Joining a girl guide troop can teach young girls valuable lessons that will last a lifetime.

The world of guiding is open to all girls between the ages of 11 and 15 who are willing to follow the guide promise, laws, motto and programme.

Upon joining a guide company, the young girl is assigned to a patrol -- a small unit of guides within the troop.

During a weekly meeting, the guides may play games, make crafts, go on outings or take part in a community service project.

Occasionally, they may go camping for the weekend, have outdoor sleepovers or nighttime campfires.

After attending meetings for eight weeks, a new guide is able to take her promise and become an official member of the World Association of Girl Guides.

But before taking that step, she must complete the eight pre-promise challenges found in the handbook.

A challenge is an activity that a guide has never done before, something she wishes to try differently or improve.

The eight pre-promise challenges come under the headings of enjoying the outdoors, keeping fit, thinking for yourself, giving service, exploring the arts, becoming a homemaker, keeping the guide law and getting to know people.

Once all of these challenges are achieved, the new guide can take her promise during a special ceremony.

Each country has its own promise, but all have the same three components.

The British and local vow is: "I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God. To serve the Queen and help other people, and to keep the guide law.'' Along with the promise comes the guide salute, motto, laws, world badge and promise pin.

The salute is made by holding up your first three fingers, keeping down the last with your thumb.

The motto of "Be Prepared'' means that guides are ready to cope with anything that comes their way.

The ten guide laws are an extension of the pre-promise challenges.

Therefore a guide is as follows: loyal and can be trusted; helpful; polite and considerate; friendly and a sister to all guides; kind to animals and respects all living things; obedient; has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties; makes good use of her time; takes care of her own possessions and those of other people; and self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does.

The world badge and promise pin certify membership of the World Association of Girl Guides and can be worn with the uniform or regular clothing.

As a guide progresses through the eight-point programme, she is gradually awarded four trefoil pins.

Each of the yellow, green, red and blue trefoils may take between nine and 18 months to complete. And once a guide has all of them, she may work toward achieving the Baden-Powell Award.

The reward was named after the famous British soldier Robert Baden-Powell who founded the girl guide movement in 1910.

Since then, guiding has spread rapidly with more than eight million members around the world today.

Between working on trefoils and meeting activities, guides can also accomplish interest badges aimed at covering their individual hobbies.

There are more than 100 badges listed in the guide badge book including artist, cyclist, dance, fitness, gardener, handy woman, singer and survival.

The badges are awarded after a guide completes all of the set requirements detailed under each heading.

The badge book also describes how to achieve community service flashes (badges), collective emblems, the Commonwealth Award, camp permits, patrol purpose patches and patrol interest patches.

All of the badges can be sewn onto a navy sash which is worn across the shoulder during formal occasions.

The local summer guide uniform consists of a light blue formal shirt or blue polo shirt, navy skirt or shorts and white socks with the formal shirt or blue sweatshirt, navy skirt or slacks with navy socks worn in the winter.

The sash, belt, pouch and company neckerchief are optional items, but must be worn during special guiding ceremonies and/or activities.

There are also international camps which girl guides from around the world have the opportunity to attend.

Every year or so, a group of local delegates is chosen to take part in the camps. This summer, five girls will travel to Scotland and three to Barbados.

They will stay with host families before spending a week at the camp sites.

During the getaway, the girls can participate in a wide range of adventures including rafting, abseiling, sightseeing and kayaking.

Twelve-year-old Heather McKirdy, who will be camping in Scotland, said: "I am excited to go because I really like camping. When I go to Scotland, I will be camping for two weeks. I am going to meet new people and try out canoeing, abseiling and archery.'' The Royal Gazette recently interviewed two of Heather's fellow 1st Hamilton Company members to find out what makes guiding such a fun and worthwhile activity.

"I like guides because I am making new friends,'' explained 11-year-old Berniece Williams. "My favourite part is going camping and making crafts.

"Guides lets you have fun and do a lot of exciting things and activities.'' Nishana Weerasooriya, also 11, added: "I like making crafts too. Last week we made papier mache cats and now we're making a scrapbook to send to guides in Kent (England).

"I also like camping because we can sleep in tents and sit around the fire, sing songs and cook outdoors.'' For further information on joining a girl guide company contact the Bermuda Guide Association Island Commissioner, Lynne Cann, on 236-1941.

BE PREPARED -- 1st Hamilton Girl Guide Company members salute to the flag at their meeting place, the Asser Hut at Bermuda High School for Girls. Pictured, from top to bottom, are Chellsy Mapp (holding the flag), Heather McKirdy, leader Susan Fuhrtz, Berniece Williams, assistant leader Lynn Thorne, Nishana Weerasooriya, and Nea Wissing.