Flying ping-pong balls and ‘cavies’ at Fun Nite

NORTH CANAAN­ —  On Thursday, July 20, families gathered for Family Fun Nite at Lawrence Field for two hours of crafts, games, and community engagement.

The field was lined with booths from different groups known in the Northwest corner. The Girl Scouts sold cotton candy, while the Salisbury Rotary Club handed out popcorn.

There were many large vehicles at the field for children to inspect. Two yellow construction trucks towered over the corner playground. Across the field, the fire department, ambulance service and Connecticut state police all had their chosen cars and trucks lined up for kids to try out drivers’ seats. Occasionally, a police siren would go off, to imbue a bit more excitement in the passing crowds.

Two rising high schoolstudents, Ethan and Becca, stood under the state police tent. They are police cadets, hoping to get experience with the force before college rolls around.

“I’ve always been interested in the FBI,” said Ethan, proposing a reason for his junior role. “But you can’t just go right there, so I think being a cadet is a good start to that ultimate career.”

Becca agreed. “Being a cadet is a step forward for a good job in the future,” she said, while reaching for a police badge sticker to hand to a stray child.

Too bad there weren’t any dogs eager for stickers as well. Ethan said he wants to be a part of the canine unit if he makes it to the FBI, as he grew up with an aunt and grandmother housing two lovable dogs.

To the left of the students with special agent dreams, Senior Patrol Leader Chris Crane tried to corral his crew of Boy Scouts for a group picture. The rising sophomore organized Troop 22’s station at Fun Nite — it didn’t include a tent or free food but did have a water balloon launcher, complete with a spray-painted target Crane made that morning.

“It’s been an enjoyable night,” said Crane. “The best part of being a leader of this group is the boys. They always make whatever we do really fun.”

Last week, the crew completed a summer camp at Camp Workcoeman in New Hartford, and they all loved the merit badge classes.

Still, Crane was excited to return to school, “Last year at Housatonic [Valley Regional High School] was great. The agricultural-ed FFA program is definitely something to be excited about,” he said.

The Clever Cavies 4-H Club ran the most obscure tent. “Cavy” is a term that can be swapped for guinea pig.  They promoted the coming 4-H Goshen Agricultural fair Aug. 4-6, by offering homemade buttons, colored mini animals, and (of course) cavies to pet.

Kate, the assistant secretary of the club, who owns three cavies, said, “Guinea pigs are the best because they are so friendly when it comes to lots of different things. Mine always rush to meet me when I come home.”

If cadets, boy scouts, and furry friends weren’t enough fun, children could participate in the ping-pong ball drop, which surely was the event of the night. SCAG power equipment sponsored it. They built a contraption out of odd machines that shot ping pong balls into the air out of a long tube. It looked like a large leaf blower on the back of a truck, slowly inching backwards in practice.

Kids with plastic bags ran from a start line through a storm of balls, looking for special colors they returned for prizes. One child, around five, ran with an orange Stew Leonard’s bag, catching white plastic from the flurry in the sky.

Scout Leader Chris Crane, along with his two assistant leaders Daniel and Wes, oversee a group of about 20 scouts; he made a target out of a table, cloth, and spray paint, for the boys to launch water balloons at for Fun Nite. Photo by Sadie Leite

From left, Elsie, Vienne, Kate and Sammy, ran the Cavies Club tent, where they taught others about their furry friend. Vienne has a whopping 17 guinea pigs. Photo by Sadie Leite

Scout Leader Chris Crane, along with his two assistant leaders Daniel and Wes, oversee a group of about 20 scouts; he made a target out of a table, cloth, and spray paint, for the boys to launch water balloons at for Fun Nite. Photo by Sadie Leite