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BRATTLEBORO -- For an hour or two on July 27 there will be no room for swimmers in the Living Memorial Park Swimming Pool in Brattleboro.
That's because the pool will be flooded with rubber duckies for the annual duck derby to raise funds for the Brattleboro Boys & Girls Club and the Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Department.
"It's a good fundraiser for both of us," said Ricky Davidson, the club's activities director.
Ducks can be purchased at Brattleboro Savings & Loan, River Valley Credit Union, Merchants Bank and The Boys & Girls Club on Flat Street. They cost $5 for one, $20 for five or $100 for 50.
The ducks slide into the pool at 4 p.m. and are followed by employees of the club and the rec department who randomly pull them out.
Prizes include $1,000 cash, a Weber grill, a kayak and gift certificates for massages, hair cuts and restaurants.
"We usually have more than 30 prizes," said Davidson.
In addition to the prizes, 99 Restaurant will be cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers free for everyone and there will be no charge for swimming in the pool that day. There will also be face painting and music.
"And don't forget the cardboard boat race," said Davidson.
Any kid who shows up and wants to try to ride a cardboard boat in the pool will get cardboard and duct tape for free, he said.
No one is really sure how many years the duck derby has been held, said Carol Lolatte, director of the
"It started years ago with the Boys & Girls Club," she said. "But for a dozen years or so, it's been a joint venture between the two groups. We both have a similar mission, serving adults, teens and children, so we thought it was appropriate to come together to have a benefit split between the two."
The Boys & Girls Club uses the money to fund its programs and activities and the rec department uses it to fund programs and for improvements to facilities that aren't always funded, said Lolatte.
Bob Audette can be reached at raudette@reformer.com, or at 802-254-2311, ext. 160.
