No Child Left Inside

Team P3.

Featured Family

Could three times be a charm? The P3 team thinks so!

Anne Pullen and her children Kalina, 12, and Zack, 9, have been participating in The Great Park Pursuit since its inception in 2006. This year, P3 has added two new team members: mother/grandmother Shirley and friend Alan, both of whom got a taste of the game by visiting select events in previous years. They are now hooked and full-time participants in 2008 – and just may provide the momentum P3 needs to land a grand prize this year.

While winning would be thrilling, Anne notes it is not the reason her family comes back each year. "We are creating long-term memories while embarking on new adventures each week."

Zack agrees. "I love it! It gets me a lot more active and provides a lot of exercise."

Being active is something that is almost second-nature to the Pullen family. Kalina has been figure skating for over five years (even working on jumps and lutzes!) and also dances and swims. Zach plays baseball each year. And Anne was even a Girl Scout troop leader for seven years!

Yet the P3 team still finds time for The Great Park Pursuit each year, and has had quite the workout with all the self- and semi-guided hikes in 2008. They decided to visit the second letterbox at Salmon River State Forest (which was a long but nice hike); trekked up Talcott Mountain to visit Heublein Tower (a climb that, being from the area, they have done many times but added a new twist by searching and finding a letterbox); and hoofed it along the Metacomet Trail in West Suffield during Trails Day (which was the first time they had visited the trail even though it is right down the road from their house).

Attending the guided events is something that the family truly enjoys as well, with the kids noting that canoeing is a favorite activity. They were thrilled to find this was offered at Hammonasset Beach State Park, and enjoyed viewing the wildlife around the park and in the Meigs Point Nature Center (including an osprey and snake!). Sherwood Island State Park also provided some up-close looks at nature for the P3 team, who enjoyed watching the baby geese waddle around the park as well as a gopher hide out in his rock home. The family also collected some terrific keepsakes including beautiful pictures from the pavilion and shells from the beach.

The P3 team is looking forward to the finale event this year because they will once again be camping out under the stars. This was the highlight for the team last year, who fondly recalls trying to make Jiffy Pop over the bonfire, though ultimately ending up with a lump of charcoal despite the heroic efforts of five DEP employees!

Who knows – maybe this year the highlight will be winning a grand prize!