Getting out and about: Healthy Kids Day, Earth Day events a hit for kids, families
Colton Boyer, 8, of Hollidaysburg, looks toward his family as Henry Koch fastens his firefighting gear at the Geeseytown Community Fire Company's booth during Healthy Kids Day at the Blair Regional YMCA on Saturday. Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Norah Long, 5, of Hollidaysburg carefully places tiny pepples on top of her sand art succulent masterpiece Saturday during Earth Day events hosted by the Blair County Conservation District and held at the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School.
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Nora, 7, and Finnick Walker, 5, chcek out Rip, a box turtle, held by Lisa Hahn of the Blair County Conservation District during Earth Day events Saturday at the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School.
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Isabelle Goodnight, 5, of Duncansville plays with a Lego set during the Blair Healthy Kids Festival at the Blair Regional YMCA on Saturday.
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Colton Boyer, 8, holds out his arms as Henry Koch fastens his firefighting gear at the Geeseytown Community Fire Company's booth during Healthy Kids Day at the Blair Regional YMCA on Saturday.
Colton Boyer, 8, of Hollidaysburg, looks toward his family as Henry Koch fastens his firefighting gear at the Geeseytown Community Fire Company's booth during Healthy Kids Day at the Blair Regional YMCA on Saturday. Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Norah Long, 5, of Hollidaysburg carefully places tiny pepples on top of her sand art succulent masterpiece Saturday during Earth Day events hosted by the Blair County Conservation District and held at the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School.
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Nora, 7, and Finnick Walker, 5, chcek out Rip, a box turtle, held by Lisa Hahn of the Blair County Conservation District during Earth Day events Saturday at the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School.
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Isabelle Goodnight, 5, of Duncansville plays with a Lego set during the Blair Healthy Kids Festival at the Blair Regional YMCA on Saturday.
Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb Colton Boyer, 8, holds out his arms as Henry Koch fastens his firefighting gear at the Geeseytown Community Fire Company's booth during Healthy Kids Day at the Blair Regional YMCA on Saturday.
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Hundreds of children and their families turned out Saturday to celebrate Earth Day and to take part in events that promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
The weather was nearly perfect, though a little windy, said vendors and participants at the Blair Regional YMCA's outdoor events, where kids could meet a few pups up for adoption, play with Legos and bubbles, and cool off with some Brainfreezerz treats, among a myriad of other Healthy Kids Day activities. Inside were more events and giveaways, including games in the Y's pool.
As groups of people stopped at a variety of booths offering health tips, information, free items and treats, Colton Boyer talked to firefighters. The 8-year-old was grinning ear-to-ear as his mom Jessica watched him dress up in firefighting gear -- complete with boots and a helmet -- with some help from Henry Koch, a Geeseytown Community Fire Company volunteer.
"Every little kid wants to be a firefighter," said Bill VanAtta, Geeseytown's deputy chief.
Events like Healthy Kids Day at the Y are a "nice way to introduce them" to not only the firefighters behind the uniform but also to the look of someone in uniform, so they won't be afraid if they see them in an emergency situation, he said.
Healthy Kids Day was held in conjunction with the Blair County Conservation District's Earth Day Festival, in the hopes that kids and families would visit both events located within a short walking distance from each other.
Earth Day events were held in the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School seventh grade gymnasium and featured local vendors, crafts and animal ambassadors -- namely a trio of turtles from the conservation district.
"Turtles are always the star of the show," said Lisa Hahn, education specialist with the conservation district.
Hahn introduced Roaring Spring youngsters, Nora, 7, and Finnick Walker, 5, to the turtles, pointing out that Betty the box turtle was the oldest, somewhere between 70 and 100 years. Turtle shells have growth rings, similar to trees, she said, so counting the rings can give conservationists a close estimate of their age.
Nearly two dozen vendors were set up for the Earth Day Festival, including Warriors Mark Gourds, manned by Linda Branstetter of Tyrone. The brightly painted and decorated gourd birdhouses, coupled with some rustic gourd garland, were a popular focal point.
The gourds come from their own crops, Branstetter said. They're left out in the fields over the winter to cure and then collected, cleaned, painted and sealed. They're not only decorative, but can be used for real birdhouses, she said.
Another booth popular with kids and adults alike, was Cindy Ritchey's Sunshine & Succulents, Martinsburg, which offered succulent plants tucked into colorful pots and other small containers. In addition, kids could make their own sand art masterpieces and top them off with a succulent plant to take home.
Ritchey, a retired teacher, said she enjoys attending small community events and can be found at others in the area, including the Hollidaysburg Farmers Market during the summer months.
Succulents are becoming popular due to their low maintenance but, she said, "the key to succulents is don't overwater them."