Derby guides change the world

5 May 2010

Friends of the Earth teamed up with Girlguiding UK to celebrate 100 years of guiding. We created a special project to help girls and young women change the world.

4th Derby Guides were the first Unit to take part. They saved over 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Guide leader, Rachel Barber tells us more.

Pedal power

Cycling to school and back every day for a week could save 20kg of CO₂ and make you fitter. But is cycling the only way? What about using skateboards, pogo sticks, heelies and space hoppers too?

Girls completed an obstacle course using their favourite form of carbon-free transport.

Chaos reigned in the pedal power challenge, but everyone had fun.

12 girls swapped the lift to school and got on their bike instead.

Light the way

If every home replaced just 3 bulbs with low-energy ones, the savings would be enough to power all the UK's street lighting.

It turns out light bulbs can be fun too. Take a bit of creativity and a touch of glass paint. The result? Your own personalised bulb.

Three girls convinced their family to swap their old bulbs.

That's a wrap

The best way to stay warm is to wrap up. Wearing layers rather than switching on the heating saves money and the environment.

Girls were asked to bring in some old clothes. They separated into teams, then had a race to dress their team 'model' in all the clothes.

They looked like snowmen, but it was a great introduction to heating and the benefits of thick insulation.

One girl with lofty ambitions even helped her family insulate the loft.

What's next?

All the girl's experiences will be gathered together in a special Girlguiding UK/Friends of the Earth report.

And that's not all. 4th Derby Guides are developing a display in the local Church and are even planning a special service with the minister about climate change.

We don't think the elderly members of the church will be zipping around on alternative methods of transport but the girls will be!

Be inspired

Hopefully other members of Girlguiding UK will watch our video and be inspired to take up the challenge too.

Discover more about Girlguiding UK >