Kelsey Ackerman & Shelby Bradley | Sports Co-Editors
For some, winter is a time where going outside is dreaded because it’s too cold or there is too much snow. But for Trevor Berneking, head of Buena Vista University’s (BVU) Recreational Services, and members of Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC), it is an opportunity to have some fun and bring the community of Storm Lake together through an event called Winterfest.
This is Berneking’s first year at BVU, and he is anxious to get things underway for Winterfest.
“I want to see how [Winterfest] has been run in the past and make adjustments in the future if needed. I think the members of the OAC have done a great job planning and have everything under control,” Berneking said.
One of these OAC members is treasurer, Courtney Bailey. Bailey, along with the other OAC members have put a lot of thought and effort into this event to make sure that it will be a memorable experience.
The OAC has planned events from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this coming Sunday, February 8. Moving In Stereo (MIS), which is a DJ organization at BVU, will be playing music during all of the events. OAC has also planned to have a fire going for people to gather around and warm up by as well as grab some free food.
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) has volunteered to run an obstacle course while the Human Performance Student Organization (HiPSO) is running broomball and hockey tournaments. The first and second place winners in these tournaments will be receiving cash prizes, $50 and $25 respectively. There will also be a snow-sculpting contest in which the first place winner will receive a cash prize.
Berneking and the rest of Recreation Services have planned events such as ice fishing (which requires a license of just $9.50 for a day available at WalMart), frozen bowling, lawn and snow golf on the lake, human dog sled races, ice-skating and many more.
“We have a lot of options to keep people busy so hopefully we can get a lot of students to come down and participate. I think the idea of Winterfest is great, but the participants make the event. To have a fun atmosphere we need the BVU community to come participate,” Berneking said.
Bailey also believes that the participants make the event worthwhile.
“I am excited for people to get out and have fun on the ice. We have so many fun events planned and have worked so hard planning this in the hopes that it can become a big campus tradition that it once was,” Bailey said.
