Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's Family Fun Fest a hit for seventh year

Marin Way, Deb DeCarlo, Morgan Way, Dana Way, all of Rocky River enjoy the flower pot craft at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's 7th Annual Family Fun Fest
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A record number of rubber ducks were entered in Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s 7th Annual Great Duck Race on Sunday, June 6. Overnight thunderstorms also guaranteed one of the speediest races ever as Porter Creek ran high and fast. The Great Duck Race was a highlight of the Center’s popular Family Fun Fest that also featured live animal and planetarium shows, crafts, carnival games, bounce houses, hikes, face painting, an obstacle course, balloon twisters, food and more.

This year also marked the first Fun Fest appearance by the colorful PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure (MLA). The MLA is a traveling exhibit of fun, free interactive activities that reinforce the importance of early childhood education. Preschoolers dressed up in fantasy career costumes and posed for photos that included a background to matched their costume choice.

Family Fun Fest is part community “happening” and part fundraiser to support the nature education, wildlife rehabilitation, live animal exhibits and planetarium at the nonprofit Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. Fun Fest was supported by dozens of community businesses that donated gift certificates and other great prize packages for the Duck Race. (They are listed online at www.lensc.org.) Westlake-based Hyland Software supported the event with underwriting dollars, Faber Castell’s Cleveland-based Creativity for Kids brand donated craft kits and underwriting support and Cleveland MomsLikeMe.com and WKYC-TV partnered as media sponsors.

Shawn Salamone is Community Relations Manager at Lake Erie Nature & Science Center.