BY NUHA ISLAM
As an ongoing tradition three years in the making, CCHS Best Buddies hosted their annual family picnic. Held on January 22nd, the event served as a means to celebrate all the hard work the members have put into the school year.
“I like to think of it as a big, fun way to celebrate how much we’ve done this year,” Best Buddies President Heather McCloud said. “It’s something everyone really enjoys – a nice day at the park.”
Located in Robin’s Lodge park, the festivities were opened to all buddies and their family members. It was the last major one for the year, and has been planned out since August.
“My favorite thing we did is the egg and spoon race,” McCloud said. “It seems really easy until you do it. Everyone tries to cheat their way to victory.”
The activities centered around simple yet challenging events such as the potato sack race and toilet paper zombie wrapping.
Originally planned as an end of school bash, the picnic was supposed to be in June or May, but after consideration for the weather, it got rescheduled for January.
“I got there early in the morning to set everything up,” member Angelina Padilla said. “The photo booth and streamers was a group effort.”
Since planning for this event has been ongoing for so long, many of the members pitched in to help execute the vision the membership board laid out.
“The amount of hotdogs I had to grill was incredible,” Best Buddies parent volunteer Lucy Caldwell said. “I don’t want to touch a grill for the rest of 2017. I’m glad that people liked them however.”
Best Buddies is one of the largest clubs at CCHS. Packing the media center every Tuesday, they focus on helping and bonding with those who have intellectual disabilities. Over the course of the year, they host many activities and like this one to help foster healthy relationships. What made this day special were the extra attendants.
“Parents are always welcome at our regular events,” Best Buddies Sponsor Nicole Garcia said. “But seeing as this is high school, we really don’t see the level of involvement as in elementary or middle school.”
Part of the reason the picnic is so successful is due to parent involvement. They come out and see what the club is all about, fostering interest that drives the success of the club.
“When parents saw what great extracurriculars their kids are a part of, they get excited and it builds trust,” Garcia said. “We can use that trust to go do really cool chapter projects for the next year.”
Besides from the families, the members love it too.
“I can honestly say it’s my favorite thing we do,” Best Buddies member Ashley Melgar said. “I’ve been going for three years now, and I’ve gotten really good at the potato sack race. I look forward to seeing what we do next year.”
The event also serves as a means to make new friends for the next year.
“The food was delicious; hotdogs, pizza, and the works,” Best Buddies member Sara Weiss said. “But my favorite part of the day was meeting members of the club that I didn’t really talk to before.”
Others share her sentiments.
“I really got close to some of the members I’ve never spoken too,” Best Buddies member Shaddi Abdala said. “It really makes me want to get involved even more with the club.”
