Race to the Finish
The “Blue Nile River Adventure” at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, teemed with a healthy dose of intense but friendly competition this summer as the waterpark sent 500 ducks racing down the lazy river. Each of five races supported a different local charity, with 100 percent of profits from the $20 ducks. One such cause was Operation Military Kids, which supports children who are impacted by deployment.
 “In our summer campaign to raise $50,000 for local charities, we saw a twist on the traditional rubber duck race as a great way to raise money, pull in community partners, and add extra excitement to our guests’ experience,” says Ricky Durst, public relations manager at Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark.
Excitement about the races geared up quickly. “It’s amazing what a little competition does to everyone’s adrenaline,” he says, “When that first gaggle of ducks made their way down the home stretch, you would have thought you were at the Kentucky Derby.”
In exchange for their duck sponsorship, patrons received a prize bag of gift certificates and discounts to local attractions; grand prize winners won NASCAR racing experience packages and overnight resort stays.
Camelbeach hopes to add additional duck races to the roster in the future. “It’s a great way to support the local community, and the ripple effect has been special. Done creatively, giving back becomes contagious.” www.skicamelback.com/Camelbeach/Home.aspx
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Giving Big
Orca Coast Playground recently saw a need and became the solution. The Vancouver, Canada based company, which has approximately 170 playground installations throughout North America, joined with Brilliant Creative, an Ontario marketing company, to make a charitable contribution to the Toronto YWCA, a shelter for distressed and in-need women and children.
“We chose Toronto because Ontario has been such a great support to Orca—we have a lot of projects there,” says Bill Dunbar, president of Orca Coast Playground.
In June, Orca Coast donated $52,500 (USD $47,188) in playground structures at the YWCA’s Beatrice House.
“We liked the idea of putting a high-end playground at a facility that may not otherwise be able to afford it,” says Dunbar. “Children need a release from their troubles, and this is a safe place they can regroup and feel like kids again. The YWCA is a historical place in Toronto that’s been helping people for years, so this was an exciting task to be a part of.”
Dunbar says he hopes this spurs other playground manufacturers to consider donating new equipment.
In fact, the venture has been so rewarding that Orca Coast is looking at repeating the contribution sometime in the future. Meanwhile, the company has just rolled out Theme Magic Solutions, a theming business for the entertainment industry, where the company showcase its fabrication, paint, airbrush, and sculpting skills.
www.orcacoastplay.com;
http://thememagic.ca
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Live on a Wire
 There are quite a few high-flying attractions at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri, but the biggest attraction sans safety net this summer was a high-wire walk by two-time Guinness World Record holder Nik Wallenda, 150 harrowing feet over the park. He’s taking his “Nik Wallenda Walks Across America” act to 10 Cedar Fair parks this summer—including Knott’s Berry Farm, Valleyfair, and Dorney Park—ending in a nationally televised walk across the Grand Canyon.
Funworld: What inspired you to attempt this feat?
Nik Wallenda: I’ve always had a heart for amusement parks; I’ve gained so many lifelong friends in the industry and it’s so alluring once you get started in it. We get paid to make people smile.
FW: Does every walk feel the same if you’re up high enough?
NW: No, it’s different each time I walk a wire. At Worlds of Fun, it was a challenge, because I walked from the top of the “Detonator” (the park’s drop tower) to a crane. But there was no way to get off the crane, so I just waved, turned around, and walked back.
FW: Do you have a favorite thrill attraction other than the high wire?
NW: My kids take me on all of them, but my favorite at Worlds of Fun is the “Patriot.” I’m not a wooden coaster fan because my back is already in bad shape, so the steel coasters are a blast! We’re incorporating rides into my walk all summer. At Kings Island, I’m going to walk from their “Eiffel Tower” to the new“ Diamondback” roller coaster.
To read aboutWallenda’s family history of wire walking
and for an update on his Cedar Fair walks, visit
www.IAAPA.org/blog. |
