OTTUMWA —
Everyone had their eyes on the sky during the second annual Tenco Family Fun Day this weekend.
Brenda Miller, Tenco’s marketing and development director, said after a jungle-themed event last year, the Tenco employees decided an “out of this world” space theme would be a good change.
“Kids really like this, but there’s something here for every age,” Miller said.
Tenco Industries helps individuals with disabilities secure employment and become involved in the community.
“We just really started out with it being a nice awareness for people,” Miller said. “Our folks are very capable individuals and can run games and do all sorts of things. Last year was a real eye opener to people to see how much they really could do.”
People with disabilities are capable of doing anything they set their mind to, Miller said.
“I think it was wonderful to see the volunteers from our community working side by side and learning just how competent those who have challenges really are,” she said.
The event surpassed last year in terms of volunteerism with 125 volunteers turning out to help, including Tenco employees and Job Corps, OHS and Indian Hills students.
Fun Day began as a way to show the community what Tenco is about and how it helps those with disabilities.
“With their admission, so much comes with it,” Miller said of the $8 admission for those above age 3. “I think the main importance is awareness of what Tenco is all about. Our individuals are able to run these games, it’s just a little more of a struggle for them — but they’ll get there.”
Tenco employees have the same hopes and dreams as everyone else, Miller said.
“This provides opportunities for them,” she said. “It’s all about them gaining their independence.”
The event will be planned in February every year, she said, because there’s not much going on in town, and it gets families out of the house during the cold winter months.
“It’s really huge to these folks,” Miller said of the organization. “It doesn’t do them any good to sit in front of a TV all day. And there’s that excitement of being with each other and making friends.”
Each Fun Day will also have an educational aspect to it, she said. Last year Tenco brought in animals from Blank Park Zoo. This year featured the Indian Hills laser technology and robotics departments, as well as a constellation station from the Great Prairie Area Education Agency.
Two Ottumwa High School science teachers, Heather Swanstrom and Richard Wortmann, manned the tent. Children could crawl into the large bubble and look skyward as Wortmann projected the night sky and taught them how to look for each constellation.
Because of all of the street, car, residential and traffic lights in Ottumwa, it’s hard to see all of the constellations, Wortmann said.
“Light pollution washes out more than half of the stars in the sky,” he said. “But drive 6 miles out of town and you’ll see 1,000 more stars.”
Events like this get children interested “in a world outside of their cell phones, TVs and movies,” he said.
“It can be harder to keep their attention since I’m not an app on their cell phone,” he said.
When children crawled into the tent, Wortmann showed them all the different constellations they would be able to see at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, including Orion, Canis Major and the Big Dipper.
“Winter is the best time of the year for viewing, actually, because of sky conditions,” he said. “There are also more bright and colored stars as well.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Two stormtroopers took a break from a life of fighting the galaxy to enjoy a game of putt-putt golf Saturday morning at the Tenco Family Fun Day at Bridge View Center. Chelsea Davis/The Courier
February 25, 2013
Second annual Tenco Family Fun Day creates an awareness of those with disabilities
- Local News
-
-
Hedrick teen missing
OTTUMWA — A 13-year-old Hedrick girl has been reported missing. Hunter Kopp, 13, was last seen leaving the Hedrick area (her hometown) around 6 p.m. Monday. Kopp is a white female, 130 pounds, 5-feet-7-inches, with shoulder-length brown hair and blue
- Veterinary clinic rezoned to commercial OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Veterinary Clinic is now officially a commercial district. At Tuesday's city council meeting, members voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning of the clinic from R-1 Single Family Residential to C-1 Commercial District, with Councilma
- Ottumwa lands 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference OTTUMWA — It takes two southeast Iowa communities to yank the opportunity to host the Iowa Tourism Conference from Des Moines. Ottumwa Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Mark Eckman was stunned by how quickly the Iowa Tourism Offi
- County to learn about disaster declarations OTTUMWA — The county is a step closer to finding out if they'll be getting money from the federal government. "FEMA was here last week, doing a damage assessment," said Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore during a meeting of the Wapello County Board
-
Oklahoma emergency crews will report specific needs soon
OTTUMWA — The sound of the telephone ringing is evidence to Julie Smithart that residents of Wapello County do care. The tornado damage to lives and property in Oklahoma has brought out the best in people, said Smithart, an AmeriCorps volunteer assig
-
Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
OTTUMWA -- Darrell Smith's hands are steady and sure as he picks up his clippers and straight razor to begin his first haircut and shave of the day. Smith, 88, has cut hair for 62 years and has owned Smitty's Barber Shop on Albia Road for the past 58
- Making memories on stage -- and off OTTUMWA -- Sold-out shows last year inspired Bridge View Center management to continue finding high-quality acts, they announced Monday. The venue's executive director, Larry Gawronski, said last year, booking good, expensive shows was a "leap of f
- Roaring winds Southeast Iowa in clean-up mode after storm passes through OTTUMWA — Work crews in and around Wapello County put in a lot of hours. And they were ready to do it again. “We had the storms roll through there last night,” said Ryan Stensland, a spokesman for Alliant Energy. “Down in southeast part of the state,
-
Flood debris removal up for consideration
OTTUMWA — A month after heavy rainfall caused rivers and streams to flood Ottumwa streets and homes, the city council will solidify a plan to remove the debris left behind. At the council's meeting tonight, members will consider awarding the $12,500
-
Community baccalaureate service Wednesday
OTTUMWA -- Seniors in the Ottumwa High School area will once again be special guests at the community baccalaureate service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the high school auditorium. This is an annual gathering o
- More Local News Headlines
-
