AQ'S Corner

Photo Credit: AQ’S Corner LLC

When you put curious kids, supportive parents, and a little digital mystery together, something powerful happens. That’s exactly what unfolded when AQ’s Corner and Emani and the CyberHero Response Team had the honor of helping a local Girl Scout troop earn their Cybersecurity Badges.

This wasn’t just another workshop. It was a movement. A reminder that protecting our digital future starts young and starts together.

Grounding in Real-World Risks

We kicked off with a powerful discussion on the dangers kids face online today, from recent lawsuits tied to platforms like Roblox and ChatGPT to unsafe chat features that predators exploit. Parents leaned in, kids listened closely. Everyone could see: cybersecurity isn’t a far-off issue, it’s already here.

Story as the Bridge

After setting the stage with real-world urgency, my daughter and I shifted gears and read excerpts from our children’s book, Emani and the CyberHero Response Team. Stories helped bring the concepts to life, sparking imagination, calming nerves, and showing that while the threats are serious, the solutions can be empowering and fun.

Investigations in Action: Ages 7–12

The older troop (ages 7–12) didn’t just listen, they investigated. Armed with digital “clues,” they conducted interview-style investigations where their parents role-played as insider threats.

To sharpen their skills, I gave them two logs to review:

• A good log showing normal activity.
  
• A bad log that revealed what it looks like when a grown-up insider threat is at play.
  

The scouts compared, questioned, and uncovered the truth. Parents later told me how much their kids enjoyed the process and how proud they were watching them rise to the challenge.

Tackling Physical & Social Engineering (Including Dumpster Diving)

We dug into social engineering, the art of tricking people into revealing sensitive information, and even explored dumpster diving, when attackers search through trash to find personal data.

The highlight of this session? My 9-year-old daughter confidently explained dumpster diving in her own words. Kids laughed, parents nodded, and everyone walked away realizing that even complex hacking tactics can be understood at any age.

The Power of Leadership: Ages 4–6

Meanwhile, the youngest scouts (ages 4–6) dove into “CyberTown” missions circling safe vs. unsafe online behaviors and drawing their own CyberHero characters.

Who guided them? My daughter. At just 9 years old, she stepped up and led the younger troop entirely on her own. Parents noticed. They thanked her afterwards and even called her a role model. As a mom, that was one of the most humbling and proud moments of the day.

Why This Matters

The impact was undeniable:

• Kids didn’t just learn cybersecurity — they practiced it.
  
• Parents didn’t just hear warnings — they experienced the threats firsthand.
  
• Families left safer, sharper, and more connected.
  

This was more than a badge workshop. It was connection, confidence, and courage rolled into one unforgettable day.

Bring the CyberHero Experience to You

✨ Imagine your students investigating logs and interviewing “insider threats.”
✨ Imagine parents role-playing attackers while their kids shut them down.
✨ Imagine laughter, learning, and families walking away stronger together.

That’s what happens when you bring Emani and the CyberHero Response Team to your church, community program, school, or event.

📩 Contact us at ceo@aqscorner.com or drop a comment below to let us know who we should reach out to.

Because every child deserves to feel like a hero and every parent deserves the tools to protect them.