Spring Downs District

Spring Downs District is part of Epsom Division in Surrey East. Our District was formed in 1994 when Ewell Village and Epsom East Districts were merged. Our new name was chosen to signify the springs which rise in Ewell Village and the Epsom Downs which are the home of the racecourse.

We have two Rainbow units both meeting on Tuesday, five Brownies Packs which meet on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and two Guide units both meeting on Thursday. We also have quite a large group of Young Leaders who help in various Units and meet together to support each other through the Look Wider programme.

We have a District event once a year where girls from all the sections meet to take part in various crafts and activities.

Our Rainbow Units enjoy taking part in District events and the Division Rainbow Fun Day each year.

In our meetings we follow the Rainbow Jigsaw which has four areas to give it balance and variety.

Each activity a Rainbow does is based on one or more of these areas.

	ç A Teddy Bear evening. Crowns and bracelets fit è for a princess
	ç Friendly dinosaurs. These cute ducks were è great fun to make.

We love choosing activities from the Rainbow Roundabouts and working for badges. We took part in Changing the World by learning all about Asthma. We raised money for Asthma UK by holding a sponsored sing.

We learned about Asthma triggers such as pet hair, flour, pollen and pollution.. Then we made flapjacks which don’t use flour.

We have already held two sleepovers and are looking forward to another one later in the year..

	All our Brownies have the opportunity to go on Pack Holidays where we stay in a holiday house together and have lots of fun.
Doing the chores	Helping in the kitchen		Time for a spot of lunch
Enjoying the out of doors
Craft time

We have fun in our meetings learning new things, playing games and working for badges.

Visiting a local observatory to look at the stars

We also help at events in the local community

Here are Brownies helping on stalls at the Ewell Village Fair

We have two thriving Guide Units in our District. They meet at opposite ends of the District and choose their own programmes of activities. The two units often get together for events such as the Division night hike, the netball rally and camps like Scoutabout and Groovy Chicks.

Abseiling is fun	Scoutabout 2008			It was a very sunny camp!
Time to relax at camp			A chance to meet up with your friends
Face painting at the Church Fair	Can we really sell all these teddies?			Getting ready to parade on Remembrance Sunday
Can you pick out the Fair Trade chocolate?		Working together to have fun
The "Big Gig" at Wembley		Do you think Simon Cowell would like our act?
Pantomime at Epsom Playhouse		Making clothes from recycled materials

We have a growing group of Young Leaders working with all sections. Young Leaders can also be Rangers with the Division unit. Once girls reach the age of 16 they are also given the opportunity to work on the adult leadership scheme with a view to gaining their warrant by the age of 18.

Making popcorn for Rainbows	Serving meals at Scoutabout
Organising a Promise activity	Our Young Leader is off to India

We have a great team of Leaders who work hard to make Guiding fun for the girls.  But we need more adults to help to run our units.  We are actively looking to recruit both adult Helpers and potential Leaders for all sections.  People who can help take the Guiding experience into the 21st century.  Full training and support is given to anyone willing to join our happy (if slightly mad!) band.

Spring Downs has an active Depot of the Girlguiding UK Trading Service.  We hold stocks of popular uniform items for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and can order any other items from the Guiding Essentials catalogue.  We are also registered to sell badges.  The prices we charge are, as far as we know, the absolute lowest available for genuine Girlguiding UK uniform and any profits go to subsidising activities for the girls. Ring 020-8393-8986 to place an order.

For further details of times and places of meetings contact the District Commissioner