Kids Invited to Bounce Around the World

Kids Invited to Bounce Around the World

at the Crayon Carnival & Stroll of Nations on March 26

[March 15, 2011, Cooperstown, NY] On Saturday, March 26, the Cooperstown Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will hold the Crayon Carnival & Stroll of Nations at the Cooperstown Middle/High School Gym from 11 am–3 pm. This community festival, now marking its 30^th year, features inflatable rides, international exhibits and activities, games, music, raffles, a silent auction, a cake walk, and food court. All are welcome to attend.

At the Stroll of Nations, kids and adults can see exhibits about Australia, China, Croatia, Haiti, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, and Mexico. The Stroll of Nations features music, dances, crafts, displays, clothing, food, and decorations from around the world. The country displays are being created by school parents and by volunteers from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.

"The Stroll of Nations provides a kid-friendly venue for learning about other cultures,” explains Stroll of Nations coordinator Kim Jastremski. “Each country booth is like a mini museum exhibit, with fun hands-on activities for kids.”

Alicia Chase, Crayon Carnival Chair, said that the school gym will be transformed into a giant playland, with games, face painting, balloons and inflatable rides including a giant slide, a bungee run, a velcro wall, a castle/slide combo, and a wrecking ball, a popular addition from last year. There will also be a ball pit just for preschoolers.

To complement the Stroll of Nations, the food court will offer Indian, Polish, Italian, Jewish, and other international dishes. The food court also will feature pizza, soup, hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, baked goods and drinks. The Cake Walk, a musical-chairs type game where the winner gets to pick their choice of cakes, also will include cakes with an international theme.

There will be a silent auction of two tickets to all four productions for their 2011 season of Glimmerglass Opera, with a value of $900. The raffle features gift items for adults and children, and gift certificates to local restaurants, shops, and area destinations. Individuals and businesses that have items for the raffle can contact Cari Lifgren, 547-2009.

The Crayon Carnival, a community festival and fundraiser for the Cooperstown PTO, is made possible by generous financial contributions by local businesses and organizations. Underwriters, donating $500 or more, are: The Clark Estates, Inc., Glimmerglass Opera, and the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway Corporation. Sponsors, donating $250-$500, are: Barnyard Swing Miniature Golf, Caruso Orthodontics, Leatherstocking Group, Inc., SEFCU Insurance, and Stewart's Shops. Supporters, donating $100, are: Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home; Gozigian, Washburn & Clinton, Attorneys; John Mitchell Real Estate LLC; Mohican Flowers; Otsego County Deputy Sheriffs' Benevolent Association; and Wilber National Bank. Friends, donating up to $99, are: Bieritz Agency, Inc., Huff Ice Cream, Key Bank, Leatherstocking Region Federal Credit Union, Spurbeck’s Grocery, Leatherstocking Cooperative Insurance Company, Otsego Electric Cooperative Inc., Paul Weber, DDS, and Taylor’s MiniMarts.

The Cooperstown PTO funds field trips, new books for the school library, reading programs, classroom technology, cultural events, enrichment programs, and academic awards. The PTO also supports KidGarden, Red Hot Ropers, and TREP$, the entrepreneurial program for middle schoolers.

Individuals, businesses and organizations who would like to support their community’s schools can send contributions of any amount to Cooperstown PTO, c/o Cooperstown Elementary School, 21 Walnut Street, Cooperstown, NY. For more information, call Peg Odell, 544-1123 or email CoopPTO@rocketmail.com