17th annual Ice Cream Social full of firsts

A Spark is a special quality, skill or interest that lights us up. When young people know and nurture their Sparks they experience joy and energy.

One group of students organized “There’s a Spark for That!” Fair. The students recruited people who have interesting Sparks so those attending could try on the Sparks that were highlighted. Thanks to those who shared their Sparks: David Royce, glass blower, Chef Eli Wollenzien, CRAVE Restaurant, Ron Laughlin, BWBR Architects, Joni Krueser, St. Louis Park Library, Mark Zembryki, Westwood Hills Nature Center, Athena Carlson, pole vaulting, Chuck Dahl, photographer, Todd Pernsteiner, Pernsteiner Creative Group (graphic design), Ali Sipkins and Keisha Kolbow, Youth Frontiers (leadership), Larry Monssen, Lenox Woodcrafters and students from FIRST Robotics Club at St. Louis Park High School. Thanks to high school juniors Jackie and Paris, whose Sparks are photography, for photographing the event.

The Youth Development Committee (YDC), a group of 4^th -12^th grade students who are focused on community service, designed a “flash mob” to catch the attention of the crowd. . A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place to perform an unusual act for a brief time, then quickly disperse. They wore matching t-shirts directing onlookers to St. Louis SParkS on facebook to learn more. See the flash mob with the You Tube link below.

Thanks to the event’s major sponsor AAA Minneapolis and its Minneapolis Auto Club Foundation for Safety.Thanks also to the many organizations that participated: St. Louis Park Parks & Recreation, Sebastian Joe’s, Byerly’s, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts, Japs-Olson Co., The Rotary Club of St. Louis Park, St. Louis Park Lions Club, Westside 4-H, Treehouse for Youth, Police & Fire Departments, Parktacular, Citizens Independent Bank, Bookmark in the Park, Girl Scouts, Police Commission, St. Louis Park Ambassadors, Step to it, and St. Louis Park Community Foundation. Sparks activities were made possible by a grant from St. Louis Park Arts & Culture Grant Program, a collaborative partnership of the City of St. Louis Park, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts and the St. Louis Park Community Foundation.

The Ice Cream Social is featured on Park TV Channel 17’s Inside the Park.