1909 Crystal Palace Scout Rally

The Scouts' Own, a simple, non-denominational religious ceremony, was introduced at this rally by H. Geoffrey Elwes.

[4] Several hundred[dubious – discuss][citation needed] Girl Scouts also attended, including one group under their Patrol Leader Marguerite de Beaumont.

The media coverage of the rally, including that in The Spectator magazine in October–December 1909[further explanation needed] initiated by Miss Violet Markham, led to the founding, in 1910, of the Girl Guides organisation under Baden-Powell's sister, Agnes Baden-Powell[5] that further led to other Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations around the world.

In those days, it was not common for girls to camp and hike, as this extract from the Scout newspaper shows: "If a girl is not allowed to run, or even hurry, to swim, ride a bike, or raise her arms above her head, how can she become a Scout?",.

To commemorate the event, in September 2009, Girlguiding UK opened a Centenary Maze in Crystal Palace Park.