A simple lemonade stand outside a Folsom yoga studio became a lesson in compassion, generosity and community this week as a group of young campers proved that you’re never too young to make a difference.
Children participating in the I Shine Yoga & Mindfulness Camp at Yoga Nyla in Folsom raised $168.10 Thursday during a 30-minute lemonade stand benefiting Twin Lakes Food Bank. Every dollar donated will go directly to the local nonprofit, which was selected by the campers themselves after voting on which organization they wanted to support.
The fundraiser was more than just an afternoon activity. It was the culmination of a week spent learning that kindness and service to others can be just as important as mastering a yoga pose.
Throughout the week, campers practiced foundational yoga poses and breathing techniques, participated in guided meditation, created gratitude journals, made calming sensory tools, tie-dyed camp shirts and explored activities designed to support social-emotional growth while building confidence, mindfulness and resilience.
The lemonade stand allowed the children to put those lessons into action.
“It has been so meaningful to watch these kids realize that even at a young age, they can make a difference in their community,” said Tara Baird, owner and instructor of I Shine Yoga & Mindfulness Camp.
Baird, who also teaches Transitional Kindergarten at Blanche Sprentz Elementary in Folsom, said community service has become an important part of every children’s yoga camp she offers.
“When I was in my Yoga Teacher Training, one of our assignments was to complete a service project,” Baird said. “I brought yoga classes into women’s recovery homes, and the experience was incredibly meaningful. Since then, I have made community service an important part of every kids yoga camp I offer.”
Allowing campers to choose where the proceeds would be donated has become part of that philosophy. This year, the children selected Twin Lakes Food Bank, giving them the opportunity to support local families while seeing firsthand how a simple idea could create a positive impact within their own community.
For Baird, the experience is about much more than teaching children yoga poses or breathing exercises. She said the goal is to help young people develop confidence, gratitude, empathy and the understanding that they have the ability to make a difference, regardless of their age.
Parents have echoed those sentiments, Baird said, sharing positive feedback about the camp and describing noticeable growth in their children’s confidence, enthusiasm and willingness to continue practicing mindfulness and breathing techniques at home after camp.
“The confidence my child gained in just one week was incredible,” one parent shared. “They continue to practice the breathing techniques and yoga at home when we’re not looking.”
Baird said she has been grateful for the support of camp families, Yoga Nyla and the Folsom community, all of whom helped make this summer’s camp and the Twin Lakes Food Bank fundraiser a success.
Following the Folsom session, Baird will offer one final I Shine Yoga & Mindfulness Camp June 29 through July 2 at Radiant Yoga in El Dorado Hills for children ages 5 to 10, continuing the program’s emphasis on yoga, mindfulness, creativity and community service. Those interested in learning more about the upcoming camp can visitwww.radiantyogaedh.com.
For the young campers who spent part of their summer serving lemonade for a cause, however, the week’s biggest lesson may not have come from a yoga mat at all. It came from discovering that helping others can begin with something as simple as a smile, a cup of lemonade and a willingness to give back.
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