Click on 1,2 or 3 to go down to the corresponding information.

1. Frequently asked questions and suggestions for a great workshop

2. Workshops that meet program requirements

3. Other workshops and special events

A. Frequently Asked Questions and suggestions for a great workshop

1. Where are the 5 Elements workshops conducted?

We will be able to conduct workshops at your location, as far west as Hamilton, north to Barrie and east to Port Hope. (weather permitting)

The minimum number of girls is 20. Units with fewer girls can join together with another unit or siblings can join the workshop. You can also just pay the difference of the missing participants! Our maximum number is 50.

3. What type of workshops are conducted?

• individual units
• entire neighbourhoods (including Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Senior Branches)
• Mother/Daughter Events, Father/Daughter Events
• Girls Night Out!
• Parent workshops for the parents of the unit(s) while the girls are participating in their workshop

4. Do I have to run the workshop
    or does someone from 5 Elements faciliate?

All of our workshops are facilitated by one of our workshop leaders. They are all experts in their field of study - from social workers and artistians to professional dancers and actors.

5. How far in advance do we need to schedule a workshop?

Workshops can be scheduled as far in advance as you like or on short notice. If we have a workshop leader available to facilitate, we will do it! An online application is available. The meeting will be confirmed the next business day. If the first choice is not available, we will endeavour to schedule your second or third choice.

6. What else do I need to know about scheduling a workshop?

• Workshops are scheduled to run for 1 hour (unless otherwise specified) and should commence after any unit business has been conducted
• Room requirements: The room where you conduct your Guide meeting should be sufficient. If we are conducting an expressive art workshop, we may require tables and chairs but you will be advised upon confirmation of the meeting. We will provide all materials necessary for the workshop.
• Please have the girls wear Smocks or old t-shirts for any expressive art workshops
• We do not encourage parents to attend or observe. We find that girls are much more open to discussing issues such as friendships and peer pressure when their parents are not present.
• Parents are however offered an opportunity for a separate workshop to attend, on relevant parenting issues, when the girls are participating in the workshop. We have included page numbers from the various handbooks for reference.

Unless otherwise indicated, each workshop costs $10.00 per girl to attend. Additionally, Parent Workshops cost $15.00 per parent or $25.00 for two parents.

Payment is due in advance for the workshops and can be paid by a personal or business cheque or by credit card using the Girl Guide Registration Form. The Registration Form is processed by Moneris Secure Payment to alleviate any concern with online fraud.

Special events are priced separately. The price for events are listed under Other Workshops and Special Events.

Will Girl Guides receive a discount to attend 5 Elements camps?

Yes. All branches from Sparks to Senior Branches will receive a 5% discount. If 2 or more attend, then they will receive a 10% discount.

Click on the appropriate branch to go down to the corresponding program.

Being Me

About Me/Who Am I? (Pages 27,28)

Working with an artist, the girls will create a "Personal Logo" that will identify unique qualities about each of the girls.

Memory Book/Treasure Box (Page 27)

Working with an artist, the girls will create a page of a scrapbook or a Treasure Box to hold special mementos.

In My Community

Safe In My Community (Page 40) - A workshop that can be conducted for all age groups to identify ways to stay safe.

Let's Make Arts And Crafts

• Japanese Fans
• Multi-media painting
• Puppets
• Animal Masks
• Friendship Tree
• Wrapping Paper

Expressive Workshops are $15.00 per girl.

  Please choose one craft for each one-hour session.

Our staff of Expressive Artists will facilitate workshops on (Pages 54 - 65):

• Our Workshop Leader will read a relevant story and girls will then be given scenarios to create solutions to problems that arise in the book.

The girls will work with one of our facilitators and begin to discuss goals and dreams and how they might achieve them. The girls will then create a visual representation of a dream that they might have.

Friendship/Respecting Others (Page 60) - A two-part workshop on what makes a good friend and how to deal with difficult situations. The second workshop will deal with the friendship that pets provide us.

The Girls will create a special gift to give to another girl in the unit or a Friendship Bracelet with special colours and shapes.

• Me, Myself & I (celebrating uniqueness)
• The Power of Words
• Confidence
• Friendship and cliques

Key To Me

Friendship/Respecting Others (Page 35)

A two-part workshop on what makes a good friend and how to deal with difficult situations. The second workshop will deal with the friendship that pets provide us.

Special Interest (Pages 37-38)

Memories

Working with an artist, Brownies will create a Treasure Box or start a scrapbook and talk about the importance of keeping special momentos.
Please choose either treasure box or scrap book for each one-hour session.

