By Megan Miller, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Fifty-two children, ages 4-11 gathered May 31 to participate in their first ever balloon release to kick off their 2016 summer camp program.
submitted photo
Helium-filled balloons in hand, the children gathered at 9:15 a.m. at Pump It Up in Trussville, to release the balloons with notes attached, asking that whoever find the balloon contact the camp by phone, mail or email, to let them know just how far the balloon flew.
“We fell this is a great way to teach young minds about geography,” said Suzie Morey, PIU summer camp director. “We also enjoy watching how excited our campers and staff get when hearing the reports of how far in distance the balloons had traveled.”
So far, the camp has had a report that one balloon flew two miles away, near the Pilgrims Rest subdivision in Trussville. The children and staff are anxious to hear more reports of where the balloons will land as the weeks progress
10 Comments
Phil Ellery
Will they learn about littering as well?
Phil Ellery
Will they learn about littering as well?
Adrian Hutchins
pity that it could not have been simulated on a pc(not as much fun) but so much better for the animals and environment.
Catherine Appleton
I’ve just posted this on the link:
I cannot believe that no one at Pump It Up is aware of the huge environmental damage caused by balloons, when they come back down to earth. Marine life, birds, wildlife and domestic farm animals die or are horribly injured every year as a result of ingesting balloon fragments and getting tangled up in strings and attachments. I personally pick up balloon remains almost every day on my local beach and there are endless examples, and graphic pictures of dead creatures, whose deaths are solely attributable to balloons.
Many councils in the UK now completely ban balloon releases, because of these totally avoidable deaths and injuries – maybe the USA is not as environmentally aware as we are, but that’s no excuse for promoting the idea to children of balloon releases being an acceptable thing to do.
Jean-Yves Le Tollec
Bretagne, France, Europe…We can teach them otherwise 😉
Lesley Boultinghouse
This would be a perfect time for some re-education about ecology
Liz Dodge
Please stop this practice of balloon/string release. I live at the ocean, and see the habitat devastation to wildlife and our environment. Please rethink!!
Tracy Vibert
No no no do you know how many creatures you have condemned to death ? Get educated and educate those kids it is not alright to release balloons. Shame on you
Anneke Dubash
You can contact Pump It Up, here. I did:
https://www.pumpitupparty.com/trussville-al/contact-us/
Catherine Appleton
thanks anneke – have just sent them the comment i made here x