Genesee Country Village’s Annual Winter Day, February 13, 2005

For the second consecutive year, the Hugger’s snowshoers spent a day at Genesee Country Village in Mumford, NY. It was the Museum’s annual Winter Day event and we had a table set up in their Nature Center promoting the Club and the sport of snowshoeing. We had eight Hugger volunteers who at various times met with the public, answered questions, and distributed newsletters and handouts. We also helped visitors with their equipment, and took them out snowshoeing on the Center’s trails. It was a gorgeous sunny day and the crowds were much larger than last year. Linda Bender, the Nature Center’s director, estimated the crowd was about double that of last year.

Most of the outings were on the Center’s dedicated snowshoe trails and into an open expanse called the "staging area", where civil war reenactments take place during the summer months. We were often accompanied by numerous deer whom were quite curious about these multi-colored visitors to their neighborhood. This year the Museum was also allowing people to explore the antique Village itself. It was really neat wandering around the old historic buildings, being careful to not get too close or disturb anything.

In gratitude for our efforts, the Museum had once again arranged with Preferred Care of Rochester to provide chili to the workers. The hot meal was a great reward after being out in the snow and cold. Special thanks to volunteers Alice P, Sally K, Steve and Teddy Y, Steve M, and Dan and Barb W, who gave time and effort to make this a successful and fun day. We should be proud of these people and our Club which they were representing.
- Dave K.