Winter Blast 2020 First at New Site

HARRISON – Mother Nature offered up another sunny day Feb. 8 as Mid Michigan College and MSU Extension teamed up again for Winter Blast, an opportunity for families – and individuals – to participate in some chilly outdoor fun, as well as to tryout various outdoor sports equipment. The trail system at Mid is extensive, and that means lots of room for giving that equipment a go.

Due to the college’s demolition of the former Winter Blast site, this year the event was held in the recently completed Poet Family Outdoor Education Center. This structure sits just beyond the east end of the main instructional building, where it offers warming space and restrooms for those who choose to avail themselves of MMC’s open invitation for the public to enjoy the trails seven days a week.

Alex Schunk, 4-H Program Coordinator, noted that new activities this year included cross-country skiing and disc golf. Also new indoors was a table where attendees could learn about fur trapping, a table replete with some luxurious furs, flanked by a taxidermy mounts of a fox and a coyote/wolf (hard to tell, but he sure looked miffed).

Lots of folks came out to enjoy the day, a total of 157 by a half-hour until the event concluded. Schunk estimated that two-thirds of them were children.

“We had a really good turnout; normally the afternoon is busier, but this year it was morning,” Schunk said. “It’s great having it in this building. It’s good to be here right by the woods and trails. Even kids who just went outside to play in the snow with their parents.”

The new indoor space is smaller than the old, so there was not really room to have as many tables or to offer food, although there was hot chocolate available along with s’mores. Schunk said those were well enjoyed, so much so that they ran out of the hot chocolate and marshmallows. She said the food offering may be considered for next year.

“We miss it,” she said. “Especially when you’re here all day.”

Conspicuously absent also was the sledding hill which had been so much enjoyed in years past. Still, nearly all those 157 people happily took to wooded trails to try out their skis, snowshoes and disc golf aim. It was also a great day for fat tire biking, with children and adults alike giving it a go. Many also enjoyed the large trailside campfire (where all those s’mores were created).

“There’s been a lot of adults participating,” said Michelle Neff, Extension Children and Youth Educator. She also noted that in previous years Jay’s Sporting Goods had offered some “try before you buy” items, but none had been scheduled for this year.

“This has worked out good with the trails,” Neff said. “And I think it’s cool because Mid – hopefully the people understand that this (indicating the woods) is all Mid’s trail system and kids can get off and on any time.”

She also spoke of the convenience of the building being available most days for people to access and use the restrooms.

“I think they said it’s open dusk to dawn, seven days a week,” Neff said. “So, if people want to go and use their bikes – they do a lot of biking stuff – now they have a place to use the bathroom.”

Neff added that a lot of people had made the trip up from Mount Pleasant this year, which she said is a pleasant turn of events.

“I think this is a great exposure, getting them (kids/families) to see what’s out here,” she said.