BEST EVENT 54 (Within an EXISTING FESTIVAL) 1 TABLE of CONTENTS

7 1 0 2 ST FE AT PALM BEST EVENT 54 (within an EXISTING FESTIVAL) 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

COSTUME CHARACTERS CAPTIVATED THE KIDS AT “INTO THE WILD”

1. BEST EVENT (Within an Existing Festival) ...... 3-11 a. Introduction and Background ...... 3 b. Description and Purpose ...... 4 c. Target Audience and Attendance ...... 5 d. Program Budget ...... 6 e. Tie-in of Program to Main Event ...... 7 f. Duration of Program ...... 8 g. Group Involvement ...... 9 h. Unique and Creative ...... 10 i. Effectiveness and Success of Program...... 11

2. SUPPORTING QUESTIONS ...... 12 What did you do to update / change this program from the year before? Were your updates / changes successful?

3. SUPPORTING MATERIALS ...... 13-16 a. Printed Materials ...... 13 b. Promotional/Marketing /Media Materials ...... 14 c. Supporting Photographs ...... 15 d. Measurable Results: Tangible and Intangible ...... 16

1 Event Overview

“I never knew there was so much that my students could learn here at Palmfest.

There was math and science and technology. This event has really changed since when I first came years ago. Next year I’m going to tell ALL my students to come to Palmfest.”

—Elementary School teacher from La Joya ISD

“We had so much fun. This is the best event of the year in McAllen! It really has changed over the years.”

—Parent with two elementary children

“I loved it! I couldn’t get my children out of room 101! They had to visit every station trying to get their passports filled! We will certainly be back next year!”

—Family with grandparents, preschoolers, and elementary children

2 3 AND BACKGROUND Introduction OF PROGRAM

On October 7-8, 2017, McAllen hosted its 12th annual “Palmfest International Folklife Celebration”. The event brings community heritage, culture, music, food, art and more to the McAllen Convention Center.

Over 40,000 visitors attend from throughout South Texas.

In 2017, Palmfest held its second annual “Into the Wild” event within the event, inside the rooms of the Convention Center—in an effort to add S.T.E.A.M. educational opportunities to Palmfest for families and students.

The S.T.E.A.M. teaching model promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Research shows that students who are engaged in S.T.E.A.M. learning are better prepared to thrive in a global economy based upon the skills found within these subjects.

2 3 OF EVENT Description WITHIN AN EVENT SCIENCE EDUCATION: • Dinosaur George • Texas Zoo Live Ocelot Show • Danny Conner Wild Reptile Show • Sky King Falconry Live Raptors • Sea Turtle Inc. • International Museum of Art and Science • Edinburg Scenic Wetlands • Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge • Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge • Bentsen State Park World Birding Center “INTO THE THE WILD” was an educational • Estero Llano Grande State Park WBC program imbedded into the larger Palmfest • Edinburg Wetlands World Birding Center event in order to promote S.T.E.A.M. education • Resaca de las Palmas World Birding Center goals (ie. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, • South Padre Island World Birding Center and Math). • Hidalgo Pumphouse World Birding Center • Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center 35 organizations from throughout the Lower Rio • City of McAllen Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Grande Valey sponsored booths inside 4 exhibit • Animal Contacto rooms at the McAllen Convention Center. • McAllen Nature Center

“Into the Wild” passports were handed out to ENGINEERING EDUCATION: guests to try to earn “stickers” for participating in • McAllen Public Works - Recycling as many STEAM activities they could visit. At the • First Robotics end, children presented their passports for a prize gemstone from the “River of Rocks” display. ART EDUCATION: • GILBERT SALAZAR ART SHOW TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION: • Lakeshore Learning Curiosity Corner • First Robotics • McAllen Public Library • South Texas College • Garza Elementary World of Birds Art Exhibit • Keep McAllen Beautiful • Sylvan Learning Center MATH EDUCATION: • McAllen Metro • McAllen Public Utilities • Museum of South Texas History • McAllen Heritage Center • MPU Water Treatment • Quinta Mazatlan Watershed Model

4 5 AUDIENCE/ATTENDANCE/ Target NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS Target Audience “Into the Wild” targeted schools and families to bring their schoolchildren to Palmfest.

