MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Lively music, a sunny day, clowns, dancing and laughter were all it took to get hundreds of people out of their homes and into the Main Exchange area Saturday for the 10th annual Kids First Fair.
Bubbles floated in every direction as children blew them into the wind and chased them around - just one snapshot in an album chock full of cheerful, kid-oriented activities. The carnival-like atmosphere included creative art stations, vehicles to climb on, zoo animals to pet and entertainers one after another to delight kids and parents alike.
While children laughed, played and filled bags with souvenirs, their parents learned about child safety and social service resources on base through pamphlets, displays and input offered by employees manning the booths.
More than 80 organizations from on and around Camp Pendleton took time to educate parents and children about personal safety. New booth sponsors this year included foster parent recruiters, children's counseling agencies and charter schools designed to help transition children from one school to another when transferring from base to base.
"We hope that families will recognize that there are resources on and off base to assist them as they continue to embrace the awesome challenge of parenting," said Trish Spencer, Children, Youth and Teens Programs administrator for Marine and Family Services.
Spencer said the fair was special this year - because it provided a celebratory forum for returning servicemembers to reconnect with loved ones.
"Homecomings are always special when shared by families and their community. This is just another step in the process to getting back into family life," she said.
April was designated by the Department of Defense as the Month of the Military Child and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Base's Marine and Family Services Division marks those themes by holding the Kids First Fair annually on the last Saturday of the month.
Base Commander Col. Myron L. Hampton thanked the event's sponsors. The sponsors were then presented with framed, original artwork created by children at the base's Brown Child Development Center.
Music, dancing, storytelling and other forms of entertainment dominated the outing. Children may have been distracted by the fun and games - but parents didn't miss the point.
"The best part was the information they had for us," said Hanna Hopp, wife of Sgt. Kevin L. Hopp, of 1st Maintenance Battalion, 12th Combat Service Support Group, 1st Force Service Support Group. "There were things here that I didn't know the base had to offer."
But making the parents happy was only a secondary theme, Spencer noted.
"This event is about seeing the children have a great time, because the children are what the fair is all about," said Yvonne Spencer, a 30-year childcare provider at the Brown Center, who dressed in a multicolored clown outfit to entertain the children.
The next kid-friendly event will be the Jumpin' Jam Fest Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 11 Area Football Field.
Activities will include an obstacle course, pony rides and a bungee run. Free food will be served. Free T-shirts will go to the first 1,500 children attending.