By MADDY VITALE
Talk about a jam-packed Saturday of family-friendly fun. Families had some hands-on experiences during the annual Nature and Environmental Fun Day and first-ever Winter Warrior Festival.
Families filled the Ocean City High School cafeteria, where it was all about nature. Kids got to see marine life up close, a snake and even a tarantula.
“It’s our fifth family fun day and there’s a record turnout,” said Rick Bernardini, chairman of the Environmental Commission that hosts the annual event. “I think there are very diverse offerings from animals to utility companies to crafts. I think everybody is having a great time learning about all the different things.”
Mayor Jay Gillian walked around the Environmental Fun Day before he stopped by the Winter Warrior Festival.
“When you look around, you see that the whole community is here. You have kids here and grandchildren. I love these events. It really brings everyone together.”
The Davis and Slaughter family certainly had a good time at the family fun day.
“We’re having a lot of fun,” said Stephanie Davis, of Ocean City.
Her daughter, Rosalie, 3, proudly displayed her newly made craft, a butterfly.
“She also has seeds in a container to plant,” Davis noted.
Their friends, Emily Slaughter, of Ocean City, and her 3-year-old daughter, Callie, also had a good time.
“There is so much to do,” Slaughter said, noting that Callie was definitely interested in the crafts and all there was to see.
A touch tank, courtesy of the Wetlands Institute of Stone Harbor, kept the children and adults alike intrigued.
A Wetlands Institute employee explained to a group of children and their families the types of marine life in the tub. Some of the marine life included crabs, mussels, snails, clams, horseshoe crabs and small fish.
Across from the Wetlands Institute display were a few tables set up that represented the Cape May County Zoo, where a turtle and a snake had the crowds interested.
Kids gathered around Jenna Babb from the Cape May County Zoo. That’s because she watched over a tub that held a red-footed tortoise.
“They are found in South America. They need warm climates,” Babb said. “He eats vegetation and when he goes to the bathroom, he helps create new plants.”
Demonstrations also included the shellfish upweller at the Bayside Center. ACT Engineers President Eric Rosina was on hand to address any questions attendees might have about it.
Taimi Kelley, the children’s librarian at the Ocean City Free Public Library, was also at a table speaking with families about some of the free items available for people to take. They included books and pencils that even had tiny seeds in them children could plant to grow herbs such as basil and thyme.
In addition to the Environmental Commission, the event was sponsored by the library and the zoo.
Bernardini gave special thanks to students in the Ocean City High School Student Environmental Association for working hard to make the event possible.
Next door to the Environmental Family Fun Day was the Winter Warrior Festival at the Sports and Civic Center.
While chilly temps and early morning snow kept crowds down, participants in the truck pull, mock rescue and other challenges said they enjoyed the day.
“Besides being cold, honestly this was a blast,” said Ocean City 911 dispatcher Amber Adoranto.
Adoranto was part of a team that included Ocean City police officers John DuPont, Lou DiLuzio and Ryan Lutz. The team captain was Josh Clark.
The team sprinted to rescue their “victim,” a dummy. There was also a fire truck pull early in the morning.
Clark’s team, along with 13 other teams, participated in some friendly completion that resulted in bragging rights for whoever was victorious.
Kids also tested their athletic abilities with an obstacle course set up outside the civic center, with parents and guardians cheering them on.
And if being outside wasn’t your thing, there was plenty to eat inside the Sports and Civic Center as well as buy with an array of crafts and other items for purchase.
