Stronger Mind, Kinder Hearts: Local Teen Gabby Fays Transforms Recess with Gold Award Project!

At Vickery Mill Elementary, recess looks a little different now—a fun new game is now an inclusive option of inclusive play because of a project I launched through my Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.

I created the Strong Mind Kind Heart Project to teach students the power of kindness, empathy, and inclusion through play and teamwork. The centerpiece of the project is a new Gaga Ball Pit, designed with accessibility in mind so every child—no matter their athletic ability—can join in. More than 150 students a week are already playing, building friendships, and cheering each other on. That’s over 5,400 play encounters in the first year alone, and thousands more kids will benefit in the years ahead.

This effort was a true community project. The Vickery Mill PTA raised $1,000 through their annual Penny Wars fundraiser to help build the permanent structure, and Derucki Construction generously donated materials and skilled labor to create a durable pit made of manufactured wood and steel.

I also wanted the project to extend beyond the playground. My team and I created a “Fill Your Bucket” kindness board where students share acts of compassion every day. I led Strong Mind Kind Heart workshops that combine physical activity with lessons on empathy, teamwork, and positive self-talk. We partnered with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong 4 Life program, which provided evidence-based activities that have reached thousands of children across Georgia.

As the program grows, I’m continuing to work with fifth graders to help them handle big emotions in healthy ways. My hope is that teachers will see students not only grow in kindness but also in confidence.

The message is spreading beyond Vickery Mill, too. I’ve shared the Strong Mind Kind Heart curriculum with new Girl Scout troops and led workshops at Autrey Mill Nature Center camps so more kids can learn that kindness is a skill they can practice every day.

With the Gaga Ball Pit now a permanent fixture and teachers committed to weaving the program into daily routines, Strong Mind Kind Heart will continue to shape the school’s culture for years to come.

Through persistence, creativity, and leadership, I wanted to give my community more than just a playground. I wanted to create a space where kindness is celebrated—and I’m proud to see that vision becoming part of everyday life.

For more information or get involved in the project visit:

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