Feilding Girl Guides Unboxing New Opportunities
For the Feilding Girl Guides unit, the unboxing of new tents has seen big smiles and plenty of excitement, as the new gear is set to provide new opportunities for learning, leadership and development as a result of MDC’s Community Development Fund.
The Feilding Girl Guides unit has 17 members and three leaders who meet Thursday evenings during the school term to build life skills for girls aged 9 to 12. Outdoor education is a key part of Girl Guiding, but for the Feilding unit, limited resources has made outdoor activities such as camping, a real challenge. They have been relying on old, bottomless canvas tents that are not waterproof and cannot accommodate their growing numbers. In January 2026, their camp had to be cancelled after just one night as the canvas tents flooded out.
With support from MDC’s Community Development Fund, the Feilding Girl Guides unit has purchased five new tents, a gazebo, and accessories such as a mallet and pegs. The tents will offer the Girl Guides more opportunities for camps, outdoor activities and pathways to achieving more awards, including the Girl Guiding Aoraki Award. This award is one of the highest honours for their age group, which requires a Girl Guide to plan and run an independent 24-hour camp for herself and three others (with adult supervision). Feilding Girl Guides’ Unit leader, Jasmine Phippen, said the new tents will also help Girl Guiding NZ leaders, like herself, work towards completing their ‘Girl Guiding NZ Outdoor Certificate’. With more leaders able to complete the certificate and with suitable equipment on hand, the unit can run more camps and outdoor activities.
The Feilding Girl Guides were excited to receive their new tents and quickly put their enthusiasm to action, unboxing them on a chilly Thursday evening in late February at Feilding’s Timona Park. The unit was split into three groups, mallet in hand, and put up (and packed down) all five tents in under an hour. The unit embraced the challenge, working through the dry, rocky terrain, learning how to put up the tents independently, and sharing plenty of excitement for future camps and adventures.
MDC is proud to have supported the Feilding Girl Guides Unit through the Community Development Fund. These tents are more than just shelter, but they represent new experiences and adventures for generations of girls, now and into the future.
MDC’s Funding Rounds are now open for applications until late March, including the Community Development Fund. Get involved, explore the available funding schemes, and consider which funding rounds might best suit your projects. To learn more or apply for a fund, visit: Community Funding & Grants | Manawatū District Council
Photo description: The Feilding Girl Guides Unit (excluding the leaders) posing inside one of the larger patrol tents.
Photo description: Feilding Girl Guides putting up one of the larger patrol tents.
Photo description: Feilding Girl Guides putting up some of the lightweight tents.
Photo description: Feilding Girl Guides posing after successfully putting up their lightweight tent.
Photo description: Cupcakes made by Feilding Girl Guides Unit Leader, Jasmine Phippen.