Got Ice Cream?

Even if you need an excuse, a hot August day is perfect weather for eating ice cream.

Dishing it up in advance is another story – unless, of course, you prefer your frozen confection a little on the soft-serve side.

But hey, ice cream is ice cream, regardless of weather conditions.

So with that in mind, Briarwood Day Camp’s staff scooped, drizzled and garnished enough vanilla ice cream to feed more than 500 day campers and staff.

The goal, aside from a yummy snack, was to break a world record for the “Longest Ice Cream Sundae.”

The Furlong day camp is no stranger to world record attempts.

They succeeded last year, celebrating their 25th anniversary by holding the “Largest Game of Gaga Ball,” a game similar to dodge ball. The Guinness World Record certificate they earned now hangs on the office wall.

The kids had so much fun with it, camp owners Mike Green and Matt Frankel decided to repeat the experience – this time with ice cream.

“It’s fun to be known as the camp that breaks world records,” said Green prior to Monday morning’s organized bedlam. “I think the kids get really excited to be part of it. It’s something cool that nobody else does.”

While the kids knew Briarwood was going to attempt another world record this summer, camp staff kept them guessing what it would be and when.

They found out during Monday morning announcements.

Staffers started assembling the sundaes around 9:30 a.m.

They started with 42 gallons of Nelson’s Vanilla Ice Cream, 18 cans of whipped cream, 21 bottles of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and four, 1-gallon containers of maraschino cherries.

About 400 feet of benches were laid out end-to-end on one of the camp’s athletic fields. As quickly as possible, staffers transported the sundaes there using vehicles and carrying by hand.

Even more quickly, since sun and heat were starting to take their toll on the now-melting treats, they placed the individual containers along the benches, still working as campers started congregating and receiving instructions.

“I need tigers, cougars and hawks over here,” one of the staffers called.

“Where are the cheetahs?” asked another.

By 10:15 and with some of the sundaes already in creamy puddles, Green led the campers in singing “Happy Birthday” to Briarwood and gave the OK to dive in.

What did they have to beat?

The Guinness World Record came in at 130 feet.

The World Record Academy lists the longest ice cream dessert at 150 feet.

And Briarwood … drumroll … measured 314.5 feet.

Green said it takes a few months for Guinness to verify, and they’ll send them a videotape of the account, which will also show them measuring the length of the sundae.

All of the campers, who range in age from 3 to 15, will get a T-shirt commemorating the event.

And Green, with a smile playing on his face, said he’s already thinking about what record they’ll attempt next year.