After canceling the event last year because of the  COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Shippensburg University welcomed back children from the community for the annual Children’s Fair on April 10 at the ShipRec. 

From 10 a.m.-1 p.m. children were placed in different stations that included carnival games, crafts and other activities.  

Alex Karlheim, SU director of the first-year experience and community engagement, queued lines, directing families to the outside and inside activity stations. 

“The Children’s Fair has been around for 39 years,” Karlheim said. “It is a long-standing Ship tradition that allows [kids] to do activities to interact with our Ship students in a couple different capacities.” 

This year, fair officials limited the number of activities to follow SU’s coronavirus safety regulations.

Activity stations were placed outside and inside the ShipRec to avoid possible overcrowding. 

Various campus groups and local organizations volunteered to make the event a success. 

The SU campus farm had a small chicken coup and containers of dirt, plant seeds and pots to teach children the importance of farming and taking care of the environment. 

“We want to have kids with the ability to grow their own food or just actively play with nature,” campus farm member Karina Sahly said. 

Panhellenic sorority Phi Sigma Sigma also made an appearance at the event, hosting the classic carnival game fish bowl at which children could win prizes like a sea monkey magic aquarium or eggs that grow shrimp in water. 

“It is very important for Panhellenic to be involved in events like this because we  want to make sure we are [giving] back to our community,” said Lindsey Ekanger, a member of Phi Sigma Sigma. 

 Other organizations like the Boys Scouts of America, Kappa Beta Gamma sorority and Disney Princess actors from the SU Children’s theatre showed up to the event to spend the day with children. 

 Kids left the fair  with a good impression of campus and bags full of goodies and SU merch. 

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