Central Ohio kids to participate in The Great Ladybug Hunt in June

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• The Hous Foundation helps families pay for activities like gymnastics, music lessons and sports, aiming to improve kids’ well-being and academic performance.
• The Hous Foundation’s Great Ladybug Hunt encourages kids to find painted rocks throughout June.
• The Great Ladybug Hunt honors Annie Niewenhous and her children and supports the foundation’s mission of providing access to nonschool activities.

Grab your magnifying glass because it’s time for a ladybug hunt.

For the first time, central Ohio kids can participate in a monthlong event to scout for rocks painted as ladybugs and even take part in painting the ladybug rocks themselves.

The Hous Foundation, a local nonprofit organization with a mission to remove financial barriers that prevent kids from participating in nonschool activities, will kick off its first-ever Great Ladybug Hunt for the entire month of June.

Why ladybugs in June? The 3-year-old organization was founded in honor of Annie Niewenhous and her two children, Izzy and Parker, who were killed in an act of domestic violence.

The event takes place during their memorial and is a remembrance for Niewenhous’ love for nature and crafts — like painting ladybug rocks with her daughter.

Kids are encouraged to enjoy the summer weather outdoors by searching for hidden ladybugs and uploading photos of them to social media with #Housladybug to be entered into weekly drawings for raffle prizes.

“We hope that all of central Ohio will participate,” said Sonya Thesing, executive director of The Hous Foundation. “I hope that it’s a good beginning-of-the-summer activity for kids.”

The event will end with a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams fundraiser at the Columbus Commons on June 30 from 3-6 p.m.

Supporting activities for kids

Recreational activities that aren’t associated with school are not accessible to every kid, but they should be. At least that’s The Hous Foundation’s mission.

Since getting its start, the foundation has helped 30 youths participate in activities. Thesing said they plan to surpass 50 this year.

“We are working with families to pay the cost of participation,” Thesing said.

One single mother, Janae Walker, said she’s especially grateful for The Hous Foundation for helping get her 8-year-old daughter, Naeyerie, into gymnastics in February.

“It’s been a really positive impact on her; she seems happier and she looks forward to going on every session,” Walker said. “Being a single mom, it can be expensive to pay for activities like gymnastics, but I think every kids deserves an opportunity to do something they enjoy.”

Whether it be gymnastics, piano lessons and other sports, these activities instill long-lasting skills such as team building, improved self-esteem, confidence, higher grades in school and better attendance, Thesing said.

Math and science scores also increase when children engage in recreation.

“Part of our mission is to make sure all kids have access not only to participate in the activity, but also those long-term benefits,” Thesing said.

Trending features reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at [email protected].