2006-2008

Gang Show March 2008
	We always manage a few members in the cast (usually of about 200) of the Oxford Gang Show and this year nine of our girls participated. Its quite gruelling in that there are Monday evening rehearsals from September to March plus Sunday morning rehearsals for those members in the dance team and extra Sunday afternoon rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the Show. The Show itself takes place in the New Theatre Oxford and runs from Monday to Saturday with both a matinee (beloved by local Cubs and Brownies) and a quieter evening performance more in tune with most of the parents.
Cheryl's Permit Camp February 2008
Working for her Queen's Guide Award Cheryl decided to run an indoor camp. So for a few days over half term our Guide Centre hosted half a dozen Rangers with a theme of Thinking Day Around the World.To the right the girls are preparing the pinata, bottom right the pinata nearly finished, below a Nigerian costume and making Mexican Gods eyes. Cheryl says on her Facebook page: Many thanks to Emski, Clare, Jade, Nikki and Katherine : for coming on the camp and also for the funness (eg. theodore the rat!) and also for telling the Assessor they were having fun - even if they were lying!
Christmas Party 2007
	The Christmas Dinner is usually one of the most popular events of our year. However we had to bring the date forward in 2007 which meant very few LINK members could attend as they were still at Uni. Added to that the Ice Rink muddled our booking (again), and we clashed with someones party. However after delivering yule logs, about 15 of us sat down to an excellently cooked turkey dinner followed by the left/right present giving game, party games and a sleepover.
High Ropes Autumn 2007
We're lucky in that we have one of the Scout Association's Centre of Excellence, Youlbury, only a few miles down the road and in 2007 they installed a high ropes course - so of course we had to try it out. Some of the Rangers were really good and managed it easily, some didn't like it at all and a few of us didn't even try!! Whilst there we bumped into  Kelly, one of our ex-members, who is now on the Service Team there.
Kayaking Summer 2007
	We had problems with finding an Instructor for our kayaking course this summer so in the end did without, not running a course at all but inviting all our 1 Star girls back to hone up their Skills, read the syllabus and spend alot of time practicing. Ali who has her 3 Star and Canoe Safety Test came and gave us a hand. Here's Davie at the Assessment, when Becca, Mim, Lucy and Catherine gained their 2 Star. Thanks go to both Ali and Dave.
Summer Camp 2007
Summer Camp 2007 was once again held at Haven Holiday Park at Perran Sands. Nette, Becci, Amy, Sheena, Nikki, Mim and Jade plus Manda who came for a couple of days. Weather was very mixed with a couple of nice days but some rain and it was quite cold. Trips included a visit to Lands End, shopping at Newquay and an afternoon on the beach there, pony trekking locally and a meal out and Jade's Promise Ceremony at Sunset on the beach in Perranporth. The highlight was probably the visit of the RAC man after we discovered a hole in a tyre. Then he found the spare was also punctured!! Luckily we were reimbursed!
Emma's International in Poland
Holly on GOLD in Russia
GOLD is: GUIDING OVERSEAS LINKED WITH DEVELOPMENT Holly decided to go for GOLD as the saying goes and attended an INTOPS (International Opportunties Selection) at Durham at the end of 2006. She was lucky enough to get through and was chosen as a member of a party of six to go to Russia where the Girl Scout Association (RADS), is still in its infancy. Their brief was  to train members of RADS Senior Section and Young Leaders on the skills necessary to develop their Girl Scouting such as programming and team building. The Group from the UK stayed on a campsite for two and a half weeks where most of the training took place. They also got to experience home hospitality, staying in Russian Girl Scout homes for four days. Holly says: I discovered so much about myself and made some great friends. It also taught me what a well developed organisation GirlguidingUK is.
Friday meetings
	Friday nights are taken up with work on the Look Wider Programme, outdoor activities such as visiting the gym, wide games, drop off hikes, scavenger hunts and high ropes. Badge work, such as for the Anglia's First Things First or the Outdoor Challenge or Make Poverty History badge. Crafts, such as Jewellery making, fantasy flowers or pictured here painting ceramic pots at Witney. Other nights are spent on self esteem activities, assertiveness, International meals, talking about life choices, starting a book of Inspiration or creating life maps. The promise is discussed and made, we kayak every summer, cook a lot and laugh even more, as to the parties!! Any excuse - the fun never stops for us!
Sun Run 2007
Runners of the Moon and Sun Run 2007. All runners completed. Members who attended were: Ali, Chris, Dave, David, Sheena, Anna, Becci, Becky, Emma, Clare, Jemma, Olivia, Jade, Nikki, Mim, Maria and Nette. As usual a brilliant weekend. Shame about the volleyball - again!! BUT - THE GOOD NEWS - WE WON...                    Jemma, Sheena, Davie and Phil THE FASTEST MIXED TEAM EVENT! (4 hrs. 33 mins.)
OSCAR Ceremony (SSOX Challenge Presentation)
	Our Senior Section in Oxfordshire Committee sets a Challenge most years and all the Units compete for a Shield. In 2006-7, we competed in a "Movie Challenge" and had a choice of approximately 80 activities to try!    As you can see below Horizon had a go at the phone booth photo, making sandals and bin bag fashions, amongst other things.    The Shield was presented at an "Oscar Ceremony" in June at our County HQ. Older members of the Unit loaned out their dresses, then most of Horizon met early for cocktails and canapés & our DC and her Assistant chose the eight girls they felt had taken the most trouble with their appearance and these got to travel to the event in our stretch limo.    Upon arrival at the venue we were all greeted by the paparazzi & a red carpet, beautifully decorated tables, red & gold balloons, stunning food and loads of alcohol free drinks. Soft lights, sweet music, a chocolate fountain, gold envelopes, a humorous MC, loads of categories, the chance to make your acceptance speech upon the dais and a flower to take away all contributed to the ambiance. A highly successful evening which ended with a Disco and loads of bubbles. Our thanks to the Organisers!!
