Planning your first Brownie or Girlguiding residential can feel like a big step. You’re balancing logistics, safety, expectations from parents, and most importantly, creating an experience your girls will never forget.
The good news is that with the right structure in place, planning a residential becomes far more manageable than it first seems.
This guide walks you through everything you need to consider, from early planning stages to what actually happens on the trip, so you can feel confident every step of the way.
Why Residential Trips Matter for Brownies and Guides
Before getting into the planning, it’s worth understanding just how valuable these experiences are.
Residential trips give girls the chance to step outside their usual routine and:
- Build independence in a safe, supported environment
- Strengthen friendships within their unit
- Develop confidence through new challenges
- Learn teamwork and communication skills
- Try activities they may not otherwise have access to
Experiences like outdoor adventure activities, team challenges and shared living environments help girls grow in ways weekly meetings simply can’t replicate.
For many Brownies and Guides, a residential becomes a defining moment in their journey.
Step 1: Start with Your Goals
Every successful residential starts with a clear purpose.
Ask yourself:
- What do you want the girls to gain from the experience?
- Are you working towards specific badges or skills?
- Do you want a balance of adventure, teamwork, and fun?
For Brownies, you might focus more on building confidence and trying new things in a gentle, supportive way. For Guides, you may lean into independence, leadership and challenge-based activities.
Having a clear goal will help guide every decision that follows, from location to activity choices.
Step 2: Choose the Right Type of Residential
Not all residentials are the same, and choosing the right format makes a big difference to your experience as a leader. Generally, you’ll be deciding between:
Self-Led Trips
You organise accommodation, food, activities and logistics yourself.
Pros:
- Full control over itinerary
- Can be tailored in detail
Considerations:
- Time-intensive to organise
- Requires risk assessments, bookings and planning from scratch
Fully Organised Residentials
Providers handle accommodation, activities, catering and logistics.
- Significantly less admin
- Built-in safety processes and experienced instructors
- Structured programmes designed with young people in mind
For first-time leaders, a fully organised residential is often the easiest and most reassuring option.
Step 3: Set Your Budget Early
Budgeting is one of the biggest factors influencing your trip.
Things to consider include:
- Accommodation and activities
- Transport to and from the location
- Food and catering
- Insurance and contingency costs
Many residential providers offer all-inclusive pricing, which can make budgeting far more straightforward. For example, we include accommodation, meals, activities and equipment within our rates at PGL, helping avoid unexpected costs.
It’s also worth researching funding opportunities, grants or unit fundraising options to make trips more accessible for all girls. Here’s more on the Girlguiding PGL fund.
Step 4: Pick a Location That Works for Your Group
Location can shape the entire experience.
When choosing where to go, think about:
- Travel time and accessibility
- Age and confidence levels of your group
- Type of environment (coastal, woodland, countryside)
- Available facilities and accommodation
For younger Brownies, shorter travel times and contained environments can help ease nerves. For older Guides, a slightly more adventurous setting may add to the excitement. Find your nearest PGL centre and learn more about what we can offer.
Step 5: Plan Activities with Purpose
The best trips are designed to deliver real, lasting outcomes that help girls grow in ways that go far beyond the experience itself.
The best programmes balance:
- Confidence and Character: Facing a new challenge, stepping outside a comfort zone and discovering what they’re capable of.
- Relationships and Teamwork: Working together, communicating and building trust with peers.
- Abilities and Resilience: Developing new physical and problem-solving skills that carry into everyday life.
- Health and Wellbeing: Being active, spending time outdoors and building positive habits through adventure.
Adventure activities like abseiling, canoeing or challenge courses don’t just create excitement — they build confidence, resilience and teamwork.
If your unit is working towards badges, planning activities around those outcomes can add even more value to the trip.
Step 6: Understand Your Responsibilities as a Leader
Even with a fully organised residential, leaders still play a vital role. Your responsibilities might usually include supporting the emotional wellbeing of the girls, managing group behaviour and expectations, acting as the main point of contact for parents and ensuring safeguarding standards are met.
