Four Girl Guides from Japan will have plenty of adventures to tell their friends about after taking part in a SOAR provincial Guide camp in Enderby last week.
The four youngsters plus one adult leader attended the camp as guests of the Clearwater Guiding movement.
Ten representatives of the local movement, including two adult leaders and one Pathfinder, also were at the camp when it was struck by a severe rainstorm on Wednesday, July 23.
The same storm caused extensive damage in Kamloops and some localized flooding in Clearwater.
“We just came back from a trip when the rain started,” said Hannah Foisy, one of the local Guides. “We waited in the bus for about one hour, then we went into the arena. It was very hot and sweaty. After several more hours they allowed us out when the rain stopped.”
According to fellow Guider Catherine Bennett, there was no food available for the first few hours in the arena.
Then organizers, looking for something that was easy to prepare and distribute, handed out loaves of bread.
“Bread never tasted so good,” she said.
The girls then settled in their tents for the night, but the storm came back and some (although not those from Clearwater) had to spend the rest of the night in the Enderby arena.
Despite language difficulties, the Japanese girls did not appear dismayed by events.
About 2,500 Girl Guides from all over B.C. as well as elsewhere took part in the SOAR camp, which is held annually in different locations across the province.
On Saturday the Japanese Girl Guides travelled to Clearwater to begin several days of visiting in the homes of local Girls Guides.
Their itinerary included a tour of Wells Gray Park, a visit to the Aveley Sheep Ranch near Vavenby, and river rafting.
“I'm having a great time. I love Canada. It's so beautiful,” said Guide leader Naomi Yamamoto.
Google Translate has proven to be a useful tool in bridging the language barrier, said Randy Hedlund. His granddaughter, Bayley Hedlund, hosted one of the Japanese Girl Guides.
“It's been a great experience for us as well,” he said.