This is the fifth year Youth Power has held a water themed Day of Play at Hermann Park. The event is sponsored by The Optimist Club.

There were multiple water stations setup throughout Hermann Park including a slip ‘n slide, a Twister splash pad, water balloon relay race, beach ball relay race and rubber ducky race.

Each of the water station featured some type of competition. Some of the contests became heated. The slip ‘n slide competition may have been the greatest challenge. Who could slide the furthest of the 50-foot slide?

Several of the kids struggled to reach the halfway point of the slide, but Brody Stadick figure out the solution.

(clockwise) Oliver McGannon, Xavier Gieseke, Jack Swenstad and Soren Thompson struggle to keep their balance during splash pad twister.

“You have to side on your belly,” he said. “You’ll go further.”

Stadick’s strategy seemed to work. Every kid who tried a head-first belly slide made it at least 35-feet. The kids who attempt to sit down and slide, stopped after 10-feet.

Optimist Club member Liz Altman said of all the Youth Power events, the water day of play was a favorite among the kids. Each year saw a strong turnout. This year 50 kids ages 7-13 participated in water activities.

Avery Hillesheim (left) and Marlee Frenning (right) use squirt guns to push their rubber duckies to the finish line.

Tries the slip ‘n slide during the Youth Power Day of Play at Hermann Heights Park. —submitted by Liz Altmann