By Moses Leos III
Taking in everything at the third annual Negley Elementary Outdoor Expo had to offer on Friday was somewhat overwhelming for 5th grader Isabel Corona.
With over 20 vendors, including the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and Kyle Police Department, Corona did her best to see what professionals do in and around Hays County.
“It’s a little bit overwhelming, but it’s fun to see what everyone does for a living and how they do it,” Corona said.
The event, organized by P.E. teacher Pete Welma, gave students a chance to see those who work in various fields, such as law enforcement, water conservation and agriculture.
Caleb Harris, Aquatic Specialist for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said his program has continued to teach children about aquatic life in Texas. That includes a casting game where students caught plastic fish.
But for Harris, promoting experiences outside of schools’ walls was important. He said schools “can get inwardly focused on the tests they have to take.”
“The staff here (at Negley) is eager to have a broader education for their kids,” Harris said. “Coach [Welma]…is interested in having the kids have a well rounded experience and expose them to things in the community.”
Hays County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Steven Traeger said he and other deputies have participated in each of the three expos. The expo, according to Traeger, continues to grow in size. He said deputies enjoy meeting with kids who are “full of energy” at looking at various equipment.
On Friday, students had the chance to hold a riot shield, and also tour a mobile rescue/SWAT vehicle. Traeger said students asked various questions on the vehicle, which was used to rescue stranded citizens during the Oct. 30 flood.
But for Traeger, the expo helps the HCSO talk with students and dispel any apprehensions and doubts they have about law enforcement.
“[The expo] takes away some of the doubts about what police and first responders do … helps us educate them as well,” Traeger said.
For 5th grader Avery Hernandez, her experience went from talking with a representative from Bat Conservation International to those with law enforcement.
“[The officer] helped people survive with a shelter, and he got them water,” She said. “Some events do things such as baseball, which tracks how fast the ball moves when they hit the bat.”
But the event also served a secondary purpose, as students donated unwrapped toys that will go to Kyle’s Blue Santa and Hays County’s Brown Santa programs.
According to 5th grader Kennedy Roberts, the donation brought in 1,500 toys, which was only 500 toys shy of the school’s goal of 2,000.
“It’s impressive for our school,” Roberts said. “It’s every kid bringing in two toys.”
For Hernandez and Roberts, donating the toys for worthy causes was an imperative point. Both students stressed how the programs help children who may not have a chance to have Christmas.
“Because some kids don’t get what we have,” Hernandez said. “And we want to give them what we have, so we’re giving them toys because their parents can’t afford for it.”
Fifth grader Joaquin Zapata said the experience gave him insight on various things, such as how many servings of dairy he should have per day.
But equally important was collecting toys for those who are in need.
“I know that some people on earth may not have that much money,” Zapata said. “Just giving them presents would cheer them up and get them on the right path again.”
