Submitted Photo
Youths prepare to fish at a past Kids Outdoor Healthy Expo: Unplugged event at Riverside Park.
Submitted Photo
Putting tomato plants into pots for carrying home will be another activity during next Saturday’s healthy kids day gathering.
When discussing an upcoming healthy kids day event, Fonda Mooney of Reeves Community Center made a startling revelation Friday concerning the ability of human beings to survive 10 minutes or more without Facebook and other computerized attractions.
“They actually can,” said Mooney, family services director at the center, who expects to see living proof of that during the fourth-annual Kids Outdoor Healthy Expo: Unplugged on May 4.
Next Saturday’s event at Riverside Park will offer a full slate of activities geared toward what Mooney called an opportunity for local young people to “drop all the electronic equipment they’re used to using” and go outside.
“Hopefully without their cell phones,” Mooney added. “It’s a chance to get off the couch, away from the TV and come out and just enjoy different ways of life.”
The free event scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Riverside Park will feature trout fishing in the nearby Ararat River, a bike rodeo, climbing wall, disc golf, cornhole games, a dunking booth, facepainting, pedal cars and other activities and games.
Fishing has tended to be one of the more popular activities during the annual kids outdoor events, which is aided by a special stocking of the river and even free fishing rods for those lacking their own. Rods can be reserved by calling the community center at 786-8313.
Free bike helmets will be distributed while supplies last, courtesy of Friends of the Mount Airy Police Department.
To further emphasize the outdoor/health theme, a family fun walk hosted by the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) club of Mount Airy High School is to begin at 9 a.m., one hour before the other events get under way.
Participating youngsters also will be exposed to the joys of growing their own produce through an activity sponsored by a local gardening club. “They’ll get to plant tomato plants and take them home,” Mooney explained.
Other organizations and agencies that will have a hand in next Saturday’s event include Mount Airy Parks and Recreation, the Mount Airy police and fire departments, the city public works division, Surry County Health and Nutrition Center, the Reeves Community Center Foundation, Trout Unlimited’s Stone Mountain chapter, the N.C. Fish and Wildlife Commission and B-Dazzle Productions.
Everything will be free except a small charge for the dunking booth event, with proceeds to aid a scholarship program at Reeves Community Center.
About 200 people attended Kids Outdoor Healthy Expo: Unplugged last year, Mooney said.
Reach Tom Joyce at 719-1924 or tjoyce@civitasmedia.com.
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