Parents and kids explored the halls of East on February 24 to find programs to join at the 12th annual Summer Fun Fair. The Summer Fun Fair consisted of 90 organizations including youth activities, camps, child care facilities, volunteer opportunities and more.
The Summer Fun Fair exhibited information as well as prizes. Kids went around to tables, getting to know the different programs they have the opportunity to join. Once they learned a bit about the program, program directors would then offer the kids a raffle ticket that they could put into the basket of their choosing. The prizes totaled nearly $5000 in value, including a gift certificate for one month of lessons & uniform from Buckner Martial Arts, a free child’s seat for a kids’ painting class from Painting with a Twist, and 50% off one week of summer camp from Perfection Gymnastics.
Vendors came and discussed the specialized programs they offer. Perfection Gymnastics, a youth gymnastics school in West Chester, had a table at the event and showed how gymnastics can strengthen the character of a kid. Business Manager at Perfection Shari Hoskins promoted the program at her booth.
“[Gymnastics] requires a lot of discipline, character and true abilities to focus on body awareness, and it really can bring out the best in kids,” Hoskins told Spark.
The Summer Fun Fair also featured numerous vendors which let kids tap into an artistic side of themselves. The Fitton Center for Creative Arts provides a wide array of artistic endeavors for their students to explore. Assistant Director of Education & Community Outreach at the Fitton Center Caroline Digiovenale is proud of the wide variety of programs the organization offers.
“We do art classes as well as performances and shows, and we’re also a full gallery, so we have art shows on the walls during the summer,” Digiovenale told Spark. “We do summer camps for seven weeks, from the beginning of June to the end of July. We do half day art camps for ages five all the way up to 17 and then we separate them in the groups depending on what their age is. We do a lot of drawing and painting and multimedia camps, but then we also do pottery.”
According to Lakota parent Ashley Sevier, the Summer Fun Fair offered parents a chance to help support their children and nurture their interests.
“I hope they will gain some friendships that they aren’t necessarily able to make throughout the school year, as well as just some other experiences that they can have that I didn’t necessarily get growing up,” Sevier told Spark.
