Area I held a Mayfest Splash at Camp Casey offering a variety of poolside and other events at the Hanson Fitness Center. It featured a swimming pool obstacle course, kids' dodge ball, a USO hot dog eating contest, separate water basketball events fo...

CAMP CASEY South Korea -- More than 100 Area I residents got an early start on summer fun here May 25 with the May Fest Splash at the Hanson Fitness Center pool.

The fun and frolic went forward on a sunny Friday at the full-size swimming pool and the nearby kiddy splash area and water slides.

Events included a pool obstacle course in which competing teams had to do things like push a brick along the pool bottom, plunge from the diving board, and with a throw of a sponge knock a cup of water from a teammate's head.

There was also Zumba on the deck, plenty of lounge chairs to relax in, and a hot dog-eating contest run by the USO.

"It is wonderful to have the pool open," said Amanda Graves, who brought her two sons, 11 and 13, to the reopening celebration. "We normally have to go to Uijeongbu or Seoul to do things, especially in the winter," she said. "Now this is here and it is perfect."

The Graves live only about three miles from Casey and the boys will be able to make the most of the pool this summer, she said.

"It makes it a lot easier for summertime fun," said Graves.

The pool festival also gave the kids a place to play with those school friends who may not live nearby.

"I liked playing at the pool with my school friends," said Vega O'Rourke, 5, who during May Fest made her first solo trip down the water slide. (On earlier occasions she'd gone down with a grown-up).

There was live reggae music at evening from bands Top Shelf and Mystic Roots

The pool is open seven days from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

View more photos of this event at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usagrc/sets/72157629960312476/