Oceanside CA— This week, the Oceanside Pacific Kiwanis held their Eighth Annual ‘Beach Fun Day’ event, at the Oceanside Harbor, for children with special needs.
More than 150 4th grade special needs children from 17 elementary schools in the Oceanside Unified School District participated. The children range from mild-moderate to moderate-severe disabilities and were accompanied by their classroom teachers and paraprofessional staff members.
The children were greeted by a gang of pirates as they boarded a boat for a half-hour harbor cruise. After the cruise the kids played games on the beach enjoyed static displays, kite flying, a sack lunch and drinks, dancing and entertainment that included clowns, balloon animals, more pirates, mascots, a DJ and much more.
Each child received a kite, book and book bag and a special “Beach Fun Day” t-shirt.
“The Beach Fun Day event could not be such a success without the full support of our members, the City, the school district and many supporting organizations and individuals in the community” said Richard L. Burton, Chairman of Beach Fun Day for the Oceanside Pacific Kiwanis (OPK).
Burton said the idea for annual event began nine years ago when he brought the idea of providing a “Beach Fun Day” for special needs children to the Oceanside Unified School District. “I had been in the Big Bear Lake Kiwanis and we had a “Mountain Fun Day” for special needs children.” explained Burton “After joining Oceanside Pacific Kiwanis, I thought I could do the same thing using the facilities and amenities Oceanside has to offer.”
He presented his proposal to the Youth Services committee, and then to the Board of Directors and to the members at large ” receiving support all of the way.” continued Burton, “I then went to the OPK Foundation for a grant to support the program. I spent about one year putting the pieces together, starting with the school district Special Education Department for the first annual event.”
OPK hosted 111 children at that event. “The most we have hosted was the sixth annual event when we had just over 200 special needs students.”
Local high school cheerleaders and Key Club members joined a litany of volunteers and sponsors for the event that was originally scheduled for May but was rained out.
Below are some photos and Instagram videos of the event. Click on image to enlarge photo and begin slideshow
Oceanside Library Mascot gets a hug
Pirates greeted the kids as they board a boat at the harbor for a half-hour cruise.
Anticipating the boat ride.
Captain Michael and Blackbeard the Pyrat
ECHS Cheeleader Nicole Daniels helps Conor fly a kite
Pat Clemmens and Robert Lindquist prepare lunches donated by local companies for the more that 150 kids attending Beach Fun Day
Captain Book
Follow OsideNews on Instagram
Dancing before the boat ride
A video posted by OsideNews (@osidenews) on
Lomax from the San Diego Clown Conspiracy entertaining the kids
A video posted by OsideNews (@osidenews) on