The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Olympics come early on Fun Day Monday
The 2018 Winter Olympics have arrived.
Well, not the international games being held next month in Pyeongchang County, South Korea, but the multi-event skills competitions with an Ohio wildlife theme during Fun Day Monday on Jan. 15 at Penitentiary Glen Reservation in Kirtland.
Even with temperatures in the mid- to high 20s, families filed into the Nature Center and Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center in large volumes, taking advantage of no school, and taking a break from cozy living rooms, if only for a few hours.
“When winter comes around, it can be tricky,” said Interpretive Naturalist Rosemary Krupar. “We closed up most of the late morning and all afternoon last Friday, but today, we’re doing well. Attendance is always high for familyfriendly events like these.
“We all tend to get cabin fever in the winter, yet there are a lot of things we can do outside and learn outside. Sure, it’s easier to stay inside, but winter offers opportunities for education, too. And we’ve seen a lot of repeat families visiting. We had about 100 in the first hour. They want to get the kids out of the house. It’s fun.”
Inspired by a trip to Yellowstone National Park last summer, Krupar modified Fun Day’s ever-changing theme to include the Olympics, but with a wildlife twist, comprised of diverse free indoor and outdoor activities.
Multiple stations set up on the property, at 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, included a 50-yard dash, long jump, high jump, balance beam and limbo. Snowshoeing, Olympic torch crafts, scavenger hunts, s’mores, X-Plorer packs filled with seasonal hands-on activities and live animal ambassador encounters filled out the day.
“The real Olympics are still about three weeks away, so we’re in good position to not only have fun and educate, but to not have everyone so saturated with the games in the first place. Everyone can relax and enjoy.”
Adult and junior volunteers helped visitors complete art projects and participate in learning-based games such as Olympic Jeopardy! and flag match.
Retired first-grade teacher Peter Tuttle, who’s been volunteering for 15 years, said helping kids learn is still a passion of his.
“It gets me around them in an educational setting that’s fun, unlike an environment preparing them for a state test. But they still learn. They’re curious about things they know live all around them.”
Russell Township resident Jackie Kramer brought her three grandchildren to Penitentiary Glen for the day, but she isn’t a stranger to outdoor education opportunities, especially on days with no school.
“We’re so lucky to live in an area with so many parks and natural resources available to us,” she said. “I love things like this for the kids. We have 23 grandchildren, so we always want to get them out to learn about the world around them. This is incredible.”
“I love things like this for the kids. We have 23 grandchildren, so we always want to get them out to learn about the world around them. This is incredible.”