My Space - A professional Interior Designer will help the girls create a "special place" of their own

Special Thoughts - Journaling is an amazing way to express feelings, thoughts and memories, using a combination of writing and expressive activities, the girls will begin to explore the magic of their creativity. A Journal will be provided. This workshop is $15.00 per girl.

Key To My Community

Advertisements All Around Us (Two Parts - Page 43)

Part 1: An advertising executive will talk about advertising and the messages all around us - both positive and negative.
Part 2: Utilizing professionals in the field, girls will create an advertisement for Brownies: Print, radio, television or internet

Facilitated by our Creative Director, Brownies will learn how important it is to do things for people. We'll make lists of things that girls can do to help those around them and create posters and book marks with some of the ideas and special saying to remind the girls every day.

Key To I Can

Staying Safe (Page 49) - Brownies will learn simple self-defense techniques and look at situations where they should think about safety.

Money Talk (Page 53) - Brownies will begin to learn about saving and money sense.

Listen To This (Page 54) - A discussion on manners and the importance of etiquette in our society.

Key To Active Living

Special Interest (Page 62)

Go For It! Facilitated by our professional dancer/choreographer, Brownies will learn simple dance moves and create a routine for everyone to enjoy. The girls will learn to work in teams, listen to music and begin to express feelings and emotions through dance.

Key To The Arts

Act It Out! (Page 90) Facilitated by one of our professional actors, girls will create a skit or write a story and then act it out

No Talking (Page 90)- Facilitated by our Mime Artist, Brownies will learn how to get a message across without words and the importance of non-verbal communication.

Marvellous Masks (Page 93) - Our Creative Director will work with the girls to create unique masks, reflections of who the girls are. This Workshop is $15.00 per girl.

• Me, Myself & I (celebrating uniqueness)
• Manners/Etiquette
• Attitude is Everything/assertiveness
• Confidence

Being Healthy

Feeling Good (Pages 72-73)

Stress Management through various expressive arts with physical activity. Workshop will include yoga as well as discussing ways to deal with stress including nutrition, sleep and fun ways to unwind. Girls will create one of the following:

• yoga eye pillow (with aromatherapy)
• spa products (such as shower gel and shower scrubby)
• a personal logo
• Treasure Box

Girls Creating

Art Production (Page 122)

Utilizing various media, girls will explore themes relating to self-confidence and exploring feelings:

• Develop collages towards goal setting
• Utilize mask making to explore perhaps "hidden" personality traits *
• Utilize colours to create "Me, Myself & I" -a demonstration of who the girls are, their dreams and talents
• Utilize Claymation to develop a short film around "girl" themes **
• Develop a commercial to promote Girl Guides or other relevant "girl themes"
• Utilize clay to develop a "Manifestation Bowl" in order for the girls to learn about each other *
• Create a "Personal Logo" - a word, phrase or symbol that best captures the girls essence (we'll also discuss branding and famous logos such as Disney, Coca-Cola, Levis)

  *   These workshops are $15 per girl
  ** This workshop is $25 per girl.
  Choose one craft per each one-hour session.

Dancing (Page 126)

Utilizing body movement and tableaux, the girls will explore "girl" themes and create short routines. This workshop is for all levels of dance skills from trained to hate dancing. It gives girls the opportunity to feel rhythm and movement in a different and unique fashion.

Design Your Own Space (Page 128) - A professional Interior Designer will help the girls create a "special place" of their own. This is a perfect workshop to combine all levels of girls from Brownies to Cadets.

Fashion (Page 132)- A discussion of fashion from 1900 - 2006 with particular emphasis on body types and how the women's movement is reflected in fashion. Additionally, we will explore cultural issues such as Chinese foot binding and neck rings of Burma. The girls will create a poster of "the Girls of 2007".

Performing Arts (Page 142)

Conducted by a professional actor, the girls will explore comedy, mime, improv and dance to gain exposure to various performing arts. Additionally, the girls will create group stories and perform them.
Please choose one performing art activitity per one-hour session.

Personal Growth

Becoming a Teen (Pages 154-155)

Utilizing one of our professional facilitators, we'll explore issues that surface during the tween years. We'll discuss healthy friendships, mean girls, family dynamics, peer pressure and conflict resolution through various interactive activities and discussions.

In a follow-up workshop, we'll look at feelings and emotions and how they affect how you look at the world around you and how you judge the actions of yourself and others.

A third workshop, which can be conducted independent of the previous two will be conducted by a professional make-up artist and hair stylist to better understand what is appropriate for skin colour, extra curricular activities and age.

