Picnic brings Little League players, community together
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Just before the fun of being welcomed by the masses in the Little League World Series Grand Slam Parade in the City of Williamsport, 20 teams in this year's series in South Williamsport gather on the Pennsylvania College of Technology campus in the city for what has become a tradition known as the Little League Baseball World Series Picnic.
The teams disembark from the buses in their uniforms and stroll down a shaded sidewalk to be given fist bumps – as they greet Penn College students, staff and members of the media covering the series.
The college's welcome mat includes efforts on the part of the legion of volunteers and paid staff who are supporting these teams and also feeding a good portion of the estimated 300,000 fans from around the globe at this year's series.
There are baking and culinary students who joined the staff from the college's nearby Le Jeune Chef Restaurant who are preparing the meals for the competing teams, while paramedic students are there to provide for the emergency medical needs of spectators.
A magical, memorable moment
"When you think about it, it is just so wonderful to be able to be part of a magical moment," said Penn College President Mike Reed, who was all smiles as the college campus prepared for the teams' arrivals.
"When you think about how many people lean in throughout our community to make this happen, it's just extraordinary," Reed said. "You think about the leadership and to be able to work with Little League and be a part of this there is just so much pride."
Reed remained astounded at the effort to make the picnic so perfect.
"I'm incredibly grateful for our students who are involved, for the staff and just to be a part to continue to raise our community," he said.
Everything aligned as the weather was spectacular Tuesday afternoon, and teams chomped down on the catered corn dogs, popcorn, drank water and, most popular amongst players from all over the world, cinnamon sugar dusted churros.
Under the hot sun the athletes played games, such as cornhole, in a grass field. Away from the games and millions of viewers and listeners, the picnic is a unique opportunity for the young athletes to be "kids."
It's another occasion before the parade and series begins for the players to continue to make new friends, decompress, and continue to learn the different cultures and languages.
It is a special time for the college, as for the sixth year, Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, a live-learning lab for the college's baking and culinary program, is providing three meals a day in the Dr. Creighton J. Hale International Grove at the Little League International complex, where teams are housed during the series.
Their work began with breakfast on Aug. 14 and will continue through the end of the series Aug. 30. When all teams are present, they serve 400 people per meal period: 1,200 meals per day, including about 1,500 ice cream sandwiches.
The Penn College team will do most breakfast and lunch preparation at the Grove, with dinner being prepped at Le Jeune Chef and transported to the complex. The culinary crew consists of the restaurant's professional staff, baking and culinary faculty, and students helping out on campus as part of their hands-on classwork.
Thirteen of the 18 students in the college's paramedic program will be part of the healthcare team.
The paramedic students work under the guidance of certified paramedics from Susquehanna Regional Emergency Medical Services and UPMC Emergency Medicine physicians, who are on hand in the stadiums to provide for the emergency health needs of spectators.
The international event exposes the students to diversity in healthcare and to the time, preparation and interagency cooperation required to provide care at a large-scale event.
Helping to cover the series is an optional field-service learning exercise for the students as part of their Cardiology & Medicine course. In total, the 13 students are scheduled for 219 hours at the Little League World Series which runs through Aug. 30.