25th May 2007 Queen's Guide Party
Our County Commissioner kindly presented Becky with her Queen's Guide Award at a bar-b-cue we held at the home of one of our local Ambassador's. All Parents were invited and we took the opportunity of holding a Court of Awards Ceremony presenting Rangers with white flowers, tied with ribbons, with their badges stapled on. Our District Commissioner presented Becci with her 5 year Award and various girls with their First Aid Certificates, whilst our D. of E. Award Adviser presented Silver Awards to Lizzie & Jennie and Bronzes to Clare, Emma and Cheryl.
Duke of Edinburgh Award EXPEDITIONS 2007
	The Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition Group preparing to leave Burley Youth Hostel Campsite in the New Forest on day 2 of their actual Expedition in June (they'd completed the practice a month earlier).
The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Practice Expedition Group preparing to leave the Guide Centre in May.     It rained !! and rained !! However they completed the actual Expedition a month later in glorious sunshine.
	The GOLD Expedition Group coming in at the finish of their 4 day Expedition on Dartmoor in April. Beautiful weather, excellent time keeping, glowing reports.
March Camp 2007
Members visited a Guiding & Scouting Museum as one of the activities on "Winterish Camp" at Youbury. Members here are posing wearing a variety of Guiding & Scouting hats. Archery was another very popular activity.
Jamming Spring 2007
	Making music at a Jam session in our Guide Centre.
Thinking Day 2007
Getting ready to help Rainbows, Brownies and guides light the candles at the District Thinking Day Ceremony 2007.
County Challenge 2006-7
	Members of the Unit, posing in their creations made of bin bags and other bits and pieces, one of the Movie Challenges set by the County. Spring 2007
The 2006-'07 SSOX (Senior Section in Oxfordshire) County Challenge was a movie challenge. In June 2006 we had had a Photographic Evening, which included taking a picture of as many Rangers as they could squash into a telephone kiosk. We were delighted to discover this same clause incorporated into the Movie Challenge, so went out and repeated the exercise.. Other challenges included making our own sandals, punting, kayaking, bowling, participating in a First Aid Training, etc.
UNIT AGM & COURT OF AWARDS Sept. '06 Becky's GOLD D. of E. Award Celebration
	Our Unit Annual General Meeting was once again held at the end of September. Sadly we had to say good-bye to Ali and Lizzie, both off to University, but members were thrilled with the badges awarded, mostly for "Nights Away". Just after the AGM, at the beginning of October Becky was presented with her GOLD Duke of Edinburgh Award by the County Commissioner at a small party at the Guide Centre. PLEASE SEE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS PAGES
NORDJAMB 2006
Summer Camp for 12 of us in August 2006 was the NORDJAMB Jamboree in Iceland. We spent 10 days in the Country, arriving at Reykjavik and spending the first couple of nights at a Salvation Army Hostel, where we explored the city, shopped and went out for a traditional Viking dinner of shark, lamb shank and cloud berries. We then moved  on to camp at Ulfljotsaven, the National Campsite near Pingvellier where we met up with the 250 odd other participants of the Jamboree. We spent a couple of days acclimatising and networking then various groups went off on different activities, the majority of Horizon choosing to cycle around the lake. The last days of the Jamboree were spent back at Ulfljotsaven, exploring the local area, swapping badges and crafts with other participants and attending a workshop about Icelandic folkore and myths. We ended the Camp with a tree planting ceremony at the Pingvellier Friendship forest. The last couple of days of the trip were spent at Jotenheimar, the Icelandic Scout Building in Reyjavik, here we all attended a pizza party, went swimming in the Blue Lagoon, where we were treated to a really good lunch and where Cheryl & Clare made their Promise & Ali renewed hers.
Sun Run 2006
2006 District Camp at Horley
	Only four members of the Unit managed to support the District Camp but Myrriam made her Promise at the bar-b-cue on the Friday evening.
2006 Innovate in Ulster
	Older members enjoying themselves in Ulster at Innovate in June 2006,
2006 Bronze Walking
Having done their Training and completed their Bronze Practice Expedition last year Clare, Emma, Cheryl and Maryanne eventually completed their fifteen mile Expedition staying at Youlbury and looking at the state of paths bordering different types of waterways.
2006 Bell Ringing
	One of our Friday night meetings in April 2006 was spent bell ringing at St Mary's Church in Kidlington. Practically the whole Unit attended and everyone had a go, thoroughly enjoying themselves. We're very grateful to Kidlington Bell Ringing Group who made this possible.
2006 Award Presentation
Our annual Duke of Edinburgh Award Presentation was held at Oxford Town Hall in March 2006. Laura, Alice, Lizzie, Holly and Sheena were all awarded their Silvers. All, except Sheena, who worked for at a Red Cross Charity Shop, had helped with Brownies for the Service Clause and are Young Leaders.
2006 Thinking Day
	Cheryl, Holly, Ali, Lizzie and Amy helped Becky with the organisation of the District Thinking Day Event at the Guide Centre

Check out our old photo album