Organizations, school districts, individuals, and businesses throughout South Texas and beyond were encouraged to participate by offering educational STEAM-related activities to engage children during their visit “Into the Wild”

Attendance / Number of Participants

people attended the 2-day main 40,000 event: “Palmfest 2017”

actively participated at educational booths at “Into the Wild” –receiving 7,000 stamped cards for completing activities

people turned in their completed 3,500 “Passport” for a commemorative gemstone

community volunteers assisted children with INTO THE WILD 100 educational activities

nature centers/museums, or other non-profit organizations provided 35 STEAM Educational activities

community businesses provided 5 STEAM Educational activities

City of McAllen Departments provided STEAM Educational 5 activities

4 5 EVENT WITHIN Budget AN EVENT

REVENUE Entry into “Into the Wild” was included in the price of admission to the main event – Palmfest. Admission to the festival was $5 per person. Children under 12 were given free admission.

EXPENSE “Into the Wild” expenses were: $ 7,000...... Dinosaur George $ 4,993...... Texas Zoo $ 2,700...... Contacto Animal $ 1,500...... Sky King Falconry $ 440...... Costume Specialists $ 1000...... Bear Clan $ 1000...... Printed Materials $ 500...... Commemorative Gems $ 1300...... Hotel for visiting shows $20,433 ...... TOTAL

DONATIONS $ 3,500...... Quinta Mazatlan – passports, prizes, exhibit signage, printing $ 17,325...... Volunteer labor (150 x 6 hrs x $19.25) $20,825 ...... TOTAL

6 7 PROGRAM TO Tie-In MAIN EVENT

How did “INTO THE WILD” tie into the main event, Palmfest?

The purpose of PALMFEST is to celebrate the community in the Rio Grande Valley—its heritage, its culture, its arts, its food. “Into the Wild” adds a new element of purpose to Palmfest—promoting the NATURAL HISTORY of the region, and focusing on future needs for skilled workers in S.T.E.A.M. related fields.

6 7 Duration OF PROGRAM

PALMFEST - 2 Day Event Saturday, October 7 – 9am-7pm Sunday, October 8 – 11 am-6 pm

Second Annual “Into the Wild” at Palmfest

2017 marked the second year in which Palmfest provided educational S.T.E.A.M. activities for visitors.

The participants at “Into the Wild” learned about the flora and fauna unique to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Activities were designed for all ages to address S.T.E.A.M. education.

8 Group Involvement

SPONSORS UTRGV, STC, Various High schools City of McAllen INVOLVEMENT: Painted “wild creatures” INVOLVEMENT: Funded Into the Wild; onto palm fronds to decorate “Into the 5 departments had educational booths Wild” rooms. BENEFIT: An educated and STEAM skilled BENEFIT: Volunteerism strengthens high citizenry leads to economically strong and school resumes for college stable communities. South Texas College Lakeshore Learning INVOLVEMENT: 20 students assisted with INVOLVEMENT: Donated art supplies and educational activities provided a preschool play and explore BENEFIT: Volunteerism strengthens activity area high school resumes for college BENEFIT: Marketing opportunity for promoting early childhood education OTHER INVOLVEMENT 35 Regional Nature Parks and Museums SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT INVOLVEMENT: 7 nature parks throughout Garza Elementary school children the LRGV contributed educational activities INVOLVEMENT: Colored the 535 different BENEFIT: Provided opportunity to promote bird species pages displayed on the walls visitation to their parks, and get people of the Convention Center interested in nature BENEFIT: Students learned about nature by participating in an art

VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT Sharyland High INVOLVEMENT: Provided high school volunteers BENEFIT: Volunteers earned community service hours

8 9 WHAT MAKES THE EVENT Unique and Creative

“The U.S. needs 1 million more math and science professionals over the next decade than it is projected to produce at the current rate.”

