Vance Families gather for a 'Daze in a Maze'

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Steve Lin
  • Vance AFB Chapel
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Vance AFB families gathered for fall goodies and fun during the annual chapel-sponsored visit to "Daze in a Maze" Sunday.
More than 80 Team Vance family members and friends joined in the festivities including gigantic cornfield mazes, hayrides and s'mores.
The trip to the family-oriented cornfield, pumpkin patch and petting zoo was organized by the Protestant and Catholic religious education directors to offer a time to gather as a community of parishes and to meet other Vance families.
"Daze in a Maze could not have turned out more perfect," said Marshall Billingslea, Protestant RE director. "It was an excellent opportunity for fellowship and to meet families from Vance. Additionally, there were activities for all ages."
Events included a toddler's maze made with hay bales, a six-acre "Jungle Maze" for older children and a "Dino-Dig" area where children could wander an excavation site filled with bones. The dig also happened to become the personal favorite of some parents, who ended up helping their young archaeologists with some of the larger bones.
Another favorite was the petting zoo, where animals from the smallest turtle to the largest horse could be petted and some even fed.
"We couldn't have asked for anything better," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Steven Nicolai, 71st Flying Training Wing chaplain. "It (the event) was more than we expected, and the turnout was tremendous. The weather cooperated with a cool, slight breeze and the sky cleared up just in time to gather around the campfire to grill hotdogs and s'mores."
As parents relaxed, the children got their second wind and wound up back in the mazes. Nevertheless, as the night drew to a close, every child was accounted for and search parties were unnecessary.
Everyone concluded that the evening was very eventful and none went home unsatisfied. "It was truly amazing to see such a large gathering from the families of Vance," Chaplain Nicolai said. "There's an incredible sense of fellowship from such a small community that can't be found anywhere else but here at Vance."
The chapel thanked those who participated, especially people who had a hand in planning, organizing and making this year's hayride successful.
For more information about Daze in a Maze, call 234-MAZE.