Local resident set up playful activity along Umfreville trail last week 

Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla - Staff Writer 

Local resident Beth Dasno sparked a joyous activity for fellow community members using the Umfreville trail for recreational activity early last week. During one of her evening walks on the trail, overwhelmed by the continuing repercussions of COVID-19, Dasno came up with the idea to hide over 20 stuffed toys along the trail for passersby to spot and take home. 

Dasno said, “I think the hope was just to inspire families to get outside with a little bit of a fun purpose of finding a little toy that they could take home. As well as, like an I-spy kind of activity. A little search and find.” 

Dasno shared that her initial plan was to sell a box of gently used stuffies that she wanted to find new homes for, when she came up with this idea. “I was on this walk and I thought, Oh, how fun would it be to take those stuffies, and instead of selling them, hide them along the trail, and it would be kind of an uplifting little event for especially people with young children,” she added. 

With help from her kids, Dasno had hidden the stuffies in trees along the Umfreville trail, between the footbridge and Pine Drive. She said that they spread out the toys along that section to ensure it didn’t draw a greater number of people to one spot. 

Dasno shared that she was inspired by community members who took the time to paint rocks and place them along the trail during the past year. She added, “These have added many joyous moments to the walks and bike rides my family has taken throughout COVID.” 

Dasno said, “I think that anything that we can do to encourage safe, active, outdoor family time, during this shutdown period will be really beneficial to physical and mental wellbeing.”