Girl Guides of Canada-Alberta

Child Safe Canada ( S, B, G )
Some of the programs offered by Child Safe Canada relate to healthy relationships. These include self-esteem, social skills, strangers and dangers, friendship builders, and others. Courses can run at their Lakeview location or they come to you. Fees charged.

Circle of Rhythm Drum Circles ( All ages )
Drum circles offer a sense of belonging and build mental and physical health. A hands-on workshop will help participants relieve stress, have fun together and work well as a team. A successful drum circle requires building relationships based on mutual respect, good listening, focus and collaboration.

Escape Rooms ( P, R )
Escape Rooms (aka Locked Rooms) offer the opportunity to practise your team work and collaboration skills in a fun environment.

Healthy Youth Relationships ( R )
Red Cross offers a free e-learning module on healthy youth relationships. Takes about 90 minutes to complete and includes interactive games and quizzes. Could be done during a unit meeting if you have internet available. Guiders could also take the module before tackling these topics with their girls.

Humane Society (G, P, R )
Offers a presentation on bullying where participants explore the similarities between bullying and animal cruelty by comparing the motivations behind aggressive behavior.

Safe4Life Personal Safety (Self-Defence) Classes ( B, G, P, R )
Girls learn the safety cheer, the ABCDs of safety, as well as basic safety awareness and preparedness strategies; they will practice some hands-on skills. Instructors bring kick bags so girls can punch and kick stuff! Safety class is 60 to 90 minutes long. Special pricing for Girl Guide units is about $100 to $250 depending on the duration and number of girls.

Youthlink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre – Safe for Life (G, P, R )
Through impactful presentations, youth get the straight facts and important information they need to hear. We teach proven smart decision-making skills and speak openly about help-seeking behavior. Select two of the following topics: healthy relationships, drugs, gangs, online safety and bullying.

Circle of Rhythm Drum Circles ( All ages )
Drum circles offer a sense of belonging and build mental and physical health. A hands-on workshop will help participants relieve stress, have fun together and work well as a team. A successful drum circle requires building relationships based on mutual respect, good listening, focus and collaboration.

ConnecTeen Mental Health Presentations ( P, R )
ConnecTeen is the Calgary Distress Centre’s peer support service. They will come to units and provide free 45-minute presentations. Highly trained youth volunteers will help facilitate discussions with your girls about stigma and mental as well as discuss common mental health concerns or issues they may be facing. To book a presentation, visit the Parents and Professionals page on the ConnecTeen website.

WP Puppet Theatre ( B, G )
WP Puppet Theatre provides puppetry infused learning experiences. Live virtual and in-person workshops available. Certain workshops use puppets as a tool to explore cultural/social diversity, expressing emotions, and exploring the multiple facets of who you are.

Amputees ( S, B, G )
Child amputees will come to your unit to communicate the PLAYSAFE message of the War Amps to make children more aware of the dangers in their play environment. Website also offers multiple videos on safety topics like lawn mowers and trains.

ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen ( G, P )
Cooking classes at their location or virtual.

Cobs Bread ( S, B, G )
Many Cobs Bread locations will give tours. Contact your nearest location and ask.

Cor.Fit Obstacle Course ( B, G, P, R )
Indoor obstacle course, Ninja warrior style. Caters to all level of individuals. Group bookings include a coach to make sure you have a great time and stay safe.

Dental Visits ( S, B )
Don’t be shy about talking to your local dentist’s office. Many dental hygienists are very happy to provide tours and/or visit your meetings.

Heart Smart Kids ( S, B, G )
Information from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Horseback Riding ( B, G, P, R )
There are many third-party service providers for horseback riding.

• Bar Jo Ranch: Located approximately 20 minutes west of Cochrane. Offer riding lessons and trail rides.
• Boundary Ranch: Located on highway 40 close to Kananaskis village. Offer trail rides and other outdoor themed programming.
• Eagle Feather Riding: Located about 20 minutes west of Calgary on highway 22. This is not a trail ride. Sessions include horse care, how to groom and feed, as well as how to communicate, learn and ride as one with the horse. All sessions are done bareback, without saddles, to help you feel and understand the horse better. Very spiritual.
• Horsin Around: Located in SW Calgary inside the city limits. This is not a trail ride. The riding school provides instruction on horsemanship, equine anatomy, tack and grooming, as well as interaction and riding with the ponies and horses in their outdoor arena. Good option for Embers and Guides. Open to customizing for Girl Guide units.

