Pumpkin launch more than just good, messy fun

The Mundelein Park District promoted the value of recycling at Sunday's 4th Annual Pumpkin Drop, held at the Keith Mione Community Park.

But the crowd gathered on a windy afternoon got the biggest kick out of seeing pumpkins flying through the sky after being catapulted by a huge red trebuchet.

Children like 9-year-old Caleb Kowalewski also had a blast at the preliminary “pumpkin roll,” that had them chasing a pumpkin down a hill before stomping on it and smashing it to bits.

“It felt awesome,” he said.

Richard and Paula Niemann and their neighbors brought four kids and eight pumpkins. Richard said it was better to have them “smashed here instead of on my front porch.”

The event involved hard work as well as fun and lessons about the environment. Participants helped with cleanup, placing the pumpkins' remains into containers so that they could be composted at the Prairie Crossing Organic Farm in Grayslake.

Organizer Nora T'Niemi said 34 people registered for the event, but a total of 50 to 75 participants usually show up

“The main purpose of the event is to teach kids about composting and recycling of pumpkins, something to do with their pumpkin after Halloween,” she said. “The trebuchet is the bling for the event.”

As she explained later to the crowd assembling for the event, “A lot of your old garbage (will be) up there in the garden in Grayslake.”

The trebuchet, a catapult spanning nearly 10 feet across, was built by Mundelein High School students three years ago under the guidance of teachers Michael Hickey and Mark Michaelski. Its parts have since been disassembled and reassembled for the event.

The contraption, which originally was dubbed “Peter” after Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater, included a basket in which the pumpkins were placed. After a blast from an air horn, the onlookers counted down to zero and the pumpkin was launched into the sky, only to shatter into tiny bits upon impact.

“The job is to basically fling pumpkins as far as we can,” said Hickey, who estimated the distance traveled by the farthest at 110 to 115 yards.

Colin Joy, a senior, said the event really is educational.

“I'm in AP physics right now,” and the event demonstrates such principles as gravity, he said. “It's also really fun to watch.”

“It is definitely applicable to what we're learning in class,” senior Kai Ohashi added.

Mundelein resident Sherry Hermann said she normally composts pumpkins in a marsh in her backyard, but she wanted her 10-year-old daughter, Lindsey, to see the importance of recycling.

“It's a good opportunity to get rid of some pumpkins, teach the kids and let the kids have some fun,” she said.