Career Awareness (Pages 156-157)

We will explore with the girls various careers starting when women started in the workforce, through the war effort to where we are today where women have much more potential than ever before. In addition, we'll talk about mentoring and shadowing as important ways to gain information on careers. We'll also talk about first jobs and touch on entrepreneurship. A variation on this workshop would also be appropriate for Pathfinders and Cadets.

High On Life (Page 165)

Dealing with tough issues in a girl's life that such as peer pressure, drinking and smoking and eating disorders and how to make the right choices in their lives. This workshop will be conducted by our one of our professional facilitators with experience in health-care issues.

A discussion about self-worth will be discussed to start to give the girls an understanding of feeling good about themselves is the foundation for the "tough" choices that they will be making.

Street Wise

A workshop that can be conducted for all age groups (from Guides to Senior Branches) in order to identify ways to stay safe. For Pathfinders and Senior Branches we will also look at MSN and other "online chat rooms" as well as personal websites and "MySpace.com". This workshop will be conducted by self-defense and Internet experts.

The EDGE Crest for Guides - 4 Workshops

Utilizing various themes outlined in 5 Elements, the girls will learn skills towards having healthy self-esteem for life.

• Confidence
• Friendships & Mean Girls
• Conflict Resolution
• Media Literacy

Pathfinders

Creating Your Future

We're A Team (Pages 39-43, 46-51)

Effective leadership requires insight, interpersonal skills, vision and the confidence to take action. 5 Elements provides the opportunity for girls to discover their own unique leadership style. Girls will develop their leadership skills through a broad range of interactive workshops, challenging discussions and hands-on activities. Workshops include:

• Developing and leading ice breakers
• Presentation Skills and Effective Communication; self defeating language
• Unique Leadership styles; qualities of an effective leader
• Building effective teams
• Personality Differences - fun personality tests to help demonstrate personality differences and how to work with the other personality types
• Personal responsibility
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
• Confidence/goal setting
• Planning and organizing

We also utilize a wide range of expressive arts (mask making and photography) and physical activity such as drama to role play difficult situations and stretch self-imposed limits. True leaders lead by example and trust themselves. 5 Elements gives girls the opportunity to gain the confidence necessary to integrate leadership skills into every aspect of their life today and excel as a leader in the future.
Please choose one workshop for each one-hour session.

Your Dream Career (Pages 56-57)

Pathfinders will learn to set goals and follow-dreams through discussions with professionals as well as look at traditional and non-traditional careers.

These workshops will be conducted through interactive discussions and expressive art.

Follow That Woman (Pages 58-60)

Our facilitators will look at women through the ages, from prehistoric times until present day. We'll discuss "Girl Power" and amazing women who have made a difference in Canada and the world.

Girl Stuff

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Pages 102-103)
    (Also appropriate for The Arts from A to Z) (Pages 169-172)

Using any art form (video, photography, drama, dance, mime, improv, etc), the Pathfinders will have the opportunity to create a personal statement representing who they are in the world. Our Creative Director will be conducting the workshop and helping the girls to explore and identify their talents, emotions and friendships.

Help plan and take part in a simulated radio, television or video show. The show will be taped and the workshop conducted by a communications professional.

Help plan and produce a newsletter. This workshop will combine and understand of how to communicate as well as begin to understand the importance of the visual presentation. Our online facilitator will conduct this workshop for the girls.

Make a visual or audio-visual presentation on a topic of your choice. The focus of this workshop will explore subjects relevant to a girl's life such as peer pressure, healthy body, the environment, etc.
Each Workshop above requires two one-hour sessions

Skin Care/Make-Up (Page 103)

This workshop will be facilitated by a professional make-up artist and hair stylist to better understand what is appropriate for skin colour, extra curricular activities and age.

Focus On Friendships (Pages 104-107)
(Also appropriate for Relationships, Values and Choices)(Pages 113-117)

Interactive discussions, improv, theatre and expressive arts will all be utilized to look at the issue of friendships/relationships:

• types of relationships: parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc.
• qualities of a friend
• "mean girls"
• on-line bullying
• feelings, beliefs and attitudes
• Problem Solving
• Confidence
• Peer Pressure

Media & Image
(Also appropriate for Fashion Sense Head To Toe)(Pages 110-112)

These workshops will look at media and body image. Specifically, we discuss utilizing current and historical advertising, how the media manipulates body image and sexual stereotyping. Too often, the media sets a standard that leaves most of us feeling inadequate and unsatisfied with our bodies. Additonally, we'll look at the concept of "cool".

