Princeton YMCA Celebrates Hometown Heroes with Helicopter Landing

The kids at the Princeton Family YMCA summer camp did not know what was in store for them as they gathered outside on Friday afternoon.

There was talk of something special happening on their last day of camp, but no one had correctly guessed what it was. 

“The kids are pumped,” said camp Counselor Oliver Pimley as he helped round everyone up behind a fence.

“We kept them in suspense the whole day,” said fellow counselor Victoria Freeland.

Suddenly leaves started to blow and dust swirled as the surprise circled overhead. With a huge gust of wind it arrived, a helicopter from McGuire Air Force Base. The campers cheered and watched as the helicopter landed in the sports field.

The event was the culmination of Hometown Heroes Week, the camp theme that helped campers recognize and appreciate community heroes. The kids learned about everyone from dentists to firefighters to policemen, and participated in service projects.

“Themes are a wonderful way to help kids to center on a subject or a value at the YMCA,” said Kate Bech, CEO of Princeton YMCA.

Bech said the camp helps kids feel part of something bigger than themselves, creating an appreciation for their community andthe people who work in it.

On Friday, campers got to meet the three helicopter pilots and climb around inside the chopper.

“My favorite part was the wind blowing,” said camper Gianna Santoro, 8.

Natalie Carr, 9, of West Trenton, said she had to hold on to a fence because the gusts were so strong.“Every Friday we get to do something really exciting,” Carr. Besides meeting the pilots, Carr talked to local firemen at the scene. She event got one of their autographs.

For their service projects, the campers learned about Hometown Heroes by completing projects to benefit local charities.

They prepared school backpacks for Christine's Hope For Kids, a foundation that supports underprivileged children.

They made toys and treats for SAVE, Princeton's animal shelter.

The campers also decorated 100 cloth bags that were donated to Sustainable Princeton to help reduce plastic bag use. Fifty bags will go to toy store Jazams, and 50 to Hoagie Haven, said Martha Friend, a teacher who helped organize some of camp events this summer.

The point was to keep everything local so the kids could see howtheyimpact t

their own town, explained Natasha Schiller, the Y's membership and marketing director.

After an hour of visiting with the kids, the pilots hopped back into their helicopter and took off. They flew overhead, waving out their window as the kids waved back.