Guiding members past and present, girls and women, will gather Saturday in Whitehorse for a 100th birthday party for Canada's original girl-focused organization.

"Our birthday party is an opportunity to commemorate the important role Guiding has played in the Yukon over the past century,” said area co-commissioner Johanna Smith.

"Throughout its history, Girl Guides of Canada has offered girls the chance to develop their leadership skills and speak out and take action on the issues they care about.

"Whether they are tackling important issues such as bullying, violence against women or hunger, or greening our community, girls in Guiding make a difference in their communities.”

The 100th birthday party will start at 1 p.m. in the Elijah Smith Elementary School gym. Events will include crafts, games, a cake, and that great Guiding tradition, a campfire. The event should end by 4 p.m.

The birthday party will launch a year-long national service project – "Girls eradicate hunger and poverty.”

Over the coming months, Guiding units will be volunteering 50 hours' service and gathering up 50 kilograms of donated food.

Meeting this goal will help girls develop the skills and confidence to achieve extraordinary things.