Audrey Caro Gomez
Karson Kidd-Owen changed the fate of the Titanic on Monday, July 25.
The 6-year-old captain managed to avoid an iceberg, his father Justin Kidd said.
Well, not really. Karson’s “iceberg” was pretty much his imagination at work as was being towed on a raft behind a speedboat on Foster Lake.
The boy is part of Kidd’s adoptive and foster family.
“I’m adopted,” Karson informed a reporter.
The Kidd-Owenses were among 32 families who participated Monday in Wake the World, an event staged by group of boat owners who share water sport opportunities with foster families.
“Some of our kids have not had a lot of positive experiences,” Kidd said.
This event gave the youngsters a chance to relax, he added.
That they were able to “get out and experience something they would not have had an opportunity to experience is amazing,” Kidd said.
Vince Castronovo of Keizer coordinates the annual event for Foster Lake.
He rallied his group for a photo a couple of hours before participating families arrived.
“Everybody stay!” Castronovo ordered, as he gathered the crowd of boat owners. “This is how I got you all in one spot.”
They did a quick raffle drawing and went over safety reminders.
When Castronovo asked how many first-timers were in the crowd, Craig Martin of Sweet Home was one of the few who raised his hand.
Martin, however, has had extensive experience boating on Foster and was able to give some guidance on the lake and advise operators where the shallow spots are.
Castronovo ended with a prayer and a reminder: “It’s their day. It’s their boat.”
People bring their boats from Seattle, all the way to Eugene and everywhere in between, he said.
Martin’s was a relatively short drive.
It was his first time volunteering for WTW, but he knew of the main group, based in North Carolina, before it came to Sweet Home several years ago.
“It’s just a fun event,” Martin said.
The last couple of years, he and his wife Willa were not able to participate because of schedule conflicts.
“It’s a great way to promote the community and share with kids,” Martin said.
During the day-long event, foster families and volunteers enjoyed lunch, dinner.
Many items, such as the food and life jackets were donated. The group had a backpack filled with school supplies for each child.
This year, there are seven graduated seniors, Castronovo said. They each received a $100 gift certificate to help get them started.
Foster parent Michael Speten was scheduled to speak after dinner.
For more information about Wake the World, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit http://www.waketheworld.org.