Rainbow (Girl Guides)
A Rainbow Guide is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 5 and 7 in England, Scotland or Wales. In Northern Ireland the age range is between 4 and 7 years old.[1] Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Beaver Scouts. At the age of about seven, a Rainbow may "fly up" to become a Brownie.
In the United States, the equivalent is a Daisy Girl Scout; in Canada, the equivalent is a Spark.
Uniform
The current uniform consists of a blue and red polo shirt with the Rainbow logo on it. There are many uniform choices such as tracksuit bottoms and cycling shorts, which the girls are encouraged to pick themselves. All items come in the Rainbow colours of light blue and red. Tabards used to be part of the uniform, but no longer are. The uniform, which is currently worn, came in 2004. Red and purple tabards can still currently be purchased, but were removed as official uniform in 2015. Colours of Tabards were: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple. Units could choose which colour they wanted, but it made sense to all wear the same. In the UK, Rainbows started in 1987[2] with Lynsey Hickling being the first in the UK.
The Promise
The Rainbow promise is a shortened version of that of the Brownie and Girl Guides, to accommodate their young age. The promise is:
"I promise that I will do my best, to think about my beliefs and to be kind and helpful"
The Jigsaw
Rainbows meet approximately once a week during termtime, with some appropriate day trips. They will normally complete two Roundabouts during their time at Rainbows, composed of Laugh, Learn, Look, and Love sections.[3]
The Song
There is a simple song with hand gestures to accompany the jigsaw feature. There are four versions of the song, each version has a different final three lines, but the tune is the same and the first verse remains unchanged. The four versions are for:
- The beginning of a meeting
- The end of a meeting
- During an enrollment ceremony (a Promise Party)
- During a 'Pot of Gold Party' (a party held at the end of term when some Rainbows are preparing to progress to Brownies.)
This version is for the beginning of a meeting:
"Look at the world around you,
Learn everything you can,
Laugh as you go along,
Love this world of ours.
Look, learn, laugh, love
Rainbows has begun,
We're all here now,
Come and join the fun."
At the end of a meeting the last three lines are replaced with:
"We've had lots of fun,
Bye bye Rainbows,
Goodnight everyone."
At a Promise Party the last three lines are replaced with:
"Promise time has come,
I will do my best
and help everyone."
This version reflects aspects of the promise itself and it helpful in reminding Rainbows of their duty.
The final version at a Pot of Gold Party is often sung for the rest of the unit by only those who are leaving for Brownies and this versions final three lines are:
"Now the jigsaw is done,
New adventures,
Brownies here I/we come!"
External links
- Rainbows website at Girlguiding UK
- Translated leaflets around Rainbows at Girlguiding UK no longer works
