Promoting Healing Through Reading

What Katelyn Did

While visiting in a hospital, Katelyn couldn’t help but notice how many young kids there for long stays were missing out on traditional activities like going to the library and picking out a book.

For her Gold Award project, Katelyn took action to give patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan an opportunity to feel like everyday kids.

Reading & healing

Katelyn and friends built five portable libraries to allow patients the experience of visiting the library, while staying in the safety of their hospital room. They house an array of books to choose from for kids of all ages, genders, languages and reading levels.

The roving libraries will be updated with new material quarterly by the efforts of the next generation of Girl Scouts coming through Holy Family Regional Middle School.

“Every child has the opportunity to make a choice from an array of literature in the privacy of their hospital room,” Katelyn said. “Selecting a book empowers a child and provides comfort, distraction, and entertainment, lowering stress.” Katelyn’s research also shows that reading can promote faster healing.

Keep on learning

Katelyn says that completing her Gold Award project helped her understand the importance of books and the thrill that comes with reading.

It also sparked an interest in becoming a doctor at a children’s hospital one day.

Katelyn is a graduate of Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, MI. She was a member of Troop 70738 and is currently a biology major at The University of Tampa.

Find Out More

Check out Katelyn on the GSSEM YouTube channel talking about her Take Action project and being a 2024 Gold Awards Girl Scout.

Congratulations, Katelyn!