By: Mark Moffa
WASHINGTON – "What kind of scientist studies atomic energy and radioactive fallout?" asks Hilary Barker.
Talayia Gaither ponders the answer. She asks Hilary to repeat the question. Twice.
Tension builds as Talayia struggles, trying to decide whether to give up or attempt to answer in a scene reminiscent of one from "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
The difference, however, is that 10-year-old Hilary and 9-year-old Talayia are about to enter fifth grade. And the two are on a bus heading to Six Flags Great Adventure, joined by eight other children participating in the S.A.F.E. Travels program.
"We were on the verge of canceling it because the enrollment is really low," S.A.F.E. Director Marci Rubin said Monday of the travel program, which was designed to serve up to 48 children.
"It’s one of our better programs," she said. "It’s one of those programs, you do it because the students love it, but you’re not making any kind of profit from it."
S.A.F.E. stands for School-Age Fun and Enrichment. The organization, which is for-profit, was brought into the township last September to provide students with care before and after school.
"They (parents and school officials) weren’t happy with the previous provider," Ms. Rubin said. "I think we’re giving them what they’ve asked for and more."
Back on the bus, Talayia finally gives up on the Brain Quest question. Hilary informs her the answer is "nuclear chemist."
It’s Friday 9:55 a.m. The bus will arrive at Great Adventure soon. It’s time for the site supervisor, Alice Estelle, to establish a buddy system among the children.
During the school year, Ms. Estelle is a teacher’s aide at Pond Road Middle School. Her assistant today is Lisa McKenna, a group leader who is supervising the S.A.F.E. After Care program this summer and works with the Before and After Care programs at the Sharon School during the school year.
By 10:02 a.m., the bus has arrived at Great Adventure and Talayia’s eyes are wide open.
"Oh my God," she says, viewing the tops of the park’s roller coasters.
After arranging everyone’s belongings in the lockers at the entrance and paying admission at the adult rate (everyone was over 48 inches tall), it’s 10:40 a.m. and time for fun.
"Where do you want to go first?" Ms. Estelle asks the group, which includes her 11-year-old daughter, Alisha.
And so the day at Great Adventure with the group begins. The group heads for the Houdini ride. On the way, Ms. McKenna spots the group’s oldest student, 13-year-old Tom Molnar Jr., checking out his hair in the reflection of a passing food cart.
"You worried about how your hair looks?" Ms. McKenna teases.
"Yeah," answers Tom, realizing he’s been caught. Tom appears to be the most flamboyant of the group. Ms. McKenna says later that he nicknamed himself "Tom the Bomb" the first day of camp.
"It’s hard not to just count all day," says Ms. McKenna, who is looking over her shoulder to make sure all 10 children still are together. She isn’t a huge fan of amusement rides, and has agreed with Ms. Estelle that she will not go on most of the rides. This way, the students who do not want to go on a particular ride will have someone with whom to stay.
"Where should I meet you," Ms. McKenna asks Ms. Estelle.
"You don’t go upside down," Ms Estelle replies, convincing Ms. McKenna that this ride does not warrant her staying behind.
Talayia isn’t convinced. She is clinging to Hilary and 10-year-old Sivan Ben Gad. Ms. McKenna reassures Talayia.
"You can grab at me at any time," Ms. McKenna says before the doors open.
Everyone survived the Houdini ride without getting sick. In fact, the group would fair well, with no children, adults, or reporters getting sick. Everyone (except Ms. McKenna and this reporter) then went on the Twister, Dino Island, the Scrambler, El Sombrero, and Rolling Thunder.
David Sanders also went on Rolling Thunder – and it was the 10-year-old’s first time on a roller coaster.
"It was pretty cool," David says. "I didn’t like the dips too much though. They’re just freaky because you felt like your stomach was going up."
David is waiting with Ms. McKenna and 11-year-old Leianne Holmes as the rest of the group rides Viper, a fast-paced coaster with a ton of corkscrews.
"We rode the front seat," Leianne says of her experience on Rolling Thunder with Alisha. "It was a little scary but the good part was that you could see where you were going. It was cool."
At 12:30 p.m. the rest of the group returns from Viper, excited that they saw someone vomit after the ride.
The topic of conversation could mean only one thing – it had to be lunch time.
So the groups treks though the arcade to get back to the entrance of the park because half of the kids had to retrieve either their lunch or their lunch money from the lockers. Some of the arcade games simulate casino slot machines.
"But we’re not allowed to gamble," David Tarter says.
"But…," Ms. Estelle begins to reply to the 9-year-old. She is trying to keep the group together through the arcade and is at a loss for words.
After lunch, David T., 10-year-old Christopher Sukhra, Tom, Sivan, Kevin Bertles, and Alisha go on Freefall.
Kevin, who swears that nuns were in the car in front of him ("I heard them screaming, ‘Oh my God, God help me,’" he says), wants Ms. McKenna to go on the ride.
"Ms. Lisa, you have to go on that ride. I’ll pay you $18," the 11-year-old says.
"I can’t go on that ride," Ms. McKenna responds. "My stomach would drop and my food would freefall out of my mouth. I’m glad you’re having fun today, though, Kevin."
Next, everyone takes a ride on Congo Rapids, where this reporter just happen to occupy the one seat that gets drenched.
The day ends with four of the boys going on Skull Mountain and the rest of us riding the log flume.
A quick trip to the gift shop around 2:45 p.m., and then everyone heads back to the bus.
"Did everybody have fun?" asks Ms. Estelle.
The result: a resounding "Yeah!"
As talk begins to turn to a trip next week to Medieval Times, Talayia wonders if I’ll be with group next week.
"Are you coming back next week?" she asks.
I have to say "No."
Talayia, sorry to see her new friend leave so soon, is grateful for the time spent at Great Adventure.
"We’re glad you could come with us today, Mr. Mark," she says.
Mr. Mark, who has enjoyed a beautiful day out of the office, is glad as well.
Ms. Rubin said Monday that Washington Township was only able to accommodate S.A.F.E. for five weeks this summer, but promised that at least six weeks will be offered next year.
She praised the Board of Education for its cooperation with the program and stressed that S.A.F.E. is not merely a program that supervises children.
"We’re not just offering a safe haven, we’re offering much more for the student," Ms. Rubin said.
She talked of this summer’s Kindergarten Connection program, which prepares children entering kindergarten this fall for the classroom, and of the other enrichment programs and workshops offered, from music, cheerleading, and quilting to drama and science.
The deadline for enrolling in Before or After Care for the upcoming school year is Aug. 15, Ms. Rubin said. Interested parties should call 259-1547 for registration packets.
