On the Right Path: Dancing, contests during family night at Aquatic Center
Dancing, contests during family night at Aquatic Center

Photo by Michael Kelly Children compete in a hula-hoop contest during the Right Path of Washington County family night at the Marietta Aquatic Center Friday.
On the Right Path, it’s hard to go wrong if you’re a kid.
Friday night the Washington County nonprofit held a family night at the Marietta Aquatic Center. As the sun declined across the Muskingum River, young people from toddlers to teens entered hula-hoop contests, vied to catch balls thrown into the pool, danced, played and swam.
It was the fifth event of the month staged by Right Path, a group dedicated to making children feel knit into the community. Right Path and its myriad of community partners organize family nights, dances, the Righditarod shopping cart race and other events, and the group is especially busy during the summer.
“I think we’re gonna have a four-way tie. You girls could keep going on all night,” the announcer said as the hula-hoop contest went into it’s third song.
Carrie Bellville brought four children and one grandchild from their home in Little Hocking. She said she’s been taking her family to Right Path events for years.
“A friend told me about it around 2012 or so, and it’s an inexpensive Friday night for all the kids. I like what they do with the other community organizations, like Ely Chapman, and the West Side Clean-up,” she said. “It’s safe, family-oriented, it takes some of the ugly out of the world, it shows kids you don’t have to get in trouble to have fun.”
With her were Logan Wolfe, 9, and Saviah Wolfe, 6. Logan said going down the water slides was the best part of the night.
“My favorite is doing the floss-off,” Saviah said.
Melissa Barnhart of Parkersburg brought her 12-year-old son, Jonah, to the pool Friday and happened to hear about the family night event and decided to stay.
“I like it, I think it’s a good thing to do with kids,” Jonah said.
“We’ll have to check out the other activities they offer,” Melissa said.
Cathy Harper, coordinator for the organization and also treasurer for the city of Marietta, darted in and out of activities, helping where needed.
“Our focus is on prevention, promoting healthy development,” she said. “This is our 15th year of providing events. Family night, it’s a way of encouraging families to spend a couple of hours together.”
Harper said she originally became involved with an organization called Turning Point, then moved into Right Path, which is administered by the Washington County Behavioral Health board and supported through fundraisers and the work of volunteers.
“The events have community hosts – tonight, it’s the Ely Chapman Foundation – and we can’t be sustainable without each other,” she said.
Gary Williams, president of the Ely Chapman board, said he had been involved with Right Path for three years.
“It’s one of those really nice, family-oriented events,” he said, watching as one after another child dropped out of the hula-hoop contest. “Games, prizes, activities – we’ll see some fun tonight.”
Alysha Patterson from Marietta’s West Side said her family are regulars at the Right Path events.
“Right now, I’m letting my two boys wear themselves out,” she said. “These events let them see their friends, even though they aren’t in school right now. We come to them every Friday.”
Natali Patterson said her family has been coming ever since the Right Path started offering events. Her children now range in age from 6 to 22.
“We look forward to it every year, we love it, it’s a positive thing to do,” she said. “And age doesn’t matter. and it hard to find something to do for kids of all ages.”
Doug Terrell, Wendy’s restaurant marketing manager, said Wendy’s got involved with the group about eight years ago when it became persuaded that Right Path was an outstanding program for children. The restaurant provides gift certificates as prizes, and Terrell volunteers to help.
“It’s fun, and my favorite part of my job is working with kids and schools,” he said. “We do all we can to help out.”
Harper said Right Path is holding a dance for students in sixth to 12th grade Aug. 5 at The Gathering Place on the Marietta College campus from 8 to 10 p.m., and on Aug. 9 will hold its annual block party at the aquatic center from 6-11 p.m.
“We had more than 500 people last year,” she said. “Everybody is welcome.”
Admission to both events is $5, but Harper noted they never turn anyone away.
“We’re all about helping children and working with everyone. It’s amazing how our community will support anything to do with helping kids,” she said.
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Right Path
¯ Mission: Promote healthy youth development by reducing and preventing youth substance abuse, and building and strengthening community support for healthy behavioral choices
¯ Guidance: 12-member board.
¯ Events: Numerous.
Source: Right Path for Washington County