A group of Ranger Guides has planned a route around Europe as part of a once-in-a-lifetime challenge.
Aimee Hill, front, plots a course across Europe with, left to right, leaders Helen Aldridge and Joanne Hoult, and fellow Rangers Ellie Allam, Thea Radcliffe and Francesca Wohlers.
The Newark Rangers have been fundraising and planning the trip for 14 months.
Thea Radcliffe, 15, Fran Wohlers, 17, Ellie Allam, 15, Poppy Royal, 15, and Aimee Hill, 17, start their 16-day trip on Monday.
They have raised £8,320 —£4,813 from fundraising and £3,507 in donations.
The trip will take in Paris, France, Rome and Verona in Italy, Innsbruck and Salzburg in Austria, Newark’s twin town of Emmendingen in Germany and Brussels and Bruges in Belgium.
Ranger groups throughout the country were invited to plan a trip as part of the centenary celebrations of the Guiding movement.
Newark Ranger division leader Mrs Helen Aldridge said: “We drew it to the attention of the girls as it represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and five wanted to go.”
The girls picked the countries and cities they wanted to visit, decided on the route and booked the tickets.
They have set themselves activities and challenges to complete while they are away.
Challenges include meeting local Guides and Scouts, eating traditional dishes, becoming local celebrities, trying a traditional game, craft or song, finding a special place to renew their Guiding promise, visiting a place of worship and having a hands-on science/technology experience.
More light-hearted challenges with a centenary theme include eating 100 ice creams, climbing 100 steps, collecting 100 autographs and making 100 sand castles.
They also plan to take a boat ride on the River Seine, recreate a scene from The Sound of Music, watch chocolate being made and listen to music by Beethoven.
They have designed a team logo and picked three rubber ducks as mascots to take with them. The ducks also feature on the hoodies they have designed for the trip.
Mrs Aldridge said the support for the project had been amazing and it was nice to think that there were people who wanted to give young people such an opportunity,
The money was raised by bag packing in Waitrose and Morrisons in Newark and the Balderton branches of the Co-op and Sainburys; a non-uniform day at the Grove School and stalls at the Grove and Farndon school fairs.
They received donations from district and county councillors, Newark Friends of Guiding and other Brownie, Guide and Rainbow groups, Newark Castle and Newark rotary clubs, Coddington and Claypole parish councils, Hillside Medical Supplies, Coddington Community Centre and the Friends of Sconce.
