.S.”

“Me too,” I told her. I was both.

My advice to working holiday travelers and other travelers is to remember who you are at home. Do you belong to a club? A church? Amnesty International? Habitat for Humanity? Scouts? Professional organizations? Do you have a skill the Red Cross or a conservation society can use? Call them. Small communities often don’t have enough volunteers.

What I learned in Picton is to not be afraid to try. I was able to help fulfill a community need while making connections that helped me. You aren’t always needed, but you can’t find opportunities if you don‘t ask.

For More Info

To learn about international girl scouting and guiding, start with: www.wagggsworld.org. To find information about Girl Guides in New Zealand go to: www.girlguides.org.nz.

BBH has great information on budget travel and accommodation throughout New Zealand: www.backpack.co.nz.

For information on New Zealand working holidays visit the BUNAC web site, www.bunac.com/usa/worknewzealand.

KRIS BAKER lives and writes in her native Washington state.