— National Math & Science Initiative

UNIQUENESS CREATIVE APPROACH What is unique about this event within The concept of a “passport” is a creative symbol Palmfest, is that “Into the Wild” imbeds used to help families through the various S.T.E.A.M. education into a traditionally rooms of the Convention Center, where they entertainment-focused festival. can explore the variety of “Into the Wild” S.T.E.A.M. related activities. 90% of the regional population are Hispanics which are underrepresented in S.T.E.A.M. related careers. Into the Wild is a an active effort by the City of McAllen to use its popular festival to contribute improving this statistic.

10 11 Effectiveness AND SUCCESS SUCCESS OF PROGRAM Different Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math Education related activities were offered to 7000 people over the course of 2 days. 7000 people walked through “Into the Wild” 3500 children completed the “Into the Wild” passports 35 regional nature parks and other organizations raised awareness about CHILDREN RECEIVED STEAM PASSPORTS FOR STICKERS our natural and cultural heritage AT EACH BOOTH • Children had hands-on interaction Your with real nature and live creatures, INTO THE contributing to their excitement and Adventure positive feelings about nature. www.palmfest.com WILDBegins AT • Every “Into the Wild” booth OCTOBER 7-8, 2017 PALMFEST!INDOORS: re-committed for the 2018 Palmfest McAllen Convention Center Live animals, shows and exhibits “Into the Wild” Saturday and Sunday 12:00 - 7:00 pm for students 12 & under FREE • Parking FREE • Admission $5 & families.

HISTORY & MUSEUMS (Room 101) WORLD BIRDING CENTER (Room 103) INTO THE FUTURE (Ballroom Lobby) OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS Science Science Technology & Engineering...... LIVE ANIMALS with Animal Contacto LIVE BIRDS OF PREY with Sky King Falconry Business Education & Technology Academy (BETA) International Museum of Arts & Science Bentsen State Park - World Birding Center South Texas College In public surveys, “Into the Wild” received Palm Art Edinburg Scenic Wetlands- World Birding Center Sylvan Learning Center McAllen Public Utility Estero Llano Grande State Park - WBC the highest ratings. Public comments Technology Old Hidalgo Pumphouse –World Birding Center LARGEST DINOSAUR EXHIBIT (Ballroom) Keep McAllen Beautiful Quinta Mazatlan- World Birding Center Science McAllen Public Utility included praise for having educational Resaca de la Palma - World Birding Center Dinosaur George with over 150 fossils on display Engineering McAllen Public Works SPI Birding & Nature Center - WBC from 230 million years ago to youngest one of Recycling Math & Art 65 million years activities as part of Palmfest. Art & Math VALLEY BIRD FAMILIES Art Exhibit McAllen Pop-up Library Art by Garza Elementary Students featuring over NATURE & HISTORY McAllen Heritage Center 500 species of birds that have been seen in the RGV. (Outside Festival Grounds) Art Science LRGV NATURE ROOM (Room 102) CURIOSITY CORNER FOR TOTS LIVE OCELOT with the Texas Zoo Science Art by Lakeshore Learning & Quinta Mazatlan Bear Clan (Teepee - Native Dances - Stories) LIVE REPTILES with Danny Connor City of McAllen Mayor’s Monarch Pledge “This was the BEST PALMFEST EVER, Coastal Studies Laboratory Frontera Audubon and I’ve been coming here for years!” Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge McAllen Nature Center Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge Sea Turtle Inc. — grandfather with family of school age READING NOOK (Cyber Café) Receive STEAM stickers for a FREE prize! Art children, after completing the COSTUME CHARACTERS AND BOOK READING “Into the Wild” passports. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak “Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon “A Frog Thing” by Eric Drachman AHEAD!

FULL SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ARTS MATHEMATICS

10 11 SUPPORTING Questions WHAT DID YOU DO TO UPDATE / CHANGE THIS PROGRAM FROM THE YEAR BEFORE? WERE YOUR UPDATES/ CHANGES SUCCESSFUL? PLEASE PROVIDE MEASURABLE RESULTS / EXAMPLES.

