HIGHTSTOWN — An impromptu stop at a Craft Fair inside a Hightstown fire station turned jaded to joy, and planted a seed of hope for the future. An upstairs room filled with craft entrepreneurs, many of them members of local Girl Scout troops, looking to earn badges for worthy efforts to improve society. “I’m trying to earn money for my Gold Award project which is to make hats for babies in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit),” said Eliana Winters, a Hightstown High student and member of Girl Scouts Troop 70365. “And then after the hats are made, I’ll be donating them to area hospitals because there’s a shortage of hats for infants. And, next I want to start a crochet class to teach others how to make these hats.” The Girl Scouts Gold Award ranks as the most prestigious honor in the worldwide organization. Check out this Girls Scouts drumroll for these high achievers. Gold Award Girl Scouts are rock stars, role models, and real-life heroes. How do they do it? By using everything they’ve learned as a Girl Scout to help fix a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world. And you don’t have to be a seasoned activist or star student to get there. Girl Scouts who want to get involved and go for the Gold Award get a team of trusted adults and leaders in their community to guide them through challenges and lead them to success, step-by-step. There’s no other program like it. Plus? Nothing beats that feeling of seeing real, lasting, and sustainable change and knowing it was you who made it happen. It changes the way you see your place in the world—and how the world sees you. While it’s a wonderful characteristic to think outside boxes, young people develop beautiful attributes when they learn to think outside themselves. As adults, or a community. and especially in classrooms, we have a responsibility to encourage empathy, model positive behavior, and to provide circumstances for children to mature and help others. School policy makers everywhere must consider a community service component to education systems. A local organization called Camp Fire New Jersey which supports numerous youth development programs, makes this observation. “Young people want to shape the world. Camp Fire New Jersey provides the opportunity to find their spark… lift their voice, and..n discover who they are. At Camp Fire NJ, it begins now.” During this season of Thanksgiving which should be a daily observation, thanks to Ms. Winters for her efforts. Thankful that our paths crossed and all the best with your life and this wonderful initiative. ****** Good news about youth should not be determined by serendipitous pot luck. If you have a child involved in an uplifting effort then forward information about their efforts. Happy Thanksgiving. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].