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Learning Kindness Changes Everything
Troop 1281 is on a quest to earn their bronze award. They want to help kids manage stress. To do that, the Girl Scouts are learning about different ways to reduce stress. The Girl Scouts went to the Ohana by the Sea Community Café in Kittery, Maine, a sensory-friendly café owned by a former Girl Scout and mom. The café serves coffee and locally made treats in a space designed to foster community connection, particularly for families and neurodivergent individuals. With art and sensory play areas, community activities, and a welcoming atmosphere for all ages, it provides a safe, relaxing, and inclusive gathering place.
Their visit began with a conversation with owner Rebecca and her daughter, Isabelle. Isabelle shared her perspective on neurodiversity and what being autistic means to her. She also talked about strategies she uses for stress and sensory regulation and offered thoughtful suggestions about how friends can support someone who may be feeling overwhelmed. She also talked about her experience being bullied and how that has made her an advocate to speak out against bullying. She even started a neurodiversity club to help educate peers and create a safe space for students at her school!
The girls then discussed the sensory tools and coping strategies that work best for them before creating their own personalized sensory boxes. This was a field trip for them to learn about neurodivergence and sensory stimulation and different ways to regulate and the Girl Scouts had a great time and left with new skills and knowledge.
