Willow skate night offers nights of fun

February 21, 2006

Jodi Snyder\For the Frontiersman

When the darkest, coldest part of winter wraps Alaska in a blanket of snow and ice, most city dwellers have a variety of options for entertainment - movie theaters, concerts and plays, swimming pools, ice rinks and the like.

In small rural towns like Willow, it can be tough to find indoor activities the whole family can enjoy together - except for that one Friday night a month when the brightly lit gym at Willow School is transformed into a makeshift roller-skating rink for the Lions Club-sponsored Family Skate Night.

Skating in the school gym started back in the early 1980s as part of the community schools program. It was abandoned when the program ended, until the Willow Lions Club brought it back to life four years ago.

Warren Weeks is one of the Lions members who coordinates skate night.

&#8220The Lions wanted to do something for the kids in the community,” Weeks said. &#8220It was just an experiment at first. We tried it once, saw that people really enjoyed it and decided to keep it going. It's something families can do together.”

There is no charge to skate, and there are roughly 100 pairs of skates, ranging from a children's size 12 to an adult size 13, available on a first-come, first-served basis for anyone who shows up.

On average, about 80 skaters turn out each month, with nearly 150 showing up for one skate night last fall. &#8220We ran out of skates that night,” Weeks said.

Cindy Hansen is another Lions volunteer who dons roller skates along with Weeks each month to help run the rink.

Hansen estimates they sell between 20 and 40 pizzas every skate night, and six cases of pop. &#8220We budgeted $1,200 this year for skate night pizzas,” Hansen said.

The Lions sell the pizza by the slice, and cans of pop, for a dollar each.

&#8220We don't make money on it, it's just to recover our costs,” Weeks said. &#8220If we do make any money, we put it back into the program, buying new skates or repairing old ones, and replacing laces and things like that.”

People sometimes donate skates as well.

&#8220We are always looking for skates, especially for the littler kids. If anyone has old skates to donate, we would love to have them,” he said.

In addition to holding special skate times for groups (boys skate only, girls skate only), Hansen organizes games and contests for the kids.

&#8220We have lots of games, like ‘limbo' and the plate game (similar to musical chairs) and we also have drawings for prizes. We just started a new game we call ‘stand up/squat.' One of the kids came up with that one,” Weeks said.

Organizers try to manage how many people are skating - and how safe they are skating - at any given time.

&#8220I have my whistle,” Weeks said. &#8220Sometimes I have to call the kids on how fast they are skating. I make sure no one is getting too wild.”

There are a few rules. Children must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older or a parent to get in, and they don't allow skateboards or scooters. In-line skates are fine. And volunteers watch the doors to make sure kids aren't leaving the building unattended.

&#8220We really try to monitor the kids and keep our eyes open,” Weeks said.

Injuries are not common at skate night, but they do happen.

In four years, Weeks can recall a couple of broken bones or sprains. And they have at least one emergency medical technician on premises, just in case there is a problem.

&#8220Lynn Phillips is one of our Lions, and she is an EMT,” Weeks said. &#8220Someone is always available to help anyone who gets hurt. They might just need a hand up, or some ice, but if they are hurt, Lynn goes right over and makes sure there isn't a serious injury.

&#8220Young families start their kids coming here when they are real little,” Weeks said. &#8220Now the kids are skating on their own, and the parents get to sit back and visit with other parents as they watch the kids having fun.”

Wendy and Allen Morgan have been bringing their children, 6-year-old Cody and 2-year-old Kayla, to skate night for a couple of years. Cody skates well on his own; Kayla is just getting started. This year, Allen Morgan serves as a Lions volunteer as well.

&#8220I do it for the kids,” Allen Morgan said. &#8220It's fun watching them, helping them learn to skate. It's something to do in the community.”

Cody Morgan especially likes the skating games. &#8220Ms. Cindy tells us to go down, and then when they blow the whistle, we go up. I really like that game,” said the 6-year-old. &#8220And I really like the game where you skate under the pole.”

&#8220It's just a fun family outing,” adds his mother, Wendy Morgan. &#8220The kids really enjoy it.”

Skate nights are held throughout the school year, September through May, except during December. The schedule varies, but the event is announced in advance in the school newsletter and on community bulletin boards.

The next skate night is scheduled for March 17, from 5-8 p.m.