JBER?s Back-to-School BASH

JBER's Arctic Oasis Community Center held their annual 'Back to School Bash' Aug. 17. The event allowed Alaska students additional time for recreation the final weekend before school, and gave their parents the opportunity to gather information on various base facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett)

JBER’s Back-to-School BASH

Published Aug. 23, 2012
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Barnett
JBER Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- JBER's Arctic Oasis Community Center had their annual 'Back to School Bash' August 17. The event allowed Alaska students an event the final weekend before school, and parents to gather information on various base facilities.

"This is the weekend before schools starts," said Michelle Carpenter, director of the community center. "We always want to do a big event for the kids, to be able to have one more weekend to be able to do anything. We've got about 1,000 to 1,500 people here. It's lovely, it's a nice weekend and it's not raining."

The bash included a number of vendors and fun opportunities for families.

"We have a petting zoo, pony rides; we've got a whole bunch of vendors and people marketing their different activities on base," she said. "We've got the CDC, the library; a whole bunch of places are putting out information catered to school. So that's a plus, to be able to have parents get out and get that information."

Every year, the back-to-school bash gets bigger, she said.

"Last year we had a bunch of military vehicles out here," the Oasis director said. "We change it every year. This year we're themed with on-base facilities giving out information."

They have more than 17 different facilities on base, she said.

"Everything's going pretty well," Carpenter said.