They don’t blast off, they don’t explode like fireworks, and even though they’re made with segments cut from pool noodles, you can’t swim with them — yet a group of Camp Villagers, ages 5 to 9, had fun making their patriotic noodle rockets at Laurel Manor Recreation Center Thursday afternoon — and planned to display them to celebrate the Fourth of July. Recreation Department coordinators, Linda Feustel and Jean Carroll, were among several Rec staffers and volunteers who helped the 30 grandkids make their creations as part of the Camp Villages summer arts and crafts programs. First , sections of pool noodles were cut to size, and the kids cut out heavy-weight cardboard wedges to make their bases — so the rocket ships would stand upright.
Then the kids selected metallic stickers, most ly in red, white and blue, with some silver and gold patterns thrown in — to decorate their rockets. There were flags, rockets, NASA symbols, cloud sticker s and alphabet letters, for the kids to spell out their names, U.S.A., or other slogans. Then white ‘nose cones’ were placed at the top of the noodles, to complete the attractive projects. Buttonwood Villagers, Susan and Bill Harryman, hosted their granddaughter, Rilyn, 7, who was visiting from Seattle, Washington. Rilyn Harryman wore a sparkling blue princess crown , and really got involved with decorating her rocket. “We think she’s very creative,” Susan Harryman said, “she seems to enjoy doing artistic things.” Connie Lumpkin and her same-name granddaughter, Connie, 8, shared a table with Belle Aire Villager Liz Ward and Audrey Ward, 9, from Apopka. The girls were busy at work embellishing their noodles and nose cones while the adults looked on.
Connie Lumpkin teaches Camp Villagers Zumba Kids and also facilitates adult zumba classes during the year.
“We already had one Zumba Kids session on June 18 here at Laurel Manor,” Connie said, “and another Zumba Kids session is on the schedule forTuesday, July 9, at 2:30 p.m. Villagers Connie Lumpkin, Barbara Matson and Stefanie Bristal, are all licensed instructors for this exercise program, and especially enjoy their kids ‘ sessions. Zumba Kids is a high-energy fitness party, packed with specially choreographed, eas y-to-learn routines. Participants dance to the latest spirited music rhythms, including hip-hop, reggaeton and cumbia. Cheryl Cavan signed her grandson, Will Ratliff, 7, up for the July Zumba Kids class — but Will was having second thoughts about going. “I liked doing the rocket ship, but I don’t think I want to do zumba,” the boy said, smiling — “that’s like phys. ed. for old people.” “I signed him up and he’s going,” insisted his grandmother , with a grin. “It’s great exercise.” Charlotte Mattson, originally from Westchester, Pennsylvania, brought grandson, Dalton, 5, who was visiting from Concord, North Carolina — and Villa de Laguna Villager, Tom Lyons, who moved here from Cold Spring, New York, across the river from West Point, brought grandson, Cameron, 8. Both sets of grandparents and kids were having fun picking out the various stickers and patterns for their rockets . “He’s been with us for ten days, and his parents will be coming from Maryland to stay another week,” Lyons said. “We enjoy showing them around The Villages and Florida — and doing lots of things with the kids. We’re getting old,” said the very youthful Tom Lyons. “My wife, Lynn, and I just attended our 50th high school reunion.” “I can’t take my rocket to the pool with me,” Cameron, who’s visiting from Concord, North Carolina, confided, “because it would disintegrate — like, poof! It’s not water proof. We did see a rocket explode on television though — last week — a few seconds after it left the ground. I’m glad there were no people on it.”
