A Note From the Founder – Encourage Your Kid’s Passions
Both of my daughters are artists who have been drawing and painting since they were old enough to hold a pencil and paint brush. As homeschoolers, they had plenty of opportunities to get creative and expand on their passion. By highschool, my husband was concerned because according to him “You can’t make a living as an artist.” Fortunately neither of my girls listened. Instead they found their own ways to make a living using art.
My oldest daughter, Katie, is an elementary school fine arts teacher. She teaches over 600 kids in the public schoool system. Unlike other art teachers at the elementary school level, she grants her kids a LOT of creative leeway. It has taken her several years to convince the classroom teachers that they do not need 30 identical cats with bowties hanging on their classroom walls. Art is about expression and every piece should be very unique. Katie infuses each lesson with history, culture and even science, encouraging kids to think outside the box with their art just as she was allowed to do as a child.
My youngest daughter, Kristine, is the marketing content specialist for a skin care company. In addition to graphic design work, she also gets to draw a lot of anatomy related art which she loves. Anatomy and nature in art has always been her passion. Recently she drew the skin cell image below for a scientific article published on Medium.com. She also has a side hustle business of her own selling prints, stickers, clothing and more using her own designs.
So regardless of what your kid is passionate about, encourage it. You will be surprised how passions can lead to careers you may never have imagined.
Figure 1: Skin thins and is less functional as it ages. Epidermis (top layer), dermis (middle layer), and hypodermis (bottom fatty layer) of skin in young (left) and older skin (right). All layers thin over time, sweat glands secrete less sebum, the tissue is less vascularized, and the number of ADMSCs (blue cells) are reduced (image by Kristine Cordy).
New Badges Added
Historic Site (Specific), Transportation, Cartography
Make a Difference Award
While many of our members earn Servant’s Heart awards by participating in community service efforts, few take the extra step to earn their Make a Difference Award. The Make a Difference Award is bestowed upon those who rise above just participating in community service and actually plan and lead a community service project of their own.
To help your child earn their Make a Difference Award, first brainstorm needs in your community and what you might do to meet them in some way. Make a Difference Projects can be anything from coordinating trash clean up days to building a shed for the community garden. Feel free to get creative. The older the participant, the more complex the project must be to earn the award.
One of the main components of the Make a Difference Award is that the person earning it must lead at least three people. The reason for this is not only to build leadership skills, but to teach kids to ask for help. To show them that they can get more done with more people. Leading others can be as simple as asking a parent and siblings for help. It doesn’t have to be complicated. You just can’t earn this award all by yourself. Getting others involved is part of the requirements.
So encourage your kids to look a their community and see where they can make a difference. Help them to earn their Make a Difference award this summer.
Butterfly Watch
Summer is the perfect season to observe butterflies in their natural habitat. Grab your notebook, a pencil, and head outside. Try to spot different types of butterflies and jot down your observations. Here are a few things to look for:
- Colors and Patterns: How many colors can you see on their wings? Are there any unique patterns?
- Behavior: Do they prefer certain flowers? How do they move from flower to flower?
- Lifecycle: Can you find any caterpillars or chrysalis?
Badge Opportunity: Insects (Specific) – Butterfly, Insects (General), Pollinators, Biome (Specific), Plant (Specific)
DIY Solar Oven
Harness the power of the sun and make your own solar oven using household items. Here’s how:
Materials Needed:
- A pizza box
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Black construction paper
- Tape
- Two sticks
- Optional: S’mores ingredients (graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows)
Instructions:
- Line the inside of the pizza box with aluminum foil.
- Place black construction paper at the bottom.
- Arrange your s’mores ingredients on top of the black paper.
- Cover the opening with plastic wrap, taping it down to create a seal.
- Use the sticks to prop the lid open, reflecting sunlight onto the s’mores.
- Place the oven in direct sunlight and wait for your s’mores to melt!
Badge Opportunity: S’Mores, Outdoor Cooking, Camping, Backyard Camping
Time Traveler’s Scrapbook
Travel back in time by creating a scrapbook dedicated to a historical era that fascinates you. Pick a time period, and start collecting images, facts, and stories.
Steps:
- Research: Use books or the internet to gather information about your chosen era.
- Collect: Print out pictures, maps, famous quotes, and major events.
- Create: Design your scrapbook pages with creativity. Add your thoughts and what you’ve learned.
- Embellish: Add embellishments like old buttons, distressed paper, ribbons, fabric, etc.
Badge Opportunity: Historic Era, Fashion History, Cars Throughout History, Jewelry Throughout History
