By Ken Francis, Staff Writer

 

Hundreds of people gathered at Ellison Park in Monticello Tuesday afternoon for the annual CentraCare Community Picnic.

It was an opportunity for people to have fun, get some exercise and share a meal.

“We started this four years ago when we were celebrating our 50th year,” said Joni Pawelk, director of Marketing and Community Relations for CentraCare Health - Monticello. “We’re here celebrating health, celebrating how we partner with the community.”

This year’s theme was about being a Health Warrior, and CentraCare invited Ninjas United to bring their obstacle course, which featured ladders, rings and a climbing wall to challenge the kids.

“It’s a physically challenging course. You have to have some upper body strength to make it through the rings,” said Pawelk. “It’s a very popular attraction.”

There was also a smaller obstacle course for the younger kids, as well as the regular playground areas. Kids also had a chance to learn how to make slime, with different colors and glitter.

Ben Aaron provided the musical entertainment, singing songs while playing his guitar and harmonica. 

There was also an educational aspect to the event, with the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center on hand to show and talk about creatures like a Great horned Owl and Bald Eagle.

CentraCare provided all the food and beverages, including pulled pork sandwiches, chips and popcorn.

“It’s one of our annual givebacks. We open it up to the community and make sure we have fun for people of all ages,” said Pawelk. “It’s a celebration of health in our community - bringing people together.”

Pawelk said health is more than just what happens within the walls of the hospital and clinic.

“We invest in our community in a number of different areas, whether that’s health inside our building, or socialization and fun outside our buildings.”