Exmouth girlguides have overcome the isolation of the Covid-19 lockdown by holding a virtual sleepover.
Guides and their leaders from the 4th Withycombe Raleigh Guide unit came together over the internet, via the video conferencing app Zoom, to join in with a host of activities.
This included baking cakes in a mug, Zoom yoga, making a Mad Hatters hat, story writing and taking part in online escape room games.
The 24-hour virtual sleepover was organised and led by girlguiding leader Beth Noyes.
She said: “I wanted to continue running our meetings online because I knew how isolating lockdown could be for our girls.
“They were missing out on school, not seeing their friends and family, and some were missing out on big events like leavers’ celebrations.
“I thought it was important for us all to stay connected and keep the Girlguiding spirit going.
“At Girlguiding, the summer term is usually our most exciting term where we’re out and about exploring and going to residentials and camps.
“We didn’t want the girls to miss out on these experiences, so we decided to run a sleepover virtually.”
The girls enjoyed meeting their friends over the internet and quickly picked up new technology and communication skills enabling them to participate in collaborative story writing and drawing projects.
Guide Megan Polverino, who took part in the virtual sleepover, said: “I really enjoyed the sleepover even though we were not actually camping overnight as a unit.
“I loved all of the craft activities and the creative freedom the leaders let us have, even with the set goals at the end.”
The 4th Withycombe Raleigh Guides are aged between 10 and 14 years and attend unit meetings once a week during which they take part in a wide range of activities and adventures in a safe and supportive environment. They will continue meeting online when the new term starts in September.
To join girlguiding or volunteer and support the development of the next generation of young women go to the girlguiding website or email Exmouth Division Girlguiding
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