One of those students was fourth grader Kinslee Swope of Mount Union Elementary School, who could be found with her class in the bleachers, eager to catch an outfield baseball.

“I like to do stuff with my classmates,” she said, adding she was happy to be at the game “because I get to (have) the experience with my friends.”

Mount Union instructor Nelisha Smith said the students enjoy education day because some don’t get to experience a baseball game tailored to kids.

“It’s just a day to get them out and experience something that they might not have experienced before,” she said.

Mount Union fourth grade student Isaac Davis catches a baseball Thursday morning while his peers celebrate. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

Kayla Vocco, a fourth grade teacher at Mount Union Elementary School, said the experience is unique for the students because they get to interact with Loco or participate in T-shirt tosses.

“It makes them feel extra special, and it’s more about them overall,” she said.

Education days

The Altoona Curve has hosted educational days since 1999, said Mike Kessling, director of marketing, promotions and special events.

This year, they’re offering two more education days starting at 11 a.m. on May 13 and May 20.

West Branch Area Junior-Senior High School seventh graders Khanen Ryen, Austin Lannen and Wakely Wills do a jumping jacks physical challenge for prizes at the Pennsylvania WIC table during the Altoona Curve's Education Day at PNG Field on Thursday. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“We want to give kids the opportunity to try to get out here as much as possible,” he said.

He said education days are cool field trips because students can enjoy themselves at the baseball stadium while learning more about the world around them.

During the offseason, Kessling and Loco visit area school districts to give assemblies on various topics such as anti-bullying, healthy living and celebrating hometown heroes, which was their 2025-26 theme.

Principals, teachers and guidance counselors also receive themed-educational packets with word searches, crosswords and tips that they can bring to the ballpark or complete in school.

In celebration, Kessling was dressed as a firefighter, and Loco was dressed as a police officer.

“We get to take that message that we give them in the offseason and reiterate it here at the ballpark, besides giving them a nice day to get out and have some fun,” he said.

He said there were 15 to 20 school districts represented at Thursday morning’s game.

Students not only ate fried food and caught a game, but also interacted with various tables, including Pennsylvania’s Women, Infants and Children program, known as WIC, and Bedford’s Students Against Destructive Decisions club, known as SADD, that promoted positive lifestyle choices.

“We try to reinforce some of that community messaging as well,” he said.

Positive life choices

Two large dice inscribed with exercises, such as jumping jacks and push-ups, were found at the WIC table. If a student completed an exercise, they would win a free prize.

As a nutrition program, WIC administrative assistant Michele Cameron said she wanted the kids to exercise before getting a free item. Students responded well to the activities, she said, as groups of students were seen doing reps of toe touches to get a reward.

“Exercise is good for you, and they have fun doing it,” she said.

SADD representative Andrew Evans stood behind his table titled, “What is a vape,” with visuals such as a healthy pig lung and a pig lung pumped with nicotine chemicals to discourage students from tobacco use.

He said a few kids that morning also tried on their drunk goggles and tried to throw balls in a bucket.

The table was influencing young kids and high schoolers who walked by, he said.

“There’s no real good reason to be vaping, smoking, getting drunk,” he said. “There’s no good reason to do that as a student, especially. It’s worse for your health and everything.”

Rewarding role models

As a reward for their positive influence on the district, Portage Area High School brought 105 SADD club members to Thursday’s game.

Art teacher Tara Williams said high school students are being rewarded for voluntarily signing up for the club and making correct decisions.

“I don’t think it’s always easy to take that road, and for 105 of our students to do that and say, ‘I’m going to pause and make the right decisions,’ this is just a nice way to reward them,” she said.

She said younger kids in attendance could also look up to Portage SADD students who are continuing to set a good example.

SADD representatives can make a change in places like the Peoples Natural Gas Field, said senior student and SADD treasurer Jewllee Long.

“You can definitely make a change out there and not fall into peer pressure,” she said.

Long sat by senior student and SADD Vice President Kaidance Kauffman, who said that SADD participates in events in neighboring districts to discourage students from making poor lifestyle choices.

Their advocacy and reward system led to fewer students participating in destructive behavior, Long said, as more students rejected drug involvement and nicotine habits.

“These rewards make people not want to do it,” Kauffman said. “Because they’re not involved in this — and they don’t want to get drug tested or caught — so they just quit.”

Making fun memories

Miles Goshorn of Mount Union was excited for his first education day with his fourth grade class.

“I want to watch baseball,” he said.

Goshorn and peer Cayson Treese are both baseball players, as they also voiced their enthusiasm for the Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.

Goshorn said that he learned about pitching and speed in his math class, while Treese said he learned about baseball in his health class.

Classmate Jordan Inch said people can learn how to play baseball when watching a game.

Treese said he’ll learn more about pitching after the game as well, “because that’s what I do.”

For the past eight years, Curve usher Dan McGrath has helped out on education days at Peoples Natural Gas Field. He said the kids are excited to skip school for a day.

“It’s good for the kids to get out for a day,” he said. “Field trip, see something different.”

Other than getting some fresh air, he said students may become inspired by watching the game.

“Maybe someone would want to make a career out of it,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.