New game kits entertain transiting families

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Hines
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Families and guests of the Aviano Mountain View Lodge can now rent game kits while they wait to transition from one home to another.

Filled with various board games and puzzles, kits cost $3 a night or $15 a week and are separated into three categories: a toddler kit, a classic games kit and a school-age kit.

Toddler kits include board games and toys suitable for children ages 3 to 6 years old. The classic-games kit includes many of the more common board games such as checkers, chess and dominoes. The school-age kit is geared for children ages 8 and older.

Jeff Uchello, 31st Force Support Squadron MVL general manager, got the idea after seeing the popularity of the program at a previous base.

"The kits were a huge success at Keesler [Air Force Base]," said Uchello. "I hope our families here will enjoy them just as much."

With the ability to accommodate almost 100 families living in temporary quarters, Uchello realized the potential value the kits could bring to transitioning Aviano families.

"The sheer volume of families here is what gave us the idea to start the kits," he said. "Back in the day, unless you traveled with a deck of cards, there weren't many games to play. Families now often have tablets and smartphones to play on, but we just wanted to give them this option to help smooth the transition."

Each kit will also contain a survey to evaluate how guests liked them.

"Each survey will help us determine what to buy next," said Staff Sgt. Janet Young, 31st FSS lodging quality assurance and training manager. "We want to be able to offer more than just games, so this is just a starting point."

With input from the families and money raised from renting the kits, Uchello and Young will be able focus on expanding the program to include a wider selection of games and family activities.

"Outdoor recreation is right across the street to provide sporting equipment, but if there's something that guests want that's not available there, we want to know so we can try to add it to the kits," she said. "This is just one simple way we can help transitioning families and Airmen at Aviano."