Human Locomotor Challenge Kit ( All Ages )
Jump, turn, twist, stretch. What is it that makes our bodies able to act like they do? What lies beneath our skin? Learn about bones, muscles, and what makes you move while creating crafts, playing games, and solving puzzles. Discover the wonder of the Human Locomotor System! Order the kit in PDF format from e-patches and crests.

Indoor Climbing Walls ( G, P, R )
There are lots of choices in Calgary for indoor climbing walls. They all provide group sessions and parties.

• Bar Jo Ranch: Located approximately 20 minutes west of Cochrane. Offer riding lessons and trail rides.
• Boundary Ranch: Located on highway 40 close to Kananaskis village. Offer trail rides and other outdoor themed programming.
• Eagle Feather Riding: Located about 20 minutes west of Calgary on highway 22. This is not a trail ride. Sessions include horse care, how to groom and feed, as well as how to communicate, learn and ride as one with the horse. All sessions are done bareback, without saddles, to help you feel and understand the horse better. Very spiritual.
• Horsin Around: Located in SW Calgary inside the city limits. This is not a trail ride. The riding school provides instruction on horsemanship, equine anatomy, tack and grooming, as well as interaction and riding with the ponies and horses in their outdoor arena. Good option for Embers and Guides. Open to customizing for Girl Guide units.

Indoor Sky Diving at iFly ( All Ages )
Soar like a bird in a 12 ft. diameter wind tunnel. Experience the feeling of free fall as you float on a smooth cushion of air. There’s no parachute, no jumping, and nothing attaching you to planet Earth. It’s just you flying in the air! Wheelchair friendly. They welcome flyers of all abilities, ages 3 and up.

MRU Nursing Students ( All Ages )
Will come to your units and do presentations on topics of your choice. Sample topics could be nutrition, healthy living, dental, etc. Email your request to Jocelyn Lehman at the MRU School of Nursing with details of when, where, age group, topic and your contact info, and she will post an ad on their bulletin board from which students choose their presentations. Best to send requests in October (for Nov/Dec presentations) or February (for March/April presentations).

Perogy Guy ( G, P, R )
Learn to make perogies.

Sunterra Cooking Classes ( G, P, R )
Book a private cooking class. Customize to the age and interests of your group. Minimum 12 participants. Classes held at Sunterra Market, 200 – 12 Ave SE, Calgary.

• Alien In-Line Skating (All Ages): Qualified instructors will do group lessons that emphasize skill development and safety. They provide skates and protective equipment for all ages. Can be done indoors or outdoors. Outdoor area must be smooth, relatively level, dry, free of sand and gravel (swept or sprayed off). Makes a great bridging or district event too.
• Archery ( G, P, R ): Private group bookings available at Calgary Archery Centre. Cost $175 for up to 10 people, including equipment, for maximum 2 hours. Additional people are $15 per person. Optional instructor costs $40.
• Bowling ( All Ages ): Bowling is a popular field trip for all ages. Contact any local bowling alley and arrange a group booking.
• Curling on Ice (G, P, R) : Book a group evening at the Garrison Curling Club. Only available on weeknights in the early fall or late spring, outside of ordinary league play season. Recommend having one experienced curler per sheet, or instruction is available at extra cost.
• Frisbee Rob (all Ages): “Frisbee Rob” is a motivational speaker and frisbee ambassador in Calgary. He helps youth discover what’s possible through physical literacy and emotional intelligence. Various workshops available. Makes a great bridging or district event too.
• Gymnastics (All Ages): There are too many options to list them all here. Just google to see which ones are closest to you. Many gyms offer parties and private rentals for all ages from Sparks through teens and adults. A private rental makes a good bridging or sisterhood event too.
• Infinite Circle Hoops (All Ages): Infinite Circle Hoops is about hula hooping as a way of obtaining physical fitness, freedom of mind, confidence, empowerment, personal reward and most of all, play. Did you know that play creates new neural pathways, boosts dopamine and releases stress? Daniella creates a relaxed playful atmosphere that is easy to learn in. Custom workshops for Girl Guide units can take place indoors or outdoors.
• Rocks and Rings Curling ( S, B, G ): Transform any large indoor space into an iceless curling rink using unique curling equipment on rollers. Have fun with various drills, relays and team building activities. A one-hour rental is $150 for up to 30 children.
• Winter Sports at Canmore Nordic Centre ( G, P, R ): Try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, winter disc golf, ice skating, tobogganing.
• Yoga ( All Ages ) Many yoga studios will do private bookings for Girl Guide groups at your location or theirs.
• Wynbin Yoga: Focuses on yoga for children and has received many positive reviews from Calgary units.
• Granary Road: Offers goat yoga for all ages. Located about 10 minutes southwest of Calgary.