International opportunities
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Girlguiding offer a wide range of international opportunities for Brownies and upward. Below is a summary of these.
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Opportunities for local groups
Travel as a unit/district on an international adventure
Units or districts can organise trips abroad themselves. At least one leader needs to hold the relevant going away with licence as well as holding or working towards the additional international module. If you don't already hold this module then you need to talk to your commissioner in the first instance and you will be given a mentor to help you with your planning and preparations. There are also trainings you can attend to gain experience in taking girls away overseas.
Travel to an international jamboree
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International camps take place all over the world, including right here in the UK. Taking a group of girls to one of these camps is the best international opportunity you can offer them without leaving the country. Because they're on UK soil it means you only need a regular going away with licence but the girls will experience the culture and experience of an international camp. There is an international camp called WINGS taking place in 2026 just over in Windsor on Windsor Great Park.
Of course these camps take place internationally as well so you may decide to go further afield for you adventures. |
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Opportunities for individuals
County INTOPS (INternational OPportuniteS)
Each year, Girlguiding Gloucestershire holds a selection process for the leadership team and for girls to form a county team. Those who are successful are then offered spaces on our county trip or put forward for region selection.
Girls need to be in year 8 or above to apply and be under 18 on 31 August in the of the trip. They need the support and recommendation of their unit Leader and commissioner. The destination of each trip is different, and the international experience could be in the UK where we are the host nation or somewhere further away in Europe or the wider world. What we can confirm is that the experience has 3 parts: preparation, the trip and the after trip. It is time to develop skills and make lifelong friendships.
Everyone going on these trips is expected to fundraise the full cost, as participation is not determined by the personal circumstances of the family. There will be help and guidance from the county team and trip leaders, and some fundraising will be arranged as a group. You can also apply for grants to a number of places to help you reach your goal. Everyone is expected to keep a personal account sheet to demonstrate how they raise their money. After the trip everyone is expected to write a blog, vlog or report of their experience. Some will also be invited to present at future INTOPS selections and county leader events.
The selection weekend is usually towards the beginning of the year in February/March time. In 2024 the selection event will take place on 9-10 March.
Girls need to be in year 8 or above to apply and be under 18 on 31 August in the of the trip. They need the support and recommendation of their unit Leader and commissioner. The destination of each trip is different, and the international experience could be in the UK where we are the host nation or somewhere further away in Europe or the wider world. What we can confirm is that the experience has 3 parts: preparation, the trip and the after trip. It is time to develop skills and make lifelong friendships.
Everyone going on these trips is expected to fundraise the full cost, as participation is not determined by the personal circumstances of the family. There will be help and guidance from the county team and trip leaders, and some fundraising will be arranged as a group. You can also apply for grants to a number of places to help you reach your goal. Everyone is expected to keep a personal account sheet to demonstrate how they raise their money. After the trip everyone is expected to write a blog, vlog or report of their experience. Some will also be invited to present at future INTOPS selections and county leader events.
The selection weekend is usually towards the beginning of the year in February/March time. In 2024 the selection event will take place on 9-10 March.
Find out more about the 2025 INTOPS trip, including the selection process in 2024 and adult volunteer information. Why not join us for an adventure of a lifetime?
Region INTOPS
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Girlguiding South West England also run an INTOPS programme each year with a similar process to our county one. The difference is, to be put forward to the region selection you need to have attended the county selection first.
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Region ICE (International Community Experience)
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Girlguiding South West England also run a programme for younger girls, aged 11-13, for smaller scale trips closer to home. They have visited destinations such as France, Belgium, etc. They usually hold 2 selection weekends each year in September/October time and offer half the girls a space on the international trip. This is a really good way for the girls to begin to experience international adventures.
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Girlguiding GOLD (Guiding Overseas Linked with Development)
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The National GOLD trips are about enabling young women to develop their potential and make a difference in the world. Every trip is different but they all share a common purpose, the develop the participants whilst carrying out some form of local community project in the area they're visiting. These projects range from leadership skills training to delivering advocacy programmes to young women. They're sustainable projects making sure that the participants leave behind a legacy.
The National GOLD trips also have a selection process called GO for GOLD. |
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Volunteer at an international jamboree
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There are a huge number of international jamborees all over the world, including in the UK and abroad. Each one couldn't happen without a dedicated team of volunteers. There are roles from 'turn up and help for the length of the camp' roles as well as more in-depth roles that support planning and delivery of the camp so whatever your availability, there is something for everyone. These camps are truely where some of the most amazing friendships can be made and once you've been to one, you'll be hooked and asking each other where you're going next year!
World Scout Jamboree (often abbreviated to WSJ) is probably one of the largest and most well known of these jamborees and is open to guiding members to come and support as a volunteer. The 26th World Scout Jamboree is due to take place in 2027 in Poland. To take part in the WSJ you must sign up as part of the UK Contingent. There is also the World Scout Moot, the next ones taking place in Portugal in 2025. To sign up you need to be part of the UK Contingent. |
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Volunteer with WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts)
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WAGGGS has a wide range of opportunities available to the members of it's member organisations, including those within Girlguiding. These opportunities include roles such as volunteering within the World Centres, as well as home based roles such as being part of their core mission. Applications are via the WAGGGS website and you will need your local commissioner to provide you with a reference so it's worth chatting through your ideas with them before applying.
The video shows what some of the volunteers with WAGGGS European Region think about their volunteering opportunity with WAGGGS. 
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Volunteer with WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts)
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Girlguiding have some book and go opportunities for adult members. These are adventure type trips of a lifetime. All of these adventures can be viewed through the discoveradventure.com website. There are some adventures just for girlguiding members, or you can look at the open adventures too.
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