The 59th annual Harker Family and Alumni Picnic, themed Picnic in the Pines this year, drew a sunny-day crowd thick with children. For this great big family festival, the Blackford campus became an alluring array of games, specially-themed activities and entertainment for all.

Brian and Eileen Richardson (Ian, Gr. 8; Shannon, Gr. 6) were the big winners in this year’s raffle, taking home the top prize of $10,000. Other prizes included a getaway to Las Vegas, Sony digital camera and a Trek 21-speed mountain bike. Every visitor had her or his quota of food, prizes and fun, from tykes who couldn’t get enough train rides to students trying booth games to those bargain hunting at the silent auction.

Food followed the theme, with the Weenie Roast Café, Switchback Sweets and the Critter Canteen. Games ranged from Bullwinkle Baggo to Big Bug Bowling to the Games Guru. There were plenty of activities besides games, too, including Camp Crafts and Forest Fortunetellers.

Teacher packages were spectacular and popular, ranging from riding the Steam Train at Roaring Camp with Gr. 1 teachers Mary Holaday and Rita Stone, to building designing set pieces or lighting arrays for the stage with Danny Dunn,  lower school technical director in the performing arts department. Along with outings were sleep-overs, movie nights and sundry other eye-catching activities that bring classmates together after hours.

Entertainment included the “Wild Wilderness” Jazz Band, California Critters, a live animal show, “Three Pigs” by Puppet Art Theater, and of course the main show at 11 a.m. which featured Chris Nikoloff, Greg Lawson, Jennifer Gargano and students from Gr. 4-12 performing arts ensembles.

By the time the sun swung over the tree tops, Picnic in the Pines had brought the Harker community together once more to celebrate the end of summer, the return to school and the joy of working together to make the picnic a success!