Sports
Kids and Parents Make a Splash During Darien Youth Club Bash
About 600 children and adults attended this year's Darien Youth Club Annual Picnic at Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park
Darien Youth Club members splashed the night away under a moonlit sky Saturday at Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park in Woodridge.
The showing was strong with about 600 adults and children in attendance at the DYC Annual Picnic.
As a giant bucket of water dumped on his head, 9-year-old Dylan Chen, DYC soccer and basketball player said, “I love everything about this night!”
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In recent years, the picnic has been held as an evening splash bash at Cypress Cove. DYC rents the water park from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. for its members’ exclusive use. Previously, DYC had hosted a traditional picnic at .
The amount of work and volunteers needed to manage the picnic was formidable, but the Cypress Cove event has been a big hit with both kids and adults, DYC board member and picnic director Heather Morford said.
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“We purposely plan the picnic a few weeks before the school year starts so the kids can reconnect with their classmates and teammates,” Morford said. “They all really seem to love it and look forward to it at the end of the summer.”
Joining veteran picnicgoers were dozens of DYC families attending the event for the very first time.
“This is the first year we’ve made it because now the kids are old enough,” said Vicky Hardman, mother of DYC members Eric, 8, and Ella, 6. "We don’t have to worry about how late we stay. We’re able come out here tonight and really enjoy it.”
When asked what new challenges lie ahead in the coming year
for the DYC, Morford noted there is a great need for more parent or adult volunteers, especially with the youngest age-group sports.
“People think it might be too difficult to coach or run a league,” she said. “But really, you just need to get that first year under your belt.”
Parents interested in enrolling their children in one of DYC’s sports leagues can visit its website. Parents interested in volunteering can check the coach, co-coach or “other” box on their children's registration forms, and someone from DYC will follow up about opportunities.
Interested volunteers can also email DYC Board Members or attend the next meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at the , 1710 Plainfield Road.
