girl scouts of the colonial coastGirl Scout Ambassador Lydia earned her Gold Award through her project titled “K.I.S.S: Keep it Sun Safe.” Lydia was inspired by her mother’s brave journey with skin cancer to create an educational program aimed at early prevention for kids in her community.
Lydia learned that overexposure to the sun as a child can lead to serious issues down the road like skin cancer, as in her mother’s case, and she wanted to do her part to make a difference!
Her K.I.S.S. curriculum is all about the power of the sun’s damaging rays and how to stay protected using protective gear like sunscreen and hats. She designed the course for preschool-aged children, their caregivers and teachers and shared her course through guided Zoom meetings.
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| Lydia during one of her video lessons |
“My mother has suffered from skin cancer which resulted in several surgeries and follow-up treatments as a result of sun overexposure as a child,” Lydia said. “She does not recall using any sort of sunscreen. Damage is cumulative and providing educational materials about sun safety can lead young children to advocate for themselves. Education is the foundation.”
Lydia’s project was advised by Dr. Judith V. Williams of the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and her course materials will continue to be available on her website.
