Backpacking the Balkans 2019

Hi! I'm Tory, I'm 21 (22 by the time we fly!) and I study Politics and International Relations at the University of Manchester. I'll be coordinating the blog and the social media for the trip with the girls.  I've been involved in Girlguiding since I was a Brownie and now I am a Rainbow, Brownie and Ranger leader from Sandiway, in Cheshire Forest.    While this is my first Region international trip, I was the photo and video coordinator of the GOLD (Guiding Overseas Linked with Development) trip to the Maldives last summer! Going abroad with Girlguiding was incredible, especially to such a beautiful place, and I can't wait to go to the Balkans this year. I've also been to several international camps in the UK, including being on the service team at Charnwood 2016 and Poacher 2017. I love travelling, and I'm always dreaming of the next adventure. I'm definitely making the most of my long uni holidays! While we're away, I'm most lo...

Hi, I'm Ellie! I'm a Guide Leader on the Isle of Man, and the First Aider for our trip. I am 24 and I grew up in Leicester, England, where I first became a Rainbow - and haven't left Guiding since! I became a leader at 18 and moved to Ormskirk, Lancashire for university. I absolutely loved it and soon volunteered with a Guide unit there. Whilst living in Ormskirk, I was selected to be a leader on ICE (International Community Experience) 2017 which led me to a week-long trip to Finland. Since then, I have also been a volunteer for Adventures in Prague and have started my Queen's Guide Award. In September 2017, I moved to the Isle of Man to start my first job as an English teacher. When I'm not working or Guiding, I likes to dance and do lots of outdoor activities, mostly walking. I can't wait for our adventure to the Balkans, but I'm particularly looking forward to the fun and the jokes we are going to have - laughing a lot makes it easier ...

As the trip is getting closer, now is a good time for us to start thinking about what we’re going to take with us...and most importantly, how we’re going to fit it all in! Our top tip is to keep checking the kit list and tick it off when you have something that you need. Ultimately, you know yourself better than anyone else so you will know what is comfortable for you, but the following tips and guidance may be helpful... 1. Packing cubes You may have heard of these before or you may have just heard people raving about them. Used correctly, they can not only save you space, but also keep your kit organised and tidy whilst on the move. There are loads of different size and colour options available on sites such as Amazon, or you can use small bags of your own (i.e. wash bags, draw strings backs, boot bags).  2. Fold like a pro Space saving is key when backpacking and the way you fold your items (especially clothing) can make a difference. There are making dif...

Hi! I'm Alice, a Guide Leader and primary school teacher on the Isle of Man where I have lived for most of my life, bar my time in Liverpool for University. I have been involved with Girlguiding in some form since joining as a Brownie and I have been a Leader for just over 15 years. As well as running a Guide unit, I am County International Advisor, an occasional Rainbow Leader and have been a Brownie Leader and District Commissioner in my time. I have also been known to volunteer with a Young Carer project helping teenagers and young adults get respite through camping experiences.  I enjoy visiting new places and like to make the most of the school holidays! I rarely go any time without having the next trip lined up! Our Guides often visit the UK for camps and trips, this summer we went further afield to Adventures in Prague, followed with a trip to Berlin which was lots of fun. Although I've visited several European countries over the years, I've never been...

This weekend, the group was reunited at Seven Springs Outdoor Activity Centre in Disley, Manchester, for our second briefing weekend. Agnes BP would have loved having a giant bee named after her Despite a small ladybird invasion (and Tory throwing her phone across the room in a complete overreaction) the site was lovely and we definitely tried to make the most of the nice weather. In between planning sessions, we made time for their butterfly trail, a chocolate cake picnic (food seems to be a massive feature in this trip) and a visit to Agnes Bee-den Powell, who was Girlguiding Manchester's entrant in the Manchester 'Bee in the City' campaign last summer. With the bare bones of our trip already in place, we had the task this weekend of filling the gaps in between.  O ur flights, first three nights (including our white water rafting trip!) and the last night were already booked after making the plans at the first briefing weekend, so the girls had the freedom t...

Last weekend, the three leaders were let loose on the Isle of Man for a planning and bonding weekend that may or may not have included far too much food and a very competitive (and wet!) round of glow in the dark mini golf. Hopefully this won't be the weather every time we get together! None of us had met prior to the first briefing weekend - apart from a brief introduction between Alice and a poorly Tory at the Region International Evening - so it was good to spend the weekend getting to know each other. Ellie also decided to tell us that she's an unlucky charm when it comes to transport - not great news when our trip revolves around jumping on and off planes, trains, buses, cars, bikes and even rafts. Thanks to the terrible weather (why does it always rain when we have planning meetings?!) we managed to get a lot of planning done on Saturday. We made plans for our first few days - including going through three border checkpoints in 36 hours - based on what the girls ...

Hello! We're Backpacking the Balkans 2019, a Girlguiding North West England trip. We're six girls and three leaders who are making the journey through Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro in Summer 2019, and completing a few challenges along the way. This blog will track our journey from now, through the trip to our debrief and Region International Celebration evening in November. We'll be sharing details from our briefing weekends, fundraising events, our top packing tips, and of course the trip itself. Remember to subscribe for updates on our trip, and follow our Twitter and Instagram @BalkansNWE2019!