Abigail Luk Earns Eagle Scout Award for Sensory Boards for VCLC

Abigail Luk of Scouting America Girl Troop 205, which meets at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Syosset, recently earned her Eagle Scout badge for creating eleven sensory boards for the children at Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC) as part of her Eagle qualification project. Abigail and eleven of her fellow scouts spent approximately 500 hours completing the project from initial ideas/concepts, purchasing the supplies, cutting the wood and buying all of the sensory items to be mounted on the boards. The supplies were purchased from The Home Depot and Lowe’s by selling homemade bracelets fashioned by the scouts. The home improvement retailers donated some of the supplies when they learned that the girls were making the boards for VCLC. Extra funds from the sale of the bracelets were donated to VCLC to help in its mission to foster the development, education and inclusion of children who require specialized services.

The sensory boards are designed to provide children with autism with a variety of sensory experiences. These experiences are crucial in helping them develop cognitive abilities, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and overall sensory integration. The boards allow the children to stimulate their senses at their own pace, providing a safe and engaging environment for their growth. The sensory boards will be placed in VCLC’s gymnasium and Relaxation Station room, enhancing the learning and play experiences of the children.

“The scouts did a fabulous job on the sensory boards and are to be commended for their caring and generosity on behalf of the students at Variety Child Learning Center,” said Janet Koch, CEO of VCLC. “Abigail’s leadership and extraordinary dedication are to be applauded, and we congratulate her on earning the coveted Eagle Scout badge.”

Abigail selected the sensory boards as her project because they would allow her to channel her passion for arts and crafts while helping children on the autism spectrum.

About Variety Child Learning Center
Variety Child Learning Center (VCLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters the development, education and inclusion of children who require specialized services. VCLC offers programs at four Long Island preschool-based locations, as well as in the home and community. Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and regulated by the State Education Department, the Department of Health, and the Office of Children and Family Services, VCLC provides a comprehensive range of programs and services that meet the individual educational, therapeutic and social-emotional needs of children with and without disabilities. Programs include early intervention, and preschool and universal pre-K, with evaluations offered for supportive services/ therapies, childcare, and family support. All aspects of a child’s development—from six weeks through eight years of age—are addressed. VCLC’s programs are led by compassionate and dedicated professionals, including special education teachers; social workers and psychologists; speech, physical and occupational therapists; and an experienced administrative and executive leadership team. For more information, visit www.varietyclc.org, or call 516-921-7171.