So you’ve finished Rangers or Trex – what comes next?
There are many paths you can take in Guiding after you have completed your time as a youth member. Until you turn 19, however, you will not be considered an adult member, which means you still have some time before you can become a Guider. During this period of your Guiding journey, you’ll be what we call a Bridging member. This means you still have youth status as opposed to adult status in Guiding and therefore you have unique options available to you during this transition period. Because we want you to stay involved in Guiding, registration for Bridging members in Nova Scotia is completely free!
A Bridging member is a member who has not yet reached the age of majority in their province/territory. They can be new members or someone who wants to continue their membership.
A Bridging member may be registered as a Junior Leader in a Spark, Ember or Guide unit. or as a Youth Member at Large at the provincial level.
Bridging member Opportunities
Junior Leader
Becoming a Junior Leader is a great way for Bridging members to develop leadership skills by working directly with youth. In this role, you’ll work with Guiders to plan meetings, camps and events for Sparks, Embers or Guides. Not only is this a great mentorship opportunity where you can learn the ropes from experienced Guiders, you’ll also help create lifelong memories for youth by planning fun and exciting programs!
Join a committee, council, or team
There are many other roles in Guiding besides being a Guider. Love camping? Consider volunteering on a camp committee or as a camp helper. Interested in ensuring youth voices are heard? Dive headfirst into the action by becoming a member of a district or area council. In any of these roles, you’ll develop leadership skills, become a confident event planner and executer, and receive first-class mentorship from experienced Guiders and volunteers. To learn more about opportunities in these areas reach out to ns-youth@girlguides.ca or your local Area Commissioner or District Commissioner.
Wait and become a Link member
In Nova Scotia, youth members can become Link members when they turn 19. If you register as a Bridging member, you can seamlessly transition into this next phase of Guiding if that is the path you choose! The Link program is specifically meant for young adults keen to stay involved with Guiding in whatever capacity they choose. Not only do Link members have the opportunity to complete new challenges, but they also have access to a wide variety of training, travel, and professional development opportunities. Link members are also eligible for GGC scholarship opportunities. Learn more about the Link program.
Stay connected
For some of you, this may be a busy time when you may not be able to dedicate as much time to Guiding as you used to – and that is totally ok! We know that leaving high school and moving on to this next step can be challenging and we want to do our best to support you along the way. That is why being a Bridging member is a great way to simply stay connected with the Guiding community. As a Bridging member, you’ll still receive email communications and you’ll still be considered a member of Girl Guides of Canada. Come your 19th birthday, you’ll be invited to register as an adult member where even more Guiding opportunities await.
How to put Guiding on your resume
The world of adulthood brings many challenges, but Girl Guide members are prepared for anything! Did you know that all the work you have done in Guiding is easily transferable to a resume in the form of both hard and soft skills? Whether its leadership skills, independence, time management, event planning or communication skills, there are many things from Guiding that make you the ideal candidate for employers. Learn more about how to add Guiding to your resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about what being a Bridging member means, check out the Bridging member FAQs – they should answer all of your questions.
If you have any further questions about opportunities for Bridging members in NS, please contact
ns-youth@girlguides.ca