The good news is that many residential providers will support you with key elements such as risk assessments, safety procedures, qualified instructors and structured schedules. So you can focus more on enjoying the experience alongside your group.
Step 7: Communicate Clearly with Parents
Clear communication early on can prevent a lot of stress later. Before the trip, make sure families have a clear picture of what’s included, what their child needs to pack and how safety and supervision will be managed while they’re away. It’s also worth being upfront about emergency contact procedures, so parents feel reassured from the start.
Providing a detailed information pack or holding a short pre-trip meeting can go a long way in building confidence and giving parents the chance to ask any questions before you set off.
Step 8: Prepare Your Group Before the Trip
A little preparation goes a long way, especially for first-time residentials. In the weeks leading up to the trip, take some time during meetings to talk through what your girls can expect with the activities, the accommodation and the daily routine.
Practising teamwork activities beforehand can also help get everyone in the right mindset for their trip away!
It’s also worth having an open conversation about independence skills like packing, sharing rooms and managing their own routines. Encouraging girls to ask questions and voice any worries early means you can address concerns before the trip. This is particularly important for younger Brownies who may feel nervous about staying away from home.
Step 9: What to expect during the residential trip
Once you arrive, most residential trips follow a structured but varied routine.
A typical day might include:
- Morning activity sessions
- Afternoon challenges or group activities
- Evening entertainment or social time
Many providers also include evening programmes, giving leaders a chance to step back slightly while still being present.
Accommodation is usually designed with groups in mind, with shared rooms for girls and separate spaces for leaders, helping maintain both supervision and comfort.
Meals are typically provided, with options to cater for dietary requirements, which removes another layer of planning.
Step 10: Reflect and Celebrate the Experience
The impact of a residential trip doesn’t end when you return home. Once you’re back, it’s worth taking time to reflect on everything the girls achieved and celebrate the milestones (big and small!). Whether it was conquering a fear, stepping up as a leader or simply thriving away from home for the first time, these moments deserve recognition.
Linking experience back to badges or awards is a great way to give the trip added meaning, and sharing memories with parents and your wider unit keeps the excitement alive long after unpacking.
Common Challenges (and How to Handle Them)
Even well-planned trips come with a few challenges. Being prepared makes all the difference.
Homesickness
- Keep girls engaged in activities
- Offer reassurance without escalating concerns
- Maintain a consistent routine
Tiredness
- Balance high-energy activities with quieter moments
- Encourage hydration and rest
Group Dynamics
- Use team-building activities to strengthen relationships
- Keep communication open and supportive
These are all normal parts of the residential experience and often lead to the biggest personal growth.
How PGL Can Support Your Girlguiding Residential Trip
If you’re planning your first Brownie or Girlguiding residential, having the right support in place can make all the difference.
PGL works in partnership with Girlguiding to provide residential experiences designed specifically for Brownies, Guides and Rangers.
What makes this particularly helpful for leaders:
- All-Inclusive Approach: Accommodation, meals, activities and equipment are all included in one price, making budgeting simpler and more transparent.
- Expert-Led Activities: Qualified instructors lead every session, ensuring safety while helping girls build confidence and new skills.
- Tailored Programmes: Activities can be adapted to suit your group’s age, ability and goals
- Support Throughout Your Stay: Dedicated staff help manage the schedule and logistics, giving you more time to focus on your group
- Free Leader Places: Generous ratios make it easier to bring the right level of supervision without increasing costs
- Built-In Badge Opportunities: Many activities align with Girlguiding badges, helping girls achieve recognition as part of the experience
For first-time leaders especially, this kind of structure removes much of the pressure that comes with organising a residential from scratch.
Planning your first Brownie or Girlguiding residential might feel like a big responsibility, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things you’ll do as a leader.
With the right preparation, clear goals and the right support, you can create an experience that helps your girls grow in confidence, build lasting friendships and discover what they’re capable of.
And once you’ve done your first residential, you’ll likely find it won’t be your last! Discover our group adventures today, with everything from Ardèche adventures to Girlguiding takeover weekends — enquire now!
