Luseland Girl Guides continues to build great leaders for tomorrow
By Joan Janzen
The Luseland Guiding organization is gearing up for another successful year. "The secret is running a good program so you get good volunteers who continue that program," Jean Halliday explained. Jean is one of those long-standing volunteers who has helped out with the organization since 1981.
The Luseland Guides hold up their nature pictures at their 2026 spring camp. The Guides program in Luseland began in 1922. PHOTO SUBMITTED
In 1948-49 the Luseland Girl Guides held their first week-long camp at Macklin Lake. PHOTO COURTESY LUSELAND HUBS & SPOKES HISTORY BOOK
Luseland's Guiding family has a long history to build on, as their organization has been running since 1922! With the exception of a few years' absence, the program has had a constant presence in Luseland for over a century, which is a monumental achievement.
When you build on that history, it gives you good leaders, Jean said. Some of their leaders were in the program as young girls.
There are two leaders for each level: Sparks, Embers, Guides and Pathfinders, which range from kindergarten to Grade 9. Overall, the program consists of 36 to 40 girls. Occasionally moms step in to help when needed, along with a few Grade 10 and 11 girls.
Jean said the girls are tremendously helpful as they have been in the program all their lives. Those girls are already living out the purpose of the Guiding program … building great leaders for tomorrow.
Throughout her years of volunteering, Jean has seen girls gain confidence along with the ability to lead, organize and work as a team. Those are advantages and basic principles for living they continue to use throughout their adult lives.
The girls learn about a broad range of subjects including recycling, sewing, water preservation, science projects, art and nature. The basic core program for Girl Guides of Canada covers every aspect of living.
The girls are also involved in the community throughout the year, attending Remembrance Day services and the occasional Arts Council performance. They visit nursing homes and sing or play bingo and games with the seniors. "Ninety-year-old girls and ten-year-old girls together; we like to do that kind of interaction," Jean said.
Since the organization first began a century ago, Girl Guides have sold poppies, gone on camping trips, made and sent quilts overseas, donated toys to the Red Cross and entered knitting competitions. According to information obtained from the Luseland Hubs & Spokes history book, the Guides were without leaders for a few years. However, in September 1981 Jean revitalized the program, and the highlight of the year was a four-day camp at Dillberry Lake with other Guides from the area.
Since then the group has carried on and Jean continues to take the girls out into the hills, teaching them about nature. "There's so much they can learn out there; that's my favourite thing to do with the girls," she said.