All young women should join the Girl Guides because it builds confidence and exposes them to other cultures, two local guides said this week.

Chinue Pitcher and Ashleigh Roe were this week helping prepare for the guides' international camp in which more than 50 young girls from several countries will participate.

Both Chinue, 15, and Ashleigh, 14, say guiding is a "great experience'' and would not trade it for the world.

"It's a great experience and anyone that has the opportunity should get into guiding,'' Ashleigh, a student at Bermuda High School said.

"You meet new people and have many opportunities that rounds you off and makes you whole.'' "I feel that all girls should join,'' Chinue, a student at Berkeley Institute, said. "It makes you a better person.'' Chinue added: "One learns how to survive on ones own and not depend on others. You also get to meet people from around the world.'' Chinue said she will soon join a ranger group for advanced guides and assist her troop, the First Newlands Girl Guides.

Ashleigh intends to assist her troop, the First St. Patrick's Guides, once she turns 16.

The girls are friends and met each other through guiding and both attended Camp Ceilidh in Scotland for an international camp last year.

"My mother started me off in the Brownies,'' Chinue said. "But I really began to like it. I've been a girl guide for four years now.'' Ashleigh said she was reluctant to join a guide troop because it meant losing some friends, but she has enjoyed her four years in the movement.

Everyone is invited to the opening ceremonies of the international camp at Bernard Park tonight from 7.45 p.m. to 9 p.m.