Hello and welcome to the Kidz Korner section of the newspaper! My name is Harley Smith, and this month’s topic is the same as the event I planned in September.
If you read last year’s November article, you would know I’m an American Heritage Girls member. American Heritage Girls (AHG) is a Christ-centered scouting program. Every week, the members—girls aged 5-18—of a troop gather to earn badges and learn more about their faith. Besides the weekly troop meetings, there are special events for the girls to attend. I organized one of these events, which was a Lock-In!
The event was planned by yours truly to earn the Level Award for moving to the next age group. Currently, I am an Explorer (ages 9-12) but will move to the Pioneer Level (ages 12-14) in May. The requirements of this Explorer-Pioneer Level Award required me to spend at least two hours planning an event for the troop. So, I chose to organize a Lock-In! But not just any Lock-In.
Annually, AHG has a themed National Day of Service, which is a service project opportunity for troops nationwide. Last December, I attended a party where the guests assembled Blessing Bags, which contained necessities such as toothbrushes, water bottles, and socks. After the party, the guests took home the Blessing Bags they had made and gave them to homeless people. I loved the idea, so my Troop Coordinator suggested a National Day of Service-themed event to play games and make Blessing Bags! I was enraptured.
Okay, enough talk about the planning. Many weeks, lots of brainpower, and an arduous Sign-Up Genius later, girls arrived at the Lock-In at our troop’s charter church. While playing games, the leaders organized rotations to the church’s kitchen so we could bake pizzas and pastries, courtesy of a talented cook from the troop! After putting together the Blessing Bags, most of the evening was spent with zero structure, as per the plans, and the girls hit the sack at eleven.
In the morning, after a scrumptious breakfast of cinnamon rolls, a devotional was given for the girls, similar to the one that was read the evening before. Both devotionals expressed the importance of serving others freely of what God has blessed us with. The first one also told the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke and how anyone with a willing heart can serve. My challenge to you this month is to spend at least two hours volunteering in your community.
Goodbye! Stay tuned for next month’s Kidz Korner article!
Harley Isabel Smith is a homeschooled 6th grader who has been featured on TV as a philanthropist, has a heart for evangelism, and writes monthly for the Gazette’s Kidz Korner. Visit https://harleyisabelsmith.com where she is constantly adding written and video content to entertain and educate children. Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”