event-filled week which promises to have a unique international flavour.

The milestone will be marked with a special International Camp, which kicks off this weekend and will be attended by Girl Guides from all over the world.

"The UK headquarters sent out invitations to groups around the world,'' explained the association's administrative secretary Carol Hall. "And we sent out invitations to those groups that we have close links with.'' Initially, about 20 countries, from as far away as Madagascar and the Republic of Belarus, had expressed interest in attending the camp.

But expensive air fares curtailed some countries' plans, so now the celebration of international youth will be smaller than initially intended.

"We will still have representatives from far away places like Norway, Gibraltar, the tiny island of St. Helena and Trinidad and Tobago,'' Mrs. Hall noted. "So we will have a good cross section of cultures.

"We estimate that we will have between 150 and 200 young people taking part.

That is a nice, comfortable number.'' This will be the second time the Island has hosted Guides from all over the world -- the first was 30 years ago when the local association marked its 50th anniversary.

"The first International Camp took place in 1969 at Ferry Reach and I took part in that camp,'' Mrs. Hall recalled with a chuckle.

The Girl Guides originated in the UK in 1910 by Lord Baden-Powell. Nine years later, permission was granted to start a branch of the association in Bermuda.

The local chapter of the organisation, which provides young ladies with a myriad of skills, boasts a total membership of 635 -- but most of those members are between the ages of seven and 14.

The Girl Guides programme attempts to mould girls between the ages of five and 26 into responsible individuals who are able to realise their full potential in the home, the workplace and in their personal lives.

It also fosters interactive skills, promotes friendships and teaches the importance in balancing and maintaining one's spiritual, physical and mental well-being.

For its 80th anniversary the association is attempting to drum up more community involvement for their programmes.

"Girl Guiding wants the community to know that the Girl Guide Youth Programme is alive and well,'' explained Janel Minors Sloan. "We want the community to know that we need and want their help as project volunteers, leaders, trainers, badge testers or any other support or expertise that they might be able to give as Friends of Guiding.'' The 80th Anniversary celebration will be presided over by the association's honorary president, the Governor's wife, Jennifer Masefield and the Guide's Island Commissioner Lynne (Hollis) Cann.

The festivities will kick off this Saturday with an opening ceremony at Bernard Park in Pembroke.

Once the official opening is over, the merriment heads east to the Clearwater Beach Nature Reserve in St. David's, home base for the week-long camp.

"There will be four camp sites,'' explained Mrs. Hall. "Three will be for the guides and the fourth will be for the local boy scouts, who have also been invited to take part in the camp.'' And she said that there will be plenty of activities to keep the youngsters busy.

"There will be water sports, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, arts and crafts and horseback riding,'' she noted. "There will be a day which is devoted to the community where the guides will go out and help at places like the seniors' homes and Windreach.'' The fun-filled week concludes with a grand finale parade and service on July 11. For more information on the Girl Guide International Camp check out the local web site at http://members.aol.com/bgga1999/index.html or email the Bermuda Girl Guide Association at BGGA1999aol.com