Planning continues for FMCA’s Youth Program at the Family Reunion August 13-16, 2014, in Redmond, Oregon.
By David and Loretta Marlowe, F267754
FMCA Youth Program Committee Chairpersons
April 2014
It won’t be long now, and we’ll be headed for Central Oregon to take part in FMCA’s 90th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase. In addition to all of the great activities that are being planned for the adults at this August 13-16 event, special arrangements are being made to keep the younger set occupied with fun-filled pursuits geared more to their liking. The Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center will be our host for the Family Reunion, and in addition to youth activities on-site, we are planning to take advantage of some nearby attractions.
The outings we have planned are oriented toward youth ages 6 to 18, but we are encouraging parents, grandparents, and guardians to come along in exchange for serving as a chaperone on one of the trips or donating some time during the Reunion to help out at the Youth Center. Please contact us for further information about adult participation.
We’re still in the planning stages, and we want to thank all of you who have e-mailed us your comments and suggestions for the FMCA Youth Program. Please keep the messages coming, as we value everyone’s input and will try to incorporate as many of the suggestions as we can for the program.
This month, we’d like to describe the activities planned for Thursday, August 14. On Thursday, the Youth Center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for children 6 to 18. Later that evening, the TATS (Teen-Age Travelers, ages 13 to 18) will have their own pizza and movie party. Please have your teenagers e-mail us with movie title suggestions as well as pizza topping preferences. Everyone will be busy, so if we can have these two items settled in advance, we can spend our time doing more creative things.
Thursday will bring our marquee event of the Family Reunion: a daylong white-water rafting trip on the beautiful Lower Deschutes River. The trip will start in Maupin, Oregon, and travel down the river for 4.5 hours. Approximately halfway through the ride, the rafts will be pulled from the river and a grilled lunch will be served by the guides from Sun Country Tours. Because this is an all-day event that has proved to be very popular at previous Redmond Family Reunions, we have decided not to schedule any other events for the youth during the same time. This will be a wonderful experience, and we hope that all of the youth who sign up for FMCA’s Youth Program will be able to participate.
We’re eager to provide a fun and rewarding time for FMCA youth. Regardless of whether you can come to Redmond, please make your wishes known to us at youthcommittee@fmca.com. And if you’re interested in volunteering to help with the program in Redmond or at other future FMCA Family Reunions, please let us know that as well.
Following is a tentative schedule of youth activities in Redmond. Please note that fees will be required for participating in many of the events. The program will be limited to children ages 6 to 18, and their parents, grandparents, or guardians.
Monday, August 11
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Youth Activities Center Open for Registration
Tuesday, August 12
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Youth Activities Center Open for Registration
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Sun Mountain Fun Center
Wednesday, August 13
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Youth Activities Center Open
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Oregon Observatory at Sunriver Nature Center including an optional Rocket Science Class
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Ice Cream Social
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — Youth Center Open for TATS only
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — Raptor and Reptile Presentation at the Youth Center by Sunriver Nature Center
Thursday, August 14
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.— Youth Activities Center Open
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.— Sun Country Tours Deschutes River Rafting Trip with Lunch
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — Youth Center Open for TATS only
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. — Pizza Party followed by Movie
Friday, August 15
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.— Youth Activities Center Open
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Sunriver Nature Center
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.— Wanderlust Tours trip to the lava caves in Redmond Area
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — Youth Center Open for TATS only
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m — Hot dog and hamburger cookout for TATS, served by FMCA Officers and Youth Committee
Saturday, August 16
9:00 a.m. – Noon — Youth Activities Center Open
9:00 a.m. – Noon — Rock Wall Climbing at the Bend Rock Gym