Every Monday night during the fall and winter, the sound of young girls laughing and having fun echoes down the halls of William E. Hay Secondary Campus, leading curious onlookers to the home-ec room.
Found within the room are Stettler and area's Sparks, Brownies and Girl Guides, the organizations now in their second year of running in Stettler.
"There was a group here before," Lisa Attema, the group's leader, said. "I don't know why, but it folded."
Attema is in her first year as a leader, having stepped up when last year's leader decided not to continue with the organization.
"We started with Sparks and Brownies," Attema explained "This year, we have our first year of Girl Guides."
The three different guiding organizations meet together because of smaller membership, something that has become quite common in smaller centres. While the groups do a lot of projects together, they also break apart and do projects separately, as many of the activities are geared to the girls' age.
Sparks are the youngest, between 5-6, followed by Brownies, who are between 7-8. Girl Guides welcome girls between 9-11. Though there's currently no Pathfinders, the next tier in guiding, Attema hopes eventually there will be. Pathfinders take in girls between 12-14, and then is followed by Rangers, which take in girls from 15 and up.
"Our girls especially like the crafting activities," Attema said. "We're still fairly new when it comes to some of the other activities, like outdoor camping."
The organization is always looking for crafting supplies to augment their weekly activities, Attema said.
"Guiding is something for people who don't want to do sports, or music or dance," Attema said. "It's important for all kids to have something they can do."
The cost for a year is $120, with cookie sale profits allowing the girls to come out and have fun without having to pay dues. Some special events require kids to pitch in to cover cost, but for the majority of the year, the $120 covers everything, Attema said.