Bumblebee Paddles was meant to be about paddling but it’s also going to have to be about Bumblebee – this particular identity, this blog, it’s about me as a Girlguiding volunteer. It’s about my kayaking journey, sure, but it’s also about the boathouse and the girls and what we do there – as volunteers. It’s … More A few thoughts on National Volunteers Week
The boathouse is going to be kind of quiet for me this year – as evidenced by the fact that we’re two-thirds of the way through May and I’ve only been twice so far – but last week we did our first unit session of the year. Five of my six Rangers are doing their … More The first unit boathouse session of the year
My county has got into the habit over the last few years of running watersports days for the girls. Brownies tend to have a shorter, easier day as an introduction and the Rangers tend to get something more interesting so that your day gets upgraded as you move up through Brownies, Guides and Rangers – … More County adult leaders watersports day
As part of my quest to not be scared of being in the water rather than on it, I had a go at getting into sea swimming a couple of years ago. I will never love sea swimming – I don’t love chlorine in my nose or other people swimming at the wrong speed in … More Sea pools are terrifying
I’m almost surprised I haven’t done this yet. Get to know our boathouse! I talk a lot about the boathouse because a huge part of my paddling life – or least the paddling life as documented on this blog – takes place there. So I thought it was about time I showed you around the … More A tour of the boathouse
I can’t often get to actual boat club because it’s the same night as Brownies but if we plan it in advance and put it in the programme, the other leaders know when I won’t be there and I like to be there on the first night of the term’s boat club. I get to … More The first boat club session of 2025
Summer is approaching, I’m at the boathouse right as this post goes live and summer holidayers are starting to look speculatively at the water. Paddling is a joy but how do you get started? Go on a guided tour with a professional The absolute best way to get started on the water is to go … More How do I get started in paddling?
Yep, that’s it, that’s the post. I don’t really do sports (insert tangent where I wonder out loud about archery, fencing and kayaking as sports and my relationship to the sporting aspects) and I definitely don’t watch them. But I make an exception for the Boat Race. I don’t know why I watch the Boat … More I watched the Boat Race so I thought I’d talk about rowing
This is something of a ritual, to go out canoeing on the river on the first tolerably sunny Sunday that the hire place is open. And then I write about it, even though there’s nothing in particular to say that I didn’t say last year. Look, I like paddling, I like writing, I like writing … More I went canoeing for the first time this year!
It’s time for boat club to get started again already! Last year we only had 5 girls in our boat club. This year we have 9 definites and 3 that we’re still unsure of this stage. Last year, I gave them all codenames from Taylor Swift songs, starting at A and going through the alphabet … More Boat club pre-season pool session 2025
Bumblebee Paddles 