Pumped for pumpkins

“We’re lost!”

Andrew Simo’s cry rang out across the corn maze at Uncle Bill’s Farm, a pumpkin farm located just outside of Grinnell. Only Simo wasn’t lost — he was just the first member of his group to reach the end of the corn maze that sprawled out behind the whitewashed barn and outbuildings at Uncle Bill’s.

Simo wasn’t skipping school on Monday. Students in the Newton Community School District have the last Monday of every month off this year, an effort to give teachers more time to work on professional development.

Instead of passing time in class, Simo and his friends spent the morning at the pumpkin patch, courtesy of Newton’s Salvation Army and Captain Janelle Cleaveland. When Cleaveland realized over the summer many of the students who participated in her Wednesday night youth group activities would be out of school one Monday every month, she decided she’d try and plan some outings for the group. Giving kids something to do on a day without school eases the burden on parents as well, Cleaveland said.

“When I found out they didn’t have school I thought it would be something fun for them to do,” Cleaveland said. “A lot of them wouldn’t be able to go with their families because they couldn’t afford it.”

Monday’s trip is an extension of the Wednesday youth group, which meets every week at the Salvation Army in Newton. On a typical Wednesday night, the youth group eats dinner together and then breaks into smaller groups to work on various merit badges. Currently, they’re finishing their Bible badges, and Cleaveland’s preparing to help them start earning a cooking badge soon. Cleaveland said she’s hoping the program will continue to grow.

“If I had a 100 kids that would be amazing,” Cleaveland said. “The youth group has always been a passion of mine. I couldn’t wait to get it going when I got here.”

Instead of earning badges Monday, the youth group was focused on having fun.

For Bryndan Lynch, 13, a trip to the pumpkin patch beats a trip to Berg Middle School any day of the week. Lynch, who said his favorite part of the trip was getting to see the animals in the petting zoo, loved the donkeys.

“I just like animals,” Lynch said. “This is better than school because we’re not in school. If I was in school I’d probably be acting like an idiot.”

Lynch wasn’t the only member of the youth group who wanted to hang out with the animals in the petting zoo, but unlike his friend, they were Kason Penick’s second favorite thing about the trip. Penick’s favorite — lunch.

Armed with donations made by local community members to the youth group, Cleaveland went all out on a shopping trip, with a cooler full of Lunchables, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Gatorade, and even rice crispy treats for dessert.

“There are animals here and we can play,” Penick said. “You don’t get that good of food in school, we never get dessert.”

Penick’s mother, Sarah Penick, was one of several chaperones on the trip. With a work schedule that leaves her with free time during the weekday, Sarah Penick said she was glad to accompany the Salvation Army youth group.

“I think this is awesome,” Sarah Penick said. “I helped with youth group last year too, and this is such a fun thing to do.”

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com

Sidebar:

Want to join?  The Salvation Army’s youth group meets every Wednesday night at the Salvation Army in Newton, located at 301 North Second Ave E. Dinner is provided before the youth group, during the meetings, group members work on earning different merit badges. The youth group is free and open to the public, contact Captain Janelle Cleaveland at 641-792-6131 for more information.

Want to volunteer? The Salvation Army is always on the lookout for individuals who are interested in becoming youth group leaders. Prospective volunteers must be willing to undergo a background check and complete a Safe From Harm class. For more information contact Captain Janelle Cleaveland at 641-792-6131.