Teacher comments are placed throughout this project in green.
Pathfinders is the branch of Girl Guides of Canada which is designed for girls in Junior High School. The main objectives of Pathfinders are to help the girls develop leadership skills, self-confidence and independence. Camping is an important part of our unit's program. Each year girls are in Pathfinders they must assume more responsibility for their camp planning: menu; activities; transportation; equipment; and budgeting.
1.The first step in our budgeting process this year was for the girls as a large group (15 girls) to brainstorm, listing all those items that they might need to spend money on for their camp.
Food Campsite Supplies for camping Transportation Materials for activities Wood for campfires Equipment rental Leaders' expenses - paid by the unit
2. The second step involved the entire group of girls estimating how much each item might cost for a weekend of camping.
Food $ 10 per person per day Campsite $250 Supplies for camping $5 per person Transportation $100 per tent group Materials for activities $2-$5 per person Wood for campfires Equipment rental --stoves $1 Fuel for stove $3 Tent $10 Backpack $10 Patrol Box (Utensils) $5 Sleeping bagsLeaders' expenses $200 for mileage +?
- Is tax included in all your estimates of prices?
- How much will that change the estimates by?
3. The third step involved actually checking whether the expenses were reasonable. One of the leaders did this after the meeting.
Food $10 per person per day - standard figure Campsite $240 + GST- paid by the unit Supplies for camping $5 per person - depends on group Transportation $100 per tent reasonable - should it be paid? Materials for activities $2-$5 per person reasonable Wood for campfires $3 - $5 reasonable Equipment rental --stoves $1 per night from district, free from unit or if have own Fuel for stove $3 from Canadian Tire, free from unit Tent $5 per night from district, free from unit, $32-40 from Campus Outdoor Centre Backpack $14 from Campus Outdoor Centre, free if have own or borrow Patrol Box (Utensils) free from district Sleeping bags $16- may need 2 since early in season and coolLeaders' expensesMileage - paid by the unit Food - paid by the unit First aid supplies paid by the unit
- Were most of your estimates reasonable?
- What changes need to be made in working out your budget?
4. The fourth step, at the next meeting, involved each tent team sitting down and looking at their own special situation and figuring out a budget for their own group. Some groups had equipment that belonged to their families or friends that would cost nothing. Some groups immediately arranged to borrow equipment from the unit or the district. All groups felt it was not necessary to the entire cost of transportation as their parents were willing to drive them to and from camp for free. But they did feel it necessary to provide for a small honorarium or gift to say thank you. The individual tent team budgets are attached.
Is this honorarium included in the budget planning?
5. Step 5 will involve comparing the tent teams' preliminary budgets to their actual expenses and seeing whether their budgets were reasonable. If not, then changes for next year's camps will be noted.
names of girls in tent ____________________________________
What kinds of expenses do you think you will have to pay for?
Make a list.
Estimate how much you think each thing will cost. Check with a leader if you are not sure.
How much will each girl have to pay in camp fees?
When you think you are done, fill out the budget form.
names of girls in tent __________________________________________________
| cost of campsite | ____________________ |
| cost of transportation? | ____________________ |
| cost of food | ____________________ |
| cost of activity/challenge supplies | ____________________ |
| cost of craft supplies | ____________________ |
| cost of equipment rental | ____________________ |
| any other costs? | ____________________ |
| TOTAL COST | |
| number of girls in tent | ____________________ |
| cost per girl | ____________________ |
