Mill Creek has first ever family 'camp in'

August 10, 2014 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Family Camp

Mill Creek MetroParks hosted a Family Camp at Wick Recreation Area from 1pm Saturday to 10am Sunday. The event offered crafts, a hike, and many other activities for the children and adults.

Mill Creek Park has hosted a lot of events over the years.

But never has anyone camped there for the night until this weekend.

The park had a “camp in” Saturday as it kicked off its Family Camp in the Park from the Wick Recreation Area in the Rocky Ridge area on the city’s West Side. The event wraps up today.

About 65 families or groups signed up earlier this year to camp overnight. Activities such as hikes, nature-education programs and games and crafts for children also were included.

Carol Vigorito, recreational and education manager for the Mill Creek MetroParks board, said this is the first time in its history that overnight campers have been allowed in the park as far as she knows. She said the administration has wanted to have such an event for a couple of years but was not able to until this year.

“This is very novel,” Vigorito said.

She said she was pleased with the number of people who signed up because it allows them to work out the bugs and fine-tune it for next year.

“We wanted to encourage people who never camped before to come and enjoy,” Vigorito said.

Among the groups on hand was the Boys and Girls Club of the Mahoning Valley.

The Wick Recreation Area is a good place to have the event because there’s plenty of space, and it’s also easy to secure, Vigorito said.

Alexa Blackann of Boardman was on hand with her husband, Josh, and two of their children, Owen, 6, and Finley, 3. She said it was their first camping trip. She said she liked it because the environment is controlled and because she and her husband are big supporters of the park. They also thought it would be a good activity for their children.

“They’ve been talking about it all week,” Blackann said.

Kim Carolyne of Big Brothers and Big Sisters was there with two club participants, but she also was preparing for the arrival of two of her grandchildren.

“This is going to be a fun experience,” said Carolyne of North Lima. “I think this was a great idea. I like to see the kids and the community interact.”

Carolyne said she has been camping before, but not for a long time. She said it also is good to give her a chance to catch her breath.

“I needed a getaway, too. I needed a breather,” Carolyne said.

Amanda McNinch of Boardman also was on hand with her sister and her children and her mother. She said it was their first time camping, also, and she decided to participate because she is also a supporter of the park.

McNinch said one of the things that appeals to her is that there is a mix of things to do, so campers can have things to keep them occupied.

“We like that there’s some free time and some educational things,” McNinch said.