Blog Posts

SAILs Host a Kindness Stand for Global Youth Day

3/21/2026

The SAILs set up a Kindness Stand in Austin for Global Youth Day. For several hours, the SAILs shared messages of encouragement, handed out water bottles and hand written bookmarks, and invited passers by to write and post their own messages to inspire others. Dozens of people stopped by the stand to talk with the Pathfinders, share their own experiences and encouragement, and thank the Pathfinders for taking the time to spread some kindness. The SAILs had a great time meeting people, sharing about the Pathfinder program, and spreading a little cheer.

0 Comments

SAILs Prepare for GlobalYouth Day Outreach

3/19/2026

0 Comments

The SAIL Pathfinders have been preparing for their Global Youth Day outreach to the communiuty. This year, the Senior Unit has been working hard, identifying a core theme and issue to address, reaching out to community organizations, and shaping a plan. A key focus that emerged among the Senior SAILs was how to support women and family shelters, something that is both a Biblical calling and fits within the March focus on International Women's Day and Women's History Month. While Pathfinders are not old enough to assist in person at the shelters, the SAILs have worked with the local community service providers to design and develop a plan to set up a Kindness Stand this weekend, offering encouragement to those who need it, creating a place for others to leave their own notes of encouragement, and providing information on various organizations in Austin that offer assistance for those in need. The SAILs spent their latest meeting handwriting notes on the themes of Hope, Confidence, Love, and Faith, which they will offer visitors to the Kindness Stand. The idea is that people can draw from the message that best meets their current mental need, and by writing our messages on bookmarks, we hope people will hold on to these to gain encouragement in the future. The SAILs will also be making a special set of messages to be delivered to the local women and family shelter, sharing encouragement and hope. For the SAIL staff, it has been inspiring watch the youth take the lead, reach out to the community, and design and plan an outreach activity that showcases their concern for and offer of assistance to the community. Global Youth Day is a time when Pathfinders and youth around the world join together on the same day to engage and assist in their communities, and the SAILs are proud to join this international effort. This follows on a recent initiative by the SAIL Pathfinders to provide a place for members and visitors of our local church to leave messages about women who have inspired them as a way of recognizing the influence of women in our lives, in our community, and in the world.

0 Comments

SAIL's Early Spring Camp Out

3/4/2026

0 Comments

The SAIL's early spring camp out this year was at Inks Lake State Park. Instead of ice or freezing rain, this year’s February campout boasted daytime temperatures in the eighties! Luckily we were blessed with a cool breeze, so it was a very pleasant weekend.

After setting up camp Friday evening, we took our traditional night hike. Finding a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake bathed in bright moonlight, we spent five minutes just listening and looking. We didn’t hear any owls this time, just some Canadian geese over in the rushes. For the next few minutes we talked about creation and the beauty around us before heading off to bed.

Sabbath morning after a bountiful breakfast of fruit and Ube purple pancakes (so delicious!) we headed out for a hike. Each Pathfinder was given a map with the planned route, and each took a turn leading the way following the map. The rest were responsible to keep track of where we were, observe landmarks, and make sure the leaders were turning correctly at trail junctions. Sometime the trail was difficult to follow over rocky terrain and it took a group effort to find the right way. Part way through the hike we found a scenic rock pile and stopped to discuss Noah’s flood as part of our church-time worship.

After a hearty lunch back at camp and and bit of rest, we headed out again to hike to the Devil’s Waterhole and Spring Creek waterfall. The water was so cool and refreshing to hot feet, the rocks so fun to scramble over. Skipping rocks, catching frogs, and watching a lizard eat its cricket dinner were all part of the fun. Then it was back down the trail to have sundown worship, which was about Ellen White’s vision of Orion, and to attend the Star Party provided by astronomers who brought their telescopes to let folks look at different things in the sky. It was so cool looking at the Orion Nebula, Jupiter with its stripes & moons, and Saturn with its rings. Of course, the special thing about tonight was the fact that the planets were all lined up across the sky (even though we couldn’t actually see them all, with such bright moonlight).

The Sabbath day ended with a late supper, and the senior unit practiced for backpacking by making their own meals on their mini camping stoves, reconstituting dehydrated dinners. One particular Pathfinder, who shall remain nameless, continued his unvarying theme of powdered mashed potatoes—seems to be his favorite!

Sunday morning before breakfast we drove over to visit the bird blind. We didn’t see anything memorable there, but the birds at our campsite were very vocal and plentiful, including a cute little titmouse and an inquisitive cardinal looking for handouts. We saw flocks of white pelicans and geese, and heard the beautiful sound of sandhill cranes in migration.

Then we packed up and migrated back to our homes—another campout completed, another batch of good memories packed away.

0 Comments

<<Previous

Forward>>

SAILs Host a Kindness Stand for Global Youth Day

SAILs Prepare for GlobalYouth Day Outreach

SAIL's Early Spring Camp Out

Archives

Categories