Hi! My name is Harley, and this is the monthly Kidz Korner column! This month’s topic is a recent American Heritage Girls campout!
If you’re not familiar with them already, American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered scouting program for girls who live in the U.S. and beyond! At American Heritage Girls (AHG), we embark on thrilling camping trips and exciting adventures. Unfortunately, the All-Florida Spring Campout hadn’t happened for a few years, but a wonderful woman named Jaime Rickenberg was determined to bring back the fun and adventure! So here we are.
On Friday, as my mom and I arrived at the camp, we were greeted by signs bearing our Creed words: Compassionate, Helpful, Honest, Loyal, Perseverant, Pure, Resourceful, Respectful, Responsible, and Reverent! Then, after locating the correct entrance, we pitched in for setup, checked our Troop in, made costumes, and rehearsed for the skit! The skit, inspired by a Max Lucado book called You Are Loved, was hilarious, full of meaning, and an absolute blast to be a part of.
Saturday, the last and only full day, was—in a nutshell—organized chaos. Between mild sleep deprivation, making sure you were wearing the official camp shirt and close-toed shoes, making it to all six skill sessions (say that six times fast!), and not collapsing in a heap at your leaders’ feet once you got there, it was crazy but SOOOOO worth it!
Have you ever heard the saying “Make new friends but keep the old – One is silver and the other gold”? Well, that’s exactly what we did! We formed new friendships, strengthened old ones, and created a bond that would last way beyond departure that Sunday morning! This is just one benefit of the Multi-Troop camp and the true spirit of American Heritage Girls—a community of friends and sisters in Christ.
On Saturday, I did a lot of learning – Sign Language (in which we learned how to sign the alphabet and discussed hearing aids) and an adventurous refresher on Archery – and some teaching, too! I taught one class, Citizenship & Government, for 8-9 year olds. There was a lot of preparation, blood, sweat, and tears, but it was totally worth it to see the girls coloring and smiling away.
We learned about Florida’s geography, important historical documents, and local laws. There were some silly laws, like how you can’t sell oranges on the sidewalk in Miami! But there are some meaningful ones, too, like following stop signs. Following the law is important because it keeps us safe and secure. But even higher than American or world law is God’s law. He’ll always be just and fair!
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17
Harley Isabel Smith
Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14
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.”