The first week was busy with a visit to meet the Mayor of Dartmouth where a gift was presented on behalf of our Mayor Walter Fitzgerald, a boat trip to Dartmouth Castle, a Round Robin consisting of a river trip to Totnes, double decker bus ride to Paignton, steam train and ferry boat ride across the river back to Dartmouth. There was a visit to Plymouth, the last city from where the pilgrim fathers left England to sail to America. And Dartmoor, a national park famous for its ponies and landscape. A shopping trip to Exeter and a full day of waterfun activities at Woodland Aventure Park. We hosted a "Thank You" supper for our host families at the end of week and entertained everyone with a fun look at Canada through skits and songs - from coast to coast.

The second week included five nights of camping at Foxlease with canoeing, archery, swimming and orienteering activities. One evening we had a giant campfire with other groups camping on site to sing familiar guiding songs. Our special day trip to Brownsea Island will always be remembered because we not only saw where Lord Baden Powell held the first camp for scouts, but we met other guiders, scouters, guides, scouts and the general public from other parts of the world.

On Friday we left Foxlease and headed to Pax Lodge for a three night stay where we talked with girls from several different parts of the world and bought from the Gift Shop. While in London, we visited Buckingham Palace, Guide Heritage Centre and the Guide Store for shopping. Sightseeing to Trafalgar Square, Pickadilly Circus, Westmister Abby and Big Ben, Horse Guards Parade, Houses of Parliament and #10 Downing Street where a friendly informative "Bobby" gave us the history of #10. This was an extra special treat because the general public is not permitted in this guarded area. A river boat trip to the Tower of London where we viewed the Crown Jewels, and a final tour around London by coach to see Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, the Ritz Hotel, and Harrods rounded out our very busy days in London where we walked for miles.

Upon our return to Canada, the girls and guiders brought back beautiful memories through their journals, pictures and gifts but most of all their friendships, old and new, will always be cherished. They learned how difficult it was to fundraise and how to fill out the many forms necessary for the trip. They learned how to pack for home stay and camp. They learned how to manage their money in a strange currency, some more than others. They filled out their customs forms to declare what they brought back into the country. They read direction signs in aiports, on street corners, in shops, at Pax Lodge. They interacted with many other cultures from all over the world, and most of all they learned how proud they are to sing "O Canada" in another country when the Canadian flag is raised.

We would like to thank Cole Harbour District, Dartmouth Lakes Area, the Nova Scotia Provincial International Committee and Fundraising Committee for supporting us in our venture. It was a trip of a lifetime.

(Excerpts from letter written by Julie Crawford to Girl Guides of Canada, Dartmouth Lakes Area, on August 20, 1998)

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