Nikita Barde and Abigail Stern, both eighth graders at Community Middle School, received the Outstanding Youth of the Year Award from Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) and the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) at the annual Resource Family Recognition Dinner on May 1.
They received the award for organizing and running crafts and games for children who attended the FAFS Ocean County Volunteer Committee’s Breakfast with Santa in December. They ran six crafts and six games for foster children who ranged in age from infants to teenagers, with the assistance of a staff of seven Junior Girl Scouts and two Cadette Girl Scouts. “I’m extremely glad that I could plan a pleasurable and memorable experience for foster children,” says Barde, who has been a scout since third grade.
“Working with Nikita and Abby was a wonderful experience,” says Margaret Gannon, their mentor. “They embody all that is right in the world. Their enthusiasm and willingness to do anything that needed to be done was refreshing and welcome. Without these girls, the holiday party would not have been the outstanding success it was.”
The project earned them the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award that girls can earn as Cadette Girl Scouts. They are members of Girl Scout Troop 70677 with leader Louisa Ho.
“All of the time put into organizing this event was worth seeing the adorable foster children’s faces,” says Stern, who has been a scout since fourth grade.
For information about volunteering to work with the foster care system call 877-NJ Foster (877-653-6783) or 800-222-0047.
Alison Aimers, an eighth grader at Grover Middle School, also earned her Girl Scout silver award. She is in Troop 70677. “Wheelchairs Around the World” was an idea she borrowed from Girl Scout Thinking Day, an international celebration of countries and cultures held annually.
Aimers wanted to adapt the experience to the unique abilities of the students at Mercer Elementary School, a school for autistic and mentally disabled children. One of the students, Julia Aimers, her younger sister, has Angelman Syndrome.
After meeting with Principal Pat Sodano, she started working with her leader and advisor, Louisa Ho, her mother Debbie Aimers, and the staff of MES.
On April 9 each of the 270 MES students were given “passports” and invited to “travel” to 15 different countries right in their own gym. The children were greeted by Alison Aimers, who took them through a 10-foot Arc de Triomphe to start their journey. As they were guided from country to country, they had their passports stamped, played games, and received prizes with a country theme. All countries had a board with information on the specific country and were staffed with volunteer Girl Scouts, friends, family, and MES parents. Some volunteers even dressed in traditional costume such as saris and kimonos.
“I wanted to create an experience that all of the students at the school could enjoy,” says Alison Aimers. “I especially paid close attention to those in wheelchairs. I tried to adapt everything to their needs as best I could because I’ve learned through my sister how hard it is to travel with a wheelchair.”
For several hours that day, children were led through art galleries, visited the windmills of Denmark, and admired the Taj Majal of India. They played soccer in Brazil, rolled Faberge eggs in Russia, and played a zip line game in Costa Rica. Each were also able to play in a Japanese Zen garden and catapult the Great Wall of China. It was also a visual and sensory experience. One station, Barbados, had ocean sounds and smells of tropical flowers and coconuts. Many of the countries also had cultural music playing. There was an eight-foot Great Barrier Reef diorama with bubbles for the kids to play with. Most tables had adapted buttons saying hello in the native language and others had toys that were adapted by the MES staff for children with motor difficulties.
“It’s been almost two months since the event and we are still receiving positive feedback,” says Debbie Aimers. “Parents and staff continue to thank Alison for giving the children the opportunity to be a part of such a great thing.”
Alison Aimers, who contributed more than 100 hours for this project, is grateful to her volunteers for making the event possible. “The many smiles of the students after Wheelchairs Around the Word made all of the work worth it,” she says.
Emma Turney, Mariah Kreutter, and Sophie Ochs earned their Bronze awards. All in Troop 70206, their leader Evelyn Turney guided them in creating “Discovering Letterboxing” badge kit. Three letterboxes were hidden at one of the Girl Scout campsites. A mailbox containing a packet with the clues and the requirements for earning the badge was decorated and placed at the camp.
Letterboxing combines navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a treasure hunt style outdoor quest. It is a chance to explore, see some wildlife, and decode riddles. “This is hiking with a super-fun twist,” says Kruetter. Visit www.letterboxing.org for information.
If you are interested in joining Girl Scouts in West Windsor-Plainsboro, contact Louisa Ho at 609-371-2119 or send an E-mail to girlscoutswwp@verizon.net.