We'll also look at the history of fashion and make-up from 1900 - 2007 with particular emphasis on body types and how the women's movement is reflected in fashion. Additionally, we will explore cultural issues such as Chinese foot binding and neck rings of Burma. The girls will create a poster of "the Girls of 2007". With respect to make-up, we'll look at historical depictions of make-up including Ancient Egypt, Japanese theatre and trends in the 20th century.
Please choose either media and body image or history of fashion for one-hour session.

Living Well

We Are What We Eat/Active Living (Pages 147-151)

Facilitated by a health care professional comfortable with girls, we'll look at a number of different topics directly related to health & wellness.

We will explore the concept of "wellness" which will include physical activity, nutrition, sleep, how the teen brain works and addictions. Particular emphasis will be placed on self-worth, the most important factor in making the right choices in life.

Emotions, feelings and the roller coaster ride that a teen girl goes through. How to identify emotions and what triggers them; how to understand your own feelings and feelings of those around you. How to take care of yourself and support your emotions.
Choose either wellness or emotions for a one-hour session.

Let Go and Chill Out! (Pages 156-157)

Facilitiated by a yoga or pilates instructor, the Pathfinders will learn simple skills to deal with stress in their lives in a healthy and positive fashion.

Be Glad You're You (Pages 158-159)

"The way that a girl handles adolescence can have long reaching implications …without some help, the loss of wholeness, self-confidence and self-direction can last well into adulthood."

5 Elements is all about giving girls a healthy sense of self. Workshops in this area will include:

• What is self-esteem and how to get it
• Confidence
• Honouring and celebrating your uniqueness

Interactive discussions, small group activity and expressive arts will all be utilized to explore the area of self-worth. Girls will determine their "Personal Style", create a "Me, Myself & I" poster, and utilize a medium to create something that represents their uniqueness in the world.

The EDGE Crest For Pathfinders - 4 Workshops

Specifically designed for Pathfinders. The workshops embody age appropriate topics such as:

• The care and keeping of emotions
• Inner critic
• Giving back to the world/community
• Inspirational women as role models

Senior Branches

Personal Growth and Communications Skills (Page 20)

Our workshop leader will give girls the skills to understand and be understood in a conversation, how to express themselves clearly and recognize non-verbal and hidden agendas. Importantly, the girls will learn to speak up assertively in confrontational situations in order to diffuse a potentially difficult situation. Through group activities and exercises, the girls will have fun exploring the crazy and often misunderstod world of communication.

A second workshop will focus on the art of presentation skills. Research indicates that people fear public speaking more than anything else in the world. This workishop will give girls the tools to speak in front of an audience with confidence and ease.

Leadership Skills (Pages 20-21 and 39)

• Developing and leading ice-breakers
• Presentation Skills and Effective Communication: Self-defeating language
• Unique Leadership Styles: Qualities of an Effective Leader
• Building Effective Teams
• Personality Differences - fun personality tests to help demonstrate Personality differences and how to work with the other personality types
• Personal responsibility
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
• Confidence/goal setting
• Planning and organizing

We also utilize a wide range of expressive arts (Mask-making and Photography) and physical activity such as drama to role play difficult situaltions and stretch self-imposed limits. True leaders lead by example and trust themselves. 5 Elements gives girls the opportunity to gain the confidence necessary to integrate leadership skills into every aspect of their life today and excel as a leader in the future.

This subject can be dealt with as many as 6 workshops or as few as two. Guiders can decide the depth of information that should be covered.
Please identify the Workshop Topics when booking.

Working with a business professional, the girls will be given the skills to identify skills that may be applicable for an employer, types of resumes and tailoring a resume to be relevant for different types of employers.

Choose or design, lead and evaluate two arts-related activities or Choose or design, lead and evaluate a visual aid that helps girls accomplish one of their program activities

Our creative facilitators will assist the girls to develop an arts related activity for an effective presentation. We'll not only work with the girls to ensure that their skill level in the artistic or visual aid but we'll also assist them with setting and achieving appropriate goals, what makes a successful presentation, encouragement and behaviour management.

The Creative Arts (Page 34)

Using various media, the girls will explore various themes relevant to their lives today and new ways to communicate ideas. Workshops are designed to encourage exploration of feelings, self-expression creative problem-solving. Our experienced artists will assist in inspiring the girls for an appreciation of arts as a medium of expression. Our workshops include:

• multi-media
• videography
• creative movement and dance
• photography
• poetry/dance/creative movement

Our professionals will explore topics such as effective resumes, how to search for industries and companies that may be appropriate for future employment, universities and colleges that offer relevant education. Additionally, we'll discuss mentoring and shadowing as important vehicles to acquire knowledge and skills. The girls will learn how to interview for a job and how to dress for success.

