673d Force Support Squadron provides the annual Back to School Bash

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tammie Ramsouer
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Arctic Oasis Community Center hosted the annual Back to School Bash from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. August 16 to end the summer with a family fun day before school started.

"Our goal was to get the kids excited about going back to school," said Michelle Carpenter, 673d Force Support Squadron Arctic Oasis Community Center director.

Students and parents were welcomed with a fun-filled day that included vendors from off and on base. Activities like the frozen T-shirt contest and an opportunity to open a locked chest were included.

Vendors included Home Depot, the Pampered Chef, the School Age Program and many other small vendors selling products to families.

This is the second year Home Depot has been out to the Back to School Bash by providing children with orange aprons and crafts such as wooden sail boats, tool boxes and helicopter kits they could create with their parents, Carpenter said.

Parents had the opportunity to get information from other vendors like the School Age Program, which provided parents with information on available services, Carpenter said.

A before-and-after school program is available for students who are unable to be dropped off or picked up at school by their parents. This program is only available to military members and families who live on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The program shuttles those students to and from school, which allows students to have fun before and after school.

The frozen T-shirt contest was the main event, which the community center members saved for last. Children were given the challenge of thawing a fully frozen, rolled, T-shirt and putting it on faster than other contestants within different age groups.

The prize for the winner of the frozen T-shirt contest was four free H2Oasis family passes for a day and a backpack with school supplies inside. The prize was awarded to the child who thawed their shirt the quickest.

The winner from the youngest age group was Claire Keeley, 6, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Andrew Keeley, 715 Air Mobility Operations Group noncommission officer in charge group commander's support staff. With the help of her parents, she finished with a time of just under 30 minutes.

Claire said she had a bunch of fun watching her parents help her thaw the T-shirt so she could win the contest.

"The Arctic Oasis hosts the Back to School Bash every year so all the families on and around base can come enjoy one last big event before school starts," Carpenter said. "We all enjoy spending quality time with our families, and this is a great event to make long-lasting memories."