Rural Rocks is one of our partners joining us at the Douglas County Fair next week. Join us in Douglas Hall, and add some color to your future plans by coloring in our Education Matters logo on paper or a t-shirt!

Rural Rocks is one of our partners joining us at the Douglas County Fair next week. Join us in Douglas Hall, and add some color to your future plans by coloring in our Education Matters logo on paper or a t-shirt!

A fair a-‘prize’-al for our booth

Who doesn’t love wandering through the exhibit halls at the Douglas County Fair? The buildings offer indoor shelter from the sun and sawdust. Booths are packed with displays and wares. And lots of vendors give away free stuff!

We at DCPSS and the Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub are more excited than ever about the 2015 fair because it marks the first time we’ll be setting up a booth at the county’s biggest annual gathering. It’s a great way to introduce our cradle-to-career learning campaign: “Education Matters. Your Choice. Your Future. Act Now.”

By August, families are starting to wind down recreational activities and think about what the coming fall will bring. It’s the perfect time for us to remind kids (and their favorite adults) that they don’t have to go it alone as they start planning paths to satisfying, dynamic careers.

Our booth in Douglas Hall will have a story corner with books, carpet squares and a comfy adult chair. Kids are sure to gravitate to the robotics section. Shutterbugs can head for the “Say it your #selfie #DCEdMatters or #PromiseOR” photo corner. We’ll also have lots of takeaways in the form of handouts stocked with tips on the many options available to choosing an educational and occupational road that’s tailored to each child’s interests and abilities.

But that’s not all! In the spirit of all pulling together to achieve the best results – something we at DCPSS like to call collective impact — we’re planning a scavenger hunt! Our hunt will send youngsters out to other booths packed with helpful information for students and families. Each “scavenger” will be asked to bring back proof of having visited a participant, whether that’s a token, stamp or answer to a question. Hunters who complete and turn in their forms will be awarded a prize. They’ll also be entered in a drawing for a grand prize each day. Among our grand prizes are free family passes to the Douglas County Museum, a family of four ticket for free admission to drive through Wildlife Safari’s animal park, a robotics kit and copies of NeighborWorks Umpqua’s publication, “101 Ways to Save for College.”

Other giveaways at our booth include coloring in the Education Matters logo on t-shirts and coloring sheets for older kids and books for our littlest learners (ages 0 to 5).

Fair building hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 5-8, 2015. You’ll find the “Best County Fair on Earth” at 2110 S.W. Frear St., off Interstate 5’s Exit 123, just a mile south of Roseburg.

Get social and join our conversation using #DCEdMatters. Our campaign isn’t just for students – it’s for parents, guardians, educators, mentors, neighbors, agencies and everyone who wants to see our community thrive.

See you at the fair!

A quick, but hearty, shout out to our friends and partners helping out with the booth:

NeighborWorks Umpqua/ IDA Dream$avers Program

Roseburg Public Schools

Migrant Education Program

Douglas Education Service District

Rural Rocks

4-H/FIRST Lego

Winston-Dillard School District

Thanks to the following organizations for donating to our giveaways:

South-Central Oregon Early Learning Hub

Douglas County Museum

Wildlife Safari

NeighborWorks Umpqua/ IDA Dream$avers Program