Eagle Scout candidate Sofia Osses from Troop 711/7711 in Maple Valley, WA, recently completed her Eagle Scout Service Project, developing and leading a “Special Needs Respite Night” at Highlands Community Church in Renton, WA. The purpose of the project was to allow parents and guardians of special needs children and siblings under 18 years of age a stress-free night off from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to run errands, go out to dinner, or relax.
In close collaboration with the church officials, Sofia orchestrated the evening events. Together, they sought out volunteers and assigned them specific roles, ensuring a smooth operation. Each child was paired with a one-on-one buddy for the evening, and families were checked in. Sofia also conducted a comprehensive briefing for the volunteer staff, ensuring everyone knew their responsibilities.
Sofia and the church meticulously crafted an evening of structured activities for the children and volunteers. Each child was guided through various stations, carefully designed to provide a balanced and engaging experience. These stations, including a sensory room, a bible study room, and a craft room, were a testament to the thoughtful planning and execution of the project.
Additionally, there were organized activities in the gym, such as worship time/music time, Lego-building activities, group games, a dance party, and open play.
The evening’s planned events will be a starting point for developing guidelines for future “Respite Nights” held by the Highlands Community Church’s volunteer organization. This also helped the church meet new families, allowing the members and volunteers to become more aware and educated on special needs children.
Before the evening, each volunteer was equipped with comprehensive training tools. These included pre-reads on Disability Sensitivity and a Guide to Disability Etiquette and two informative videos from national sources. The training emphasized understanding each child’s needs and adapting approaches accordingly. The goal was to foster a welcoming environment with clear communication, utilizing visual aids, gestures, and other forms of communication as necessary.
Background checks were completed on the volunteers, an emergency plan was developed, and a security team and a quiet room were available. Food for the volunteers, cleaning supplies, craft supplies, name tags, and sign-in sheets all aided in the success of the evening events.
The evening went very well with the support of Highland Community Church and forty-five volunteers supporting the twenty-five special needs children and siblings who attended. The participating families were thrilled and thankful for the free time, and an outline for future respite nights was created.
Sofia Osses has not only completed her Eagle Scout Service Project but has also surpassed the goals set by Scouting America. Her planning, development, and Leadership skills have shone through. Once she completes her remaining Merit Badges and successfully passes her Eagle Scout Board of Review, she will join the prestigious ranks of Eagle Scouts with Troop 711/7711. This is a remarkable achievement, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sofia and Highlands Community Church for a job well done.
