Six-week program assists 14 students
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY Montgomery High School junior Julia Hadinger has taken a Girl Scout project to another level.
For her Gold Award the highest recognition a senior Girl Scout can earn Julia has started "Fun Fall Field and Game Days," a six-week program for special-needs children that began in early October.
The program, which is held Sundays at Hobler Park, provides 14 preschool- to middle-school-aged children with an opportunity to gather and play games, enjoy refreshments and socialize.
"It feels rewarding working with children, especially special-needs children, because they have so much fun," Julia said.
Julia came up with the idea for her Gold Award on the "spur of the moment," she said.
While at a flower shop with her mother, Julia said she saw a young boy with Down syndrome. "I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to do something for those children,’" she said.
She then spoke with her Gold Award project adviser, Laura Heil, who gave her the go-ahead.
The program features several standard games for young children such as duck-duck-goose or tag but is personalized to the children’s needs. With the help of volunteers some are fellow Girl Scouts, others are Julia’s friends the program offers one-to-one guidance for many of the children, whose disabilities range from autism to attention deficit disorder.
"Some of the volunteers have worked with Challenger Little League," Julia explained. Challenger Little League is a sports-based program geared toward children with special needs.
The first week of the program, "I just hoped everything would go well," Julia said. She then used the knowledge from that first session to guide her along.
"I saw what the children like to play and what kind of games worked well," she explained. In addition to guidance from her adviser, Julia received suggestions from Matthew Lembo, the supervisor of pupil services for the school district.
Each week, she makes an itinerary for the day. "Sometimes, I follow it. Sometimes, the children won’t want to play those games," Julia said.
Lisa Youngberg, a junior troop leader whose Scouts assisted with the program by baking snacks for the children, said, "This Gold Award is head and shoulders above however many I’ve seen."
Ms. Youngberg noted that Julia put in considerable time and effort to make her project not only a success, but also meaningful. "This is a great project," she said.
Julia said, in the future, she is interested in perhaps pursuing a career in special education, and this experience has taught her more about that field.
"I love it," Julia said of the game days. "It’s just such a rewarding experience, and I’ve learned a lot."
Julia said the program might be repeated next year, depending on parent demand. And after she goes to college, Julia said game days could even continue with other volunteers running the program. "I am hoping it opens the door for a new program for these children," Julia said.

