The creation of the Girl Guides was intimately tied to the establishment of the Boy Scouts in that a brother-sister team ? Agnes Baden-Powell and Lord Robert Baden-Powell ? were the early driving forces of both groups.

Lord Robert ? known to many as BP ? wrote the book "Scouting for Boys" in 1908 after having tested many of his ideas for the scouting movement on a camping trip to Brownsea Island off the coast of England in 1907. Many saw this as the beginning of Scouting and soon scout troops started spring up around the world. Meanwhile, Agnes Baden-Powell, at her brother's request, was involved with organising the Girl Guides right from the beginning.

She and BP were two of a family of ten. She was older than her brother, and at the time she agreed to take over the Guides, she was already in her early 50s.

Miss Baden-Powell was known to be a good musician who played organ, piano and violin. As an artist she was described as excelling in all handicrafts and specifically metalwork, the making of lace (tatting) and needlework.

But she was most interested in natural history, so she always insisted on an "open air" movement in guiding.

She was also a recognised expert in astronomy, bicycling, swimming, driving and skating. Her nursing ability was described as first rate and she was an excellent cook.

At home she was known to keep a beehive, which produced prize honey. The bees had access to the outside by a pipe through the wall.

There was also a colony of butterflies living in the home and several small birds that were not caged.

In the early 1900s, girls and women had to be ladies and many parents were afraid that Guides would be tomboys, but those who knew Miss Baden-Powell declared that a gentler lady could not be found. She would work hard to overcome the tomboy image.

In the next several years she worked to adapt the handbook "Scouting for Boys" to the "Handbook of the Girl Guides" or "How Girls can help to build up the Empire".

She encouraged and co-ordinated guiding throughout the world and established the 1st Lone Company in 1912, she wrote articles for the Girl Guide Gazette, and with her committee made all the decisions large and small that helped create the organisation.

By April 1910, she and two friends created an office for Guides, renting a room in the building where the Boy Scouts had their offices.

There were by this time already 6,000 girls registered, and as her brother was most anxious to keep the two groups separate, he advanced the Guides the funds to become better established.

Miss Baden-Powell became President of the Guiding Association officially on September 24, 1915 with the granting of a Charter of Incorporation, but this followed many years where she had been doing the job de facto.

In 1917, she resigned the Presidency in favour of Her Royal Highness, Princess Mary, who was an enthusiastic supporter of the Guides.

Miss Baden-Powell remained in the office of Vice-President until her death in June 1945 at age 86. Girl Guiding Bermuda was founded in 1921.