JBER families enjoy Otter Fest fun

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tammie Ramsouer
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Military members and their families enjoyed a variety of free recreation activities during the inaugural Otter Fest at Otter Lake on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 27.

Otter Fest was organized and hosted by the JBER Outdoor Recreation Center. Adult competitive events included kayak races and stand-up-board races on the lake. The children's events included paddleboat races, where they were teamed with their parents, and an individual long-cast competition.

The kayak event was the first and longest-distance water sport of Otter Fest. Participants rowed nearly to the middle of the lake before turning around and racing back.

The paddleboat race started shortly after the kayak race was complete. Military members and their dependents participated as a team to race against others to the finish line. There were many paddleboat races to accommodate the large number of participants.

Raina Panarese, JBER Elmendorf Outdoor Recreation Center director of outdoor adventure, said there were 33 competitors for the paddle boat event. She said it was a test of teamwork and endurance for both the parents and the children.

"We wanted families to be together for these events and experience new ways to get outdoors and on the water together," said Panarese. "We had mothers and kids paddling together and people falling in the water. Many adults were tired at the end. Well, parents were tired...but not so sure about the children."

Panarese said they wanted to address activities for all age ranges, especially the younger ones.

Children between the ages of three and 13 participated in their own events, such as the long cast competition. Before the event, Otter Lake staff worked with the children to test their casting skills in the grass. This made sure the children would not accidentally throw their reels in the lake once the event started.

Overall, the event was considered a success by its organizers.

"I was very happy to see the amount of families that came out for Otter Fest," said Trevor Bird, Outdoor Recreation Center supervisory recreation specialist. "We are definitely going to do it again next year and hope to have even more people come out and have good safe fun."

Panarese agreed with the need to continue to hold Otter Fest each year and encouraged awareness on the continual options that are available to JBER families through the Outdoor Recreation Center.

"We want to thank all the people for coming out," said Panarese. "One of our missions is to create ways for JBER households to come together in recreation and enjoy themselves as a family. Otter Lake has lots of rental equipment, fishing locations, family opportunities, and outdoor adventure events that will get you out on the river or on a trail. Otter Fest was one opportunity to do that."

Winners of each contest received a prize and all participants got a free t-shirt.