DPW trucks lined up in the upper parking lot at Westfield Technical Academy. (PHOTO SUBMITTED BY FRANCIS CAIN)
WESTFIELD — The Department of Public Works sent several big rigs to the Westfield Technical Academy on Aug. 2 for a Touch-a-Truck event at the Parks and Recreation Adventure Zone day camp for children ages 5 to 12.
Interim DPW Director Francis Cain said they sent over a 75-foot bucket truck, a roll-off container truck and 10-wheeler dump truck from all different divisions, including Water, Natural Resources and Stormwater. Cain said DPW workers explained to the campers what each truck does.
“Some kids are way more interested than others, but they get to sit in the trucks and ask questions,” he said.
Rachel Baillargeon, director of the Adventure Zone, said DPW staff had the doors and hoods of the trucks opened, and the 60 kids were able to go in the trucks and honk the horns. “They liked it. They had fun. Their favorite thing was honking the horns,” she said.
DPW staff and campers apply bug tattoos while others explore the trucks at the Touch a Truck event. (PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SCOTT HATHAWAY)
Some of the DPW staff brought fake tattoos of bugs, along with note cards that had facts about bugs on them. “The kids were fighting over them,” Baillargeon said. She said a lot of the boys knew a lot about trucks, especially one boy whose dad drives trucks. But she said the girls were interested, too.
At the very end, one of the DPW workers went into the basket of the bucket truck with two counselors, and lifted them off the ground a little. “All of the age groups liked it. They had fun, and didn’t want to leave,” she said.
Cain said all of the deputy superintendents were instrumental in making sure the trucks were available and were clean and presentable. “It triggers young minds, and it’s good exposure. We’ve done this sort of thing in the past, for community outreach,” Cain said, adding, “You never know what you trigger when you do things like that.”
The Adventure Zone is a full day program for children 5-12 years old, with working parents who need affordable child care during the summer. Run by the Parks and Recreation Department at Westfield Technical Academy, activities include arts and crafts, sports, tournaments, field trips, swimming once a week at the Agawam State Pool, environmental activities, guest speakers and much more. Participants are divided into age groups, with a goal of building a sense of adventure, self esteem, socialization, interaction with peers, creativity and personal growth. The Adventure Zone camp ends on Aug. 13.
Adventure Zone campers of all ages had fun and didn’t want to leave. (PHOTO SUBMITTED BY RACHEL BAILLARGEON)
