By Rachel AguiarContributing Writer
It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when the ducks in the Dawes Park Lagoon found themselves overrun by a flock of more than 300 yellow, rubber, sailor-hatted imitations.
With the help of Evanston Township High School volunteers, the “rubber duckies” raced around the lagoon on Sheridan Road and Church Street in the Sixth Annual Duck Race and Pluck hosted by the Evanston Environmental Association to raise money for the Evanston Ecology Center.
Sponsoring one duck cost $10 and sponsoring three ducks cost $25.
Almost all of the ducks were sponsored, said Karen Taira, an environmental educator with the center.
Money raised by the event will go toward the last mortgage payment for an $800,000 addition to the Ecology Center.
The first 10 ducks to return from the lap around the lagoon were the named the first winners. Then, child volunteers “plucked” anonymous ducks from the rest of the pool to select 10 more winners.
“This event is very unique. There aren’t many events around the country that can generate money for an association while still being a fun thing,” said Doug Gaynor, Evanston’s director of parks, forestry and recreation.
Volunteers from the ETHS Adventure Club Group skipped their school’s homecoming weekend to help out Saturday. They created currents with canoe paddles to guide the sponsors’ ducks around the lake.
Faculty adviser Chester Jones said the students help with the event every year.
“The Ecology Center also helps us take the kids out on the canal for canoeing trips (in return),” Jones said.
Students, like ETHS junior Patricia Brooks, said they took the volunteer opportunity to receive extra credit.
Junior Mustafa Mohamed identified another reason for volunteering.
“We’re here to put a smile on the children’s faces and help these children to laugh,” he said.
Despite having a good time, 6-year-old Joe Weissler said he had one disappointment when he first arrived at the event.
“I thought they were going to be real ducks,” he said.
Reach Rachel Aguiar at [email protected].
