Every OT Was Once a Girl Guide (or Brownie!)
I’ve noticed something over the years—there’s a certain spirit that seems to connect occupational therapists, particularly those of us drawn to the intricate connections between the mind, body, and brain. A shared history, a thread that links us back to childhood experiences of exploration 🔦, creativity 🤩, and a deep-seated curiosity 🧐 about how people engage with the world. And when I dig a little deeper, I find a surprising number of us have something in common…
We were once Girl Guides (or Brownies, or Girl Scouts)!🥾🏕️
Now, this isn’t a formal requirement for the profession, of course, but I can’t help but see the parallels. The very essence of being a Guide—learning by doing, problem-solving, working together, pushing boundaries, and developing practical skills—feels so much like the foundation of occupational therapy itself.
The Seeds of Occupational Therapy
Think about it. The first badges we earned? Many of them were about understanding the world through our senses—campfire cooking (smell, taste, and proprioception), navigating in the dark (spatial awareness and vestibular function), or crafting (fine motor skills and problem-solving). We learned teamwork, resilience, and adaptability, all essential for our future work supporting people to navigate the complexities of life.
For those of us who identify as neurodiverse, these early structured but exploratory experiences may have been our first opportunities to understand our own sensory and cognitive differences. They gave us tools to manage challenges and the confidence to lean into our strengths. They helped us see the world in different ways—something every good OT does instinctively.
Nature, Movement, and Learning 🏔️🤸♀️
In occupational therapy, we talk a lot about the importance of movement in learning. Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) teaches us how sensory experiences shape the brain 🧠 and body’s 🕺 ability to interact with the world 🌎. It’s no coincidence that so much of what we did in Guides and Brownies involved moving, experimenting, and testing our own physical and cognitive limits.
Climbing trees🧗♀️, balancing on logs 🪵, building dens 🛖, making fires 🔥—all these activities provided sensory-motor challenges that supported our development. And later, as OTs, we bring that same understanding into our work, whether supporting a child to develop motor planning skills, helping an adult find new ways to engage with meaningful activity, or exploring how sensory regulation can support mental well-being.
Learning to Problem-Solve in the Elements
And then there were the big challenges—putting up tents 🏕️, digging ditches to keep the rain from flooding our camp, and (for those of us who really embraced the rugged side of things) digging latrines. There’s something about these experiences that builds both resilience and an appreciation for planning ahead. The simple act of scrubbing the billy can—working together to get the soot off, hands blackened and laughter in the air—taught us about perseverance, teamwork, and the satisfaction of a job well done. Just like in OT, we learned that preparation, effort, and a bit of creative problem-solving can make all the difference.
Finding Our Way—Literally and Figuratively 🔦👣
Do you remember learning to read a map 📜 and compass 🧭? Finding your way in the woods? Problem-solving as a team when things didn’t go quite to plan?
These experiences weren’t just about survival skills. They were about developing the ability to assess a situation, adapt, and take action—exactly what we do as OTs every day. In a way, our profession is all about helping people find their own internal compass again, giving them the strategies and support they need to navigate life’s challenges.
The Spirit of Service
At its heart, being a Girl Guide was about making the world a better place—just as being an occupational therapist is about enabling people to live fuller, more meaningful lives. The promise we made back then, to help others, to be kind, to keep learning, and to embrace challenges, still resonates in our work today.
So maybe it’s no surprise that so many of us found our way into OT. Maybe, just maybe, the seeds were planted long ago, around a campfire 🔥, in the woods 🌲, or during a craft session 🧶 where we learned, without even realizing it, the power of occupation.
And for those of us who still have that little spark of adventure, curiosity, and creativity—perhaps we never really left the Guide spirit behind. We just carried it forward into a profession that continues to light the way for others.
What about you? Were you a Brownie, a Guide, or a Scout?
Did those early experiences shape your path into OT?
I’d love to hear your stories!
— Kath