Once again, Kawerak Wellness, Child Advocacy Center, Norton Sound Health Corporation’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and CAMP Departments, and the Nome Community Center teamed up to ‘roll out’ some excitement for back-to-school at the August 26th Back-to-School Bash. Promptly at 5:30pm, families lined up to receive school supplies, including backpacks, pencils, highlighters, glue sticks, folders and (of course!) a choice of water bottle, all provided and distributed by Kawerak Wellness.
Once the needed supply run was taken care of, there was still plenty to do! NSHC BHS brought out the beads and split rings so the kids (and adults!) could make a cool fob to add to the zipper of their backpacks. Additionally, they provided a decorating station for personalizing buckets, just in time for ripening blackberries and the beloved seasonal activity of berry picking!
Of course, patient kiddos consistently filled the ever-loved hair tinsel line, getting prepped to hit the school halls in style. Green, blue, red and gold shimmered around the Nome Rec Center gym. The Nome Boys and Girls Club offered memberships and shared about their program and NSHC’s CAMP Department offered suggestions for healthy and well-balanced lunches and snacks to curb “hangry” students afterschool.
Speaking of hangry! The Back-to-School Bash offered pizzas during the night’s festivities to ensure families didn’t have to worry about dinner on a busy school night.
Lastly, new to the fun event repertoire, was Hungry Hungry HUMAN Hippos! Kids laid on their bellies on scooters holding laundry baskets and acted as the “hippos,” while their teammates held their feet/legs to move them around. The goal was to “eat up” the balls released across the gym floor. Laughs and squeals of delight echoed across the building as teams raced to gather the most balls to win the ultimate prize – a plate of colorful desserts.
