BERNARDSTON — Bundled up in winter apparel, 11-year-old Taylor Ruder tossed snowball after snowball over a white field at Bernardston Elementary School, sending them smashing against targets.
Snowball target throwing was one of several different activity stations set up for the school’s winter enrichment day Wednesday. Other options included snowshoeing, sledding, snow spraying, fort building and a campfire. For Ruder, target throwing was her favorite activity.
“We actually got to throw snowballs!” she exclaimed. “We never get to throw snowballs.”
Sue Scott, physical education teacher at Pearl Rhodes Elementary School, Bernardston Elementary School and Warwick Community School, organized inaugural winter enrichment days for each school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
“We do a field day (of outdoor activities) in June, so I thought ‘Let’s just do a winter field day,’” Scott said.
Scott said the winter enrichment days have given the children something to look forward to just before their February vacation. They also gave them opportunities to try something new, like snowshoeing and snow spraying, where they can use water and food coloring in spray bottles to paint the snow.
“It’s good to get the kids outside,” she added. “They need to be outside getting fresh air.”
Plus, the winter enrichment days allowed older and younger students to interact. In fact, older children often helped their younger peers with putting on their snowshoes, pouring hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows, Scott said.
“I liked having a buddy with me and helping them,” said 12-year-old Ryan Wingowski, whose favorite station was fort building.
“It was winter fun,” said Levi Moran, 12, whose favorite activity was sledding. “Ten out of ten, I would do it again.”
Scott plans for North County children to have winter enrichment days in the years to come.
“Everybody had a blast,” said Bernardston Elementary School Principal Bob Clancy. “If we get another day like this next year, we’ll definitely have another run.”