The Saranac Lake Ice Palace is constructed thanks to work of countless volunteers. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

After the parade and the fireworks, the mourning period begins for the completion of another Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. The whole event from each committee member, volunteer, sponsor, parade float organizer, participant and all the Ice Palace Workers — Local 101 deserves a moment of reverence.

It takes a full year to plan this one event. Though I am not part of the Winter Carnival Committee or the Ice Palace Workers, I have plenty of friends who choose to spend their time making sure Carnival is a fun space for all. Those brave souls go from freezing outside building the Palace and running events to attending meetings to make improvements and focus on the next carnival’s theme. There is no rest for these volunteers.

Recently, there was a kerfuffle over the Ice Palace being taken down “too early.” I understand everyone’s disappointment. It is such an awe-inspiring sculpture that takes countless hours to construct. There never seems to be enough time to discover all the nuances the workers have put into each detail.

Insurance for this temporary ice structure is necessary and finite. Insurance isn’t the only reason the Ice Palace has a limited life expectancy. Weather also plays a key role. Let’s focus on the numerous volunteers that are needed to keep the Ice Palace maintained and safe. Starting in early December, unpaid workers began clearing snow off Pontiac Bay so the ice would be thick enough to form the necessary blocks. In late January, the actual Ice Palace construction began. Expecting volunteers to continue to work beyond the Carnival dates seems cruel.

I’m not sure what other people’s January and February looked like, but the negative 30 degree weather had me dripping my faucets so my pipes wouldn’t freeze. I was not cutting ice blocks and slushing them together to build a structure never meant to be permanent.

According to a 2007 study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, The Health Benefits of Volunteering, indicates that volunteering has both social and physical benefits.

“This research has established a strong relationship between volunteering and health: those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.”

Two decades of research showed that, though the basis for volunteering is the intent to help others, it also led to a greater increase in trust, a sense of purpose and social interaction. Studies specifically regarding child volunteers are more limited. Data from the 2019-2020 National Survey on Children’s Health shows that children and adolescents who volunteered at school, church or community had lower incidences of anxiety and behavioral problems as well as better health. (However, the majority of the youths were above the poverty level.)

I try to convince myself to volunteer for Winter Carnival each year. I then stick with organizations that have an inside or summer presence. Thank you to all the people who make Winter Carnival an event to remember. I appreciate every event and block of ice. Thank you.