By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Smiles and joy were apparent throughout the afternoon at the Puyallup Tribe’s Safe Summer Kickoff on June 29 at Firecracker Alley.
In partnership with the Tribe’s Wrap Around Program and the Washington State Chamber of Commerce, the event featured a basketball shooting contest, cornhole, four bouncy houses and a Ninja Nation obstacle course for attendees.
The Puyallup Tribal Police Department also unveiled its new mascot, stiqayuʔ, which it hopes will help the relationship the police force has with the community.
Wrap Around Program Director Ashley Howard said she was happy to see so many Tribal departments represented. Each table had the opportunity to provide their own giveaways and communicate directly with the community face-to-face.
“This event is about promoting safety in our community. It makes me really excited,” Howard said. “It is a good way to draw our community together out here. Having it in conjunction with the fireworks stands being here is great.”
The Ninja Nation obstacle course proved to be popular throughout the afternoon. It featured a cargo net, balance obstacles, trapeze bars and a wobbly log before the grand finale: the American Ninja Warrior warped wall. The steep warped wall featured two distinct paths, a 10-foot wall on the right side and a 12-foot wall on the left side for participants to try and run up and then pull themselves to the top.
“It is super, super fun. All of the obstacles are pretty awkward,” Ninja Nation employee Isaac Simpson said. “There is a lot of coordination and managing your own body movements to get through those cargo nets specifically.”
Tribal Member John Strickler watched his grandchildren run through the course before giving it a try himself. Strickler attempted to climb to the very top of the warped wall.
“It was really hard at the top there. I didn’t have the shoulder strength to pull myself all the way up, but I made it and I got to the top. It felt great,” Strickler said.
By the end of the event, more than 870 community members had shown up to learn more about safe environments and what the Tribe is doing to promote those.
“I think it was nice and really reflective of the community’s desire to engage with one another,” Howard said. “It is kind of the, ‘If you build it, they will come’ type of attitude. I think having that opportunity was great for us and it was just exciting to see families out participating in healthy and safe activities with one another.”
