Mike Singletary's
Take Time For Fun! Day
by Gayle Mountcastle and Becky Cluster
As the rain drops fell, the committee members waited
anxiously. Would there be at Take Time For Fun! Day?
Gayle Mountcastle, chair for the event, made the decision. "Let's just do it!" stated Gayle. As soon as the
decision was made, the clouds moved back, the rain
stopped falling, and the committee members and volunteers went to work.
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The star of Take
Time For Fun!
Day, Mike Singletary, anxiously
awaits his presentation.
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In less than one hour Lincoln Park was transformed
from baseball fields to a festival of music, games and
demonstrations for more than 2, 500 children from
throughout the state. Park district and agency day campers took part in a variety of activities, which included
five general areas: fitness, athletics, performing arts, new
games, and arts and crafts. Each camp rotated to the different areas throughout the
day. Campers experienced innovative programs that they ordinarily might not be
exposed to at their own park districts. Some of the creative programs at the event
were Salsarobics, The Jump Rope Warrior and bocce ball. Not only did the campers get to take part in a fun-filled day of the unique activities listed above, but their
eyes were also opened to the many opportunities available at their local park districts.
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At high noon, the games ended and lunch began. The mass of campers anxiously awaited former Chicago Bear and Take Time
For Fun! spokesman, Mike Singletary. As Mike
Singletary approached the stage, the crowd roared. He
began by speaking to the children about the benefits
of becoming involved in park districts and recreation
agencies and the positive impact they had on his life.
The wide-eyed children all listened intently to his advice. He instructed the campers to stay in school and
stay off drugs.
After his compelling speech, Mr. Singletary led
the day campers through warm-up drills. His energy
and excitement were very apparent to the audience.
Mike Singletary's enthusiasm made the campers much
more attentive to the performance. After Singletary
had worn out the campers and shaken up the lunches
in their stomachs, he threw autographed footballs tothe crowd. He then waved his good-byes and off he
went.
44* Illinois Parks & Recreation* September/October 1994
The campers moved on to their afternoon activities to take time for even more fun. The semiprofessional football team, the DuPage Eagles, were
on hand to take the children through football drills.
Kenning and Company dazzled the crowd with their
acoustic music. Soccer and karate demonstrations,
blues music, colorful parachute games and
moonwalks were all part of the excitement that mesmerized the children. The rain clouds rolled back
in, indicating to the committee that the event was
about to come to an end.
The exhausted campers rode back to their park
districts with long lasting memories of a very special day.
Gayle Mountcastle is Superintendent of Recreation for the Streamwood Park District. Mountcastle
is a member of the Joint Public Awareness Committee and served as chair of Take Time For
Fun! Day.
Becky Cluster is currently serving an internship with
the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the
Streamwood Park District. After the completion of
her internship. Cluster will pursue a career in recreation.
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More than 2, 500 children from throughout
the state attended
Take Time For Fun! Day.
Innovative activities, such as parachute games,
provided creative team-building opportunities for
the day campers.
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Illinois Parks & Recreation* September/October 1994 * 45
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