Over 200 children attend Fourth Annual Longest Day of Play

Wiffle ball, dodge ball, Duck, Duck, Splash, running through the sprinkler, jumping rope and even Zumba were some of the ways area children were encouraged to get outside and take advantage of the 14 hours 41 minutes of daylight on the longest day of the year in Corbin.

"The longest day is actually June 21," said Audra Valentine, Community Health Services Technician, who organized the event. "We try to plan the event as close to that day as possible."

The fourth annual Longest Day of Play Friday at Rotary Park brought out more than 200 children from across the Tri-County area.

Led by volunteers from BRMC and public health interns from the University of the Cumberlands, the children went from station to station to play the pick-up games

"They pretty much took right to it," Valentine said. "The water games seemed to be the big hits."

Over in the dodgeball area, Danny Beattie was watching his group of students from Boston and Pleasant View elementary schools throw wet spongeballs at each other.

"It was a little bit hard to get them out in the sun," Beattie admitted, adding that once they were outside, they quickly got into the games.

Under a nearby tent, Heather Rutherford, a certified Zumba teacher, was giving the children a quick lesson, leading them in kicks, squats and other moves as music from her iPod provided the beat. Rutherford took the children through two or three songs, enough to give them a taste of Zumba

"I’m sweating like a pig but feeling good," one of the students said of the experience.

In addition to the games the Southeastern Kentucky Area Health Education Center, Finley’s Fun Center, Whitley County Health Department Whitley County Extension Agency and the Kentucky Division of Forestry set up booths to provide information about ways to improve children’s health and other games and activities to get them outside and moving.

Finley’s Fun Center officials brought their mascot, "Roller Roo," along with free passes for the children to go skating. Roller Roo was joined by the forestry service mascot, "Smokey Bear."

Valentine said the event continues to grow in attendance and organizers continue to add more games and activities. With the 2010 event barely finished, planning has already begun for 2011.