Local News
SOMERSET: No snow, but Winterfest works
First Camp Kenan event delights dozens of attendees
There was no snow for the first Winterfest at Camp Kenan, but 51 children had a ball Saturday.
After doing crafts in the morning, kids from ages 6-14 searched the woods for a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, made ornaments and took part in a vigorous dodge ball game. Santa visited the mess hall after lunch, and the children did some rock climbing and enjoyed a bonfire fire before returning to the YMCA in Lockport.
“We wanted to make the camp more accessible to the community all year round,” said Matthew J. Strusienski, camping services director. “We want to run more events throughout the year. We were hoping for snow. This time of year, there’s usually plenty of snow.”
Many children came prepared with boots and heavy clothing, but that didn’t slow them down. They were energized with hot chocolate and then a lunch of French fries and chicken nuggets.
While some stayed in the mess hall to make ornaments and wreaths, most competed in dodge ball freeze tag in the recreation hall. It was hard to tell who was the last kid standing.
Some took a conservative approach to the game with a foam ball, others were seeking targets.
“It’s better to go after people. Hiding, you don’t really do anything,” said Isaiah Parmer, 12, a student at Emmet Belknap. “It’s really fun.”
He claimed to have eliminated two girls and four guys.
Dodge ball was limited to about an hour or the kids would play all day, according to Strusienski.
Jackson Bright, 9, is a regular at the Kenan Camp on Lake Ontario in the summer. “I like to be aggressive and go after non-aggressive ones,” he said. “They’re easier to get.”
Andrea Beaman, of Tonawanda, is a counselor in training who was just “making sure kids have a good time. We were going to make a snowman, but had a change in plans.”
During the search, four trees were nominated to be cut down and trimmed. There was a split vote.
Kaitlyn Kemp and Hayley Hodge of Lockport voted for another tree, along with Autumn North of Gasport. “I voted for another one. It looked like Snoopy,” said Kemp, who attends DeSales. “It looked like a Charlie Brown tree.”
Hayley was invited to the Winterfest by North. “The boys voted for other tree — no offense,” she said.
Brian Ghiandoni, 10, and Dyllan Gross, 12, carried the tree to the mess hall. “It’s a sad excuse for a Christmas tree,” Ghiandoni said.
Brooke LaChance, 16, of Barker, volunteered to help make ornaments with Julie Obermiller, aka Pockets the Clown. “The kids are great.” LaChance said. “They are very energetic, and it’s fun to see them.”
The YMCA advertised the Winterfest in fliers at schools and through its Web site. “They’re from all over the place,” said Strusienski, who plans to do it again next winter. “I talked to people from Lyndonville, Lockport, Niagara Falls — all over Niagara County.”
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott
at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
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