Our facilitators will look at women through the ages, from prehistoric times until present day. We'll discuss "Girl Power" and amazing women who have made a difference in Canada and the world. Additionally, we will look at a media and body image. Specifically, we discuss utilizing currently and historical advertising how the media manipulates body image and sexual stereotyping. Too often, the media sets a standard that leaves most of us feeling inadequate and unsatisfied with our bodies.

We'll also look at the history of fashion and make-up with particular emphasis on body types and how the women's movement is reflected in fashion. Additionally, we will explore cultural issues such as Chinese foot binding and neck rings of Burma.

Facilitated by an advertising executive, the girls will have the opportunity to create an advertising campaign that depicts an important woman/girl issue.
Please choose either Media and Body Image or History of Fashion for each one-hour session.

This workshop will assist girls in developing skills in the important area of goal setting. Goals can be short term (such as receiving a particular crest) or longer term (learning to play an instrument that has never been tried before). Topics will include selecting and prioritizing realistic goals, measuring and assessing goals and importantly, taking pride in the achievement of these goals. By setting goals, girls will raise their self-confidence in achieving these goal as well as discovering new skills within them.

Effective leadership requires insight, interpersonal skills, vision and the confidence to take action. These workshops provide girls the opportunity to discover their unique leadership style. Girls will develop their leadership skills through a broad range of interactive workshops, challenging discussions and hands-on activities. Workshops include: problem solving and concensus building, conflict resolution, building effective teams, facilitating groups, and effective behaviour management.

In order to communicate effectively, the girls will learn to manage their emotions, recognizing self-defeating language (the inner critic) and understand the importance of self-esteem in any relationship.

Workshops will be conducted specifically to meet the requirements in the areas of: problem solving, conflict resolution, facilitating a group and effective behaviour management. Additionally, we can explore emotions, self-defeating language and self-esteem separately.
Please choose one topic for each one-hour session.

Our creative facilitator will provide girls with the skills to develop various types of puppets as well as types of workshops that can effectively utilize puppets as vehicles to provide important information such as bullying and friendship.

Our theatre arts facilitators will work with the girls to develop themes and vehicles to express emotions and information. For example, the subject of inner critic and self-defeating language is very effectively communicated in a theatre arts forum.

• Managing The Inner Critic
• Self-esteem
• Healthy Relationships
• Creating a successful future/Mentoring and shadowing

Other Workshops & Special Events

PARENT WORKSHOPS

It's never too early or too late to help your daughter build a healthy sense of herself - the most important and difficult task a young girl can face today. These turbulent years can shape her self-image in ways that can profoundly influence how she thinks of herself and ultimately what she will achieve in her life.

5 Elements is pleased to offer Parent Workshops to the families of Girl Guides of Ontario that will identify ways to better recognize and deal with the pressures and problems that affect your daughter's self-worth. You will gain practical insights and skills you can use to help your daughter become a more independent, self-confident and self-assured young woman, and have the resources to support your daughter as you continue the process of enhancing her growth and self-esteem.

• Communicating with your daughter
• Effective language skills and the inner critic
• Trolling the Internet - undestand on-line chat rooms, MSN, and how to keep your daughter safe from predators
• Healthy Relationships
• Conflict Resolution
• Effective Discipline Techniques and setting appropriate boundaries
• Body Image and the role of the Media
• What Parents can do to enhance their daughter's self-esteem

Book a Parent Workshop at the same time as you are booking your 5 Elements Workshop for the girls and help parents get a better understanding of the crazy-making world of a girl today.

Mother/Daughter self-esteem/body image workshop: 1 ˝ hours for $25.00 for mother/daughter

Mother/Daughter belly dancing - learn an ancient art passed down from mother to daughter for over 2000 years. It's a great activity for inter-generational bonding and tons of fun! - 1 ˝ hours for $30.00 for mother/daughter. Each additional daughter/guest is $10.00

Mother/Daughter self-defense - 1 ˝ hours for $30.00 for mother/daughter

Mother/Daughter or Father/Daughter Etiquette Lunch: 1 ˝ hours for $20.00 per person - Learn skills that will be useful for life

Girls Night Out for Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Senior Branches - each group will participate in an age appropriate expressive art and physical activity such as belly dancing, mask making, spa evening make-overs.

Girls have the chance to have fun and meet new girls, be around positive role models (parent demonstration if appropriate)

We are available to provide training sessions for unit leaders including workshops on:

• leadership skills
• conflict resolution
• self-esteem
• communication
• team building

Costs will be dependent on the number of leaders in attendance and the length of the training session (i.e. the number of workshops to be facilitated)