Visits pump up weekend balloon event

POWER POINT PRESENTATION: Learn more about hot air balloons
SYRACUSE -- Camille Bybee's imagination took flight Wednesday as the 7-year-old watched her school principals and teachers ascend the morning sky in a 70-foot-tall hot air balloon behind Syracuse Elementary School.
"I thought the balloon looked like a round ice cube with different colored juices in it," Camille said.
"If I could ride in it, I'd go for miles and see houses and cars and schools and animals."
The balloon showing was one of several this week around Davis County that created a festive atmosphere, getting the public pumped for the Antelope Island Balloon and Kite Stampede being held Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
After the hot air balloon show, students saw a presentation on the history and mechanics behind the balloons.
Balloon pilot Kent Barnes showed the children pictures of one of the earliest hot air balloons, from 1783.
"We were flying hot air balloons way before the Wright Brothers were flying airplanes," Barnes told the grade-school children.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Barnes explained how heat is used to make the balloons fly and how wicker baskets, because of their relatively light weight and sturdy, flexible nature, have always been used to hold passengers.
Teachers at Syracuse Elementary said the hot air balloon show was educational for the children, and third-grade teacher Amy Hudson said her students would continue the discussion in class.
"I believe a lot of them will write about the balloon in their journals," she said.
"I think they had fun and paid attention."
While Barnes was giving his presentation, some students discussed their thoughts about the balloon.
Jaxon Carmichael and Paige Johnson, both 7, talked about what they would do if something unexpected happened while they were riding in the basket.
"I don't like being up in the air," Jaxon said. "I'm like afraid to fall out. It would be scary."
"If I was going to fall out, I'd hold onto the basket," Paige said, adding that she would like to take a balloon ride.
Liberty Smedley, 8, said she would not ride the balloon alone. "I could go up with a friend -- that would be a lot of fun."
Assistant Principal Michelle Fredericks said she, too, was carried away with wonderment.
Fredericks rode in the balloon in the company of Barnes and the school's principal, Sue Caldwell. Fourteen teachers also took balloon rides.
"It was hotter than I thought it would be, but it was a pretty cool experience," Fredericks said. "I wanted to untie the ropes and fly across town."
Information about the balloon festival, including a full schedule of events, is available at www.antelopeballoons.com.