Threads of Community
A young girl named Annabelle had a box of yarn and a passion for knitting. One day she knitted herself a jumper, her dog a jumper, and then quickly her neighbors, friends, animals — everyone in her community — and even houses and trucks! She transformed her black-and-white world into one filled with color and joy, simply by sharing her gift. Even when others tried to steal it, Annabelle’s creative and joyful generosity could not be taken.
This is the story of Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett — and it’s the story that inspired one of our favorite Acton traditions: building the community yarn ball.
Starting last year, learners, parents, Guides, and siblings measure a piece of yarn equal to their height — a quiet recognition of the gifts that they share throughout the year. Then, they tie it to another's, and the strands begin to tangle into something larger: a collective symbol of our community. This year, the tradition began with you — our parents — during this week’s Parent Lunch meeting. It continued at our Camp Elsewhere field trip, where learners added their threads after a day of adventure, challenge, and joy.
At Camp Elsewhere, learners didn’t just play games. They practiced the art of building community — one of the most essential skills of any true hero. Divided into mixed-age teams, they competed in challenges that required trust, communication, courage, and care. For every act of effort, kindness, and teamwork, they earned a puzzle piece.
These weren’t just pieces of poster board. They were pieces of character. Pieces of the journey. One by one, they were collected and at the end of the day they were assembled by everyone into a finished puzzle. A portrait of our Acton team. A symbol of what’s possible when many paths unite around a shared purpose.
At Acton, we believe each child is on a Hero’s Journey — a unique quest to discover their gifts and learn to use them to serve others. But we also believe that heroes are not meant to journey alone. Community is not a side note; it’s central to the story. Because caring about others, honoring their stories, and growing alongside them — this is what makes us fully human.
That’s why we play team games. That’s why we cheer for one another. That’s why we take time to reflect on the meaning behind the fun — because learning to be in community is not something extra. It is the learning.
Like Annabelle, one day — or maybe even today — our children will change the world in a way only they can. What if we lived like that was true? What if we modeled the same courage we ask of them — the courage to seek our own calling, to share our gifts, and to grow in community? This week, consider taking a moment with your child. Ask them:
What do you think your gift is?
What have you learned about yourself this year?
What kind of hero do you want to become?
Then, reflect on your own thread. What’s your next step on your journey?
The yarn ball continues to grow. The puzzle is complete. The story is still being written — by all of us, together.