Appreciation Day and Fun Fair: 35 Years of Generosity and Support
Weather: Rainy and cloudy day with temps in the sixties. Breaks in the rain did allow for all the fun to go on.
Morning started with Polar Bear fishing or Swim Time at the indoor pool. A small contingent of volunteers from local fire departments arrived in the early morning to begin the set up of the lake front area to transform it into a carnival midway for the afternoon Fun Fair.
Guests began arriving to take in the Apparatus Parade which started the days festivities. There were plenty of rigs from fire departments near and far for the campers to ride in as they were transported through camp waving to those who braved the rain and cooler temperatures to cheer them on.
After lunch and a brief presentation involving our donors and supporters, the Fun Fair got into full swing with all kinds of games, challenges, and activities, such as face painting and temporary tattoos, strongman contest, balloon challenge, radar baseball pitch, along with a mime, jugglers, and a bunch of clowns, to add to the festive atmosphere. Lots of laughs and memories made despite the gray skies and drizzle.
Evening event was an all-camp Splash Fest provided by the Evanston Fire Department.
Activities: All of the above plus Life Boxes, Gems & Journals and Photo Journals
Breakfast Menu: Waffles (with fruit and whipped cream topping options), toast (with cinnamon butter optional), fruit, oatmeal, cold options
Lunch Menu: Burgers, Brats, and all the toppings, with chips, macaroni and potato salads, salad bar
Dinner Menu: Meatball sub with tots, mixed veggies
Snack: Jumbo Pretzel with Cheese
Thank You’s: All the fire departments and fire service organizations that came with their vehicles despite the gloomy weather to brighten the campers’ day. This includes Antioch, Elk Grove Village, OSFM, McHenry Township, Countryside, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Long Grove, Lake Forest, Barrington, Rutland Dundee, Fox Lake, Hoffman Estates, MABAS, Northbrook, Waukegan, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Mundelein, Algonquin Lake in the Hills, Lake Villa, Spring Grove, Wauconda, Libertyville, Deerfield Bannockburn, Pingree Grove, Greater Round Lake, Huntley, Oak Brook, Rolling Meadows, and Skokie. Glenview Professional Firefighters for grilling lunch for camp and everyone who came out for Appreciation Day. All the individuals and organizations who have donated and supported Camp I Am Me Summer Camp throughout the year. Dave Prajka, Trudy Maatta, B&G Sales, Blusky Restoration and all the individuals and organizations who donated their time today to man booths at the Fun Fair. Kona Ice for the frozen treats. Wauconda FD Cadets for helping with the Fun Fair. Parade Sponsor Bartlett Lions Club and Fun Fair Sponsor Johnson Controls.
To view all of the photographs from today, visit the Camp I Am Me Facebook page – and if you haven’t already – “Like” us!
Photos also on Camp I Am Me’s Instagram!