Who are Rainbows?
Rainbow Guides are the youngest members of Girlguiding UK aged between 5 and 7 years old and for many girls their first taste of what Guiding has to offer.
A "Rainbow Unit" usually consists of 15 girls and their leaders. This ensures that each individual is given as much attention and help with everything as possible. They also have a ratio of one adult to every five Rainbows.
Rainbows usually meet for one hour, once a week during term times, and enjoy a wide range of activities such as crafts, music and singing, cooking, games and much more. Sometimes they just enjoy the chance to share their Rainbow News and tell everyone what is going on with them. There are always exciting things to do, and it is great making lots of Rainbow friends. Rainbows also enjoy outings, sleepovers and parties!
The new Rainbow
A new Rainbow will usually receive a special Rainbow bag soon after joining a unit and begin working on her "Ready for Rainbows" booklet. This will introduce her to Olivia, and will help prepare her for when she makes her Rainbow Promise. Some units may charge a "joining fee" which goes towards the cost of these items.
The Rainbow Promise is
I promise that I will do my best
to love my God and to be kind and helpful
When a Rainbow makes her promise the whole unit joins in with her so that it's not at all scary. At this time, she will be given her Rainbow Promise badge.
What do Rainbows wear?
Rainbows have a range of items they can wear, usually a red and pale blue polo shirt, red trousers (with pale blue stripe down the side) and a hooded jacket or a tabard. These are available from Guiding Essentials which the Rainbow Leader can tell parents about. No girl is excluded because they do not have the right clothes.
The Rainbow programme
Girlguiding, in every section, follows what are known as "The Five Essentials". For Rainbows these can be translated as:
- Rainbows work together in different small groups for activities,
- Rainbows make choices,
- Rainbows enjoy a variety of activities,
- Rainbows care for the individual,
- Rainbows do their best.
The Rainbow programme is based on four pieces of a jigsaw puzzle:
The Rainbow Song
The four "L" words also appear in the Rainbow Song:
Look at the world around.
Learn everything you can.
Laugh as you go along.
Love this world of ours.
Look, Learn, Laugh, Love.
Rainbows have begun.
We're all here now.
Come and join the fun.
The Rainbow Ending Song
Rainbows finish their meetings with this song which is very similar and so easy to learn. Some units may have slightly different ways of starting and finishing their meetings.
Look at the world around.
Learn everything you can.
Laugh as you go along.
Love this world of ours.
Look, Learn, Laugh, Love.
We've had lots of fun.
Bye bye Rainbows.
Sleep well everyone.
Olivia
This is Olivia, the Rainbows will meet her in most of the publications:
In some Units, Olivia often goes home with a Rainbow after the weekly meeting.
Rainbow Chat
A Rainbow Chat is held whenever the Leader thinks it is necessary. It can be used to plan what the Rainbows would like to do during the term. Or sometimes the Leader might decide to hold a Rainbow Chat to talk about a special event or Overnight that might be planned.
Rainbow Roundabouts
There are "Rainbow Roundabouts" to discover. Rainbows can earn one of three Roundabout badges by choosing one activity from each of the four sections of the Roundabout. They decide together what they would like to do and the Leader notes down the ideas so that she can incorporate them into the Rainbow programme. They can decide to complete more than one idea from the four sections on the Roundabout mat if they wish. Each section represents one of the four "Ls".
There are also other special badges to work for from time to time.
Everything a Rainbow does helps her to develop and to think for herself, in a safe "girl-only" environment.
Pot of Gold
Around her 7th birthday, a Rainbow will be given her Pot of Gold book so that she can prepare for leaving Rainbows and joining Brownies. The book contains her Pot of Gold Challenge and includes many fun things to make and do. With the help of her Guiders she will plan her Pot of Gold Party.
The Pot of Gold Party is usually the last Rainbow meeting that she attends. It is a great chance to choose a favourite game, song or activity. At her last meeting, she will receive her Pot of Gold badge and her special leaving card.