UPDATES & CHANGES SUCCESS / MEASURABLE After launching the first “Into the Wild” in RESULTS: 2016, changes and updates were made for • Over 7,000 people walked through the the 2017 “Into the Wild”: rooms of Into the Wild at Palmfest.

• A new major exhibit was added to “Into the • The Dinosaur George Fossil and Bone Wild” in 2017: Dinosaur George. The entire exhibit in the Convention Center ballroom ballroom of the Convention Center was was packed throughout the festival, and filled with over 400 dinosaur bones. reported by many visitors to be the highlight of the whole Palmfest festival. • “First Robotics” organized booths to allow children hands-on coding and robotics practice.

• A new regional watershed map model was added to the educational booths of Room 101, highlighting to visitors where their water came from, and how it is distributed.

• A world rock display was added to the “Rock River” in Room 102, expanding the science education of Into the Wild into the realm of geology.

• Nature presentations took place outdoors as well as indoors, to maximize the room space for organization exhibits inside.

• Extra effort was made to market the S.T.E.A.M. activities of Into the Wild to schools.

12 13 SUPPORTING Materials PRINTED MATERIALS

Your INTOAdventure THE WILDBegins AT www.palmfest.com INDOORS: PALMFEST!Live animals, OCTOBER 7-8, 2017 shows and exhibits McAllen Convention Center for students Saturday and Sunday 12:00 - 7:00 pm & families. 12 & under FREE • Parking FREE • Admission $5 Ballroom Lobby) Room 103) INTO THE FUTURE ( WORLD BIRDING CENTER ( Technology & Engineering...... HISTORY & MUSEUMS (Room 101) Science Science Business Education & Technology Academy (BETA) LIVE BIRDS OF PREY with Sky King Falconry LIVE ANIMALS with Animal Contacto South Texas College Bentsen State Park - World Birding Center International Museum of Arts & Science Sylvan Learning Center PALMFEST BANNER Palm Art Edinburg Scenic Wetlands- World Birding Center McAllen Public Utility Estero Llano Grande State Park - WBC LARGEST DINOSAUR EXHIBIT (Ballroom) Technology Old Hidalgo Pumphouse –World Birding Center Science Keep McAllen Beautiful Quinta Mazatlan- World Birding Center Dinosaur George with over 150 fossils on display McAllen Public Utility Resaca de la Palma - World Birding Center from 230 million years ago to youngest one of Engineering SPI Birding & Nature Center - WBC 65 million years McAllen Public Works Math & Art Recycling VALLEY BIRD FAMILIES Art Exhibit NATURE & HISTORY Art & Math Art by Garza Elementary Students featuring over (Outside Festival Grounds) McAllen Pop-up Library 500 species of birds that have been seen in the RGV. McAllen Heritage Center Science Art LIVE OCELOT with the Texas Zoo CURIOSITY CORNER FOR TOTS LRGV NATURE ROOM (Room 102) Bear Clan (Teepee - Native Dances - Stories) Art by Lakeshore Learning & Quinta Mazatlan Science City of McAllen Mayor’s Monarch Pledge LIVE REPTILES with Danny Connor Coastal Studies Laboratory Frontera Audubon Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge McAllen Nature Center Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge Sea Turtle Inc. for a FREE prize! Receive STEAM stickers READING NOOK (Cyber Café) Art COSTUME CHARACTERS AND BOOK READING “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak PALMFEST TICKET “Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon ARTS MATHEMATICS AHEAD! TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING

“A Frog Thing” by Eric Drachman FULL SCIENCE FLYER

COLORING PAGE PALMFEST POSTER

12 13 PROMOTIONAL/MARKETING/MEDIA MATERIALS

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

14 15 SUPPORTING PHOTOGRAPHS

14 15 Tangible and Intangible RESULTS

TANGIBLE RESULTS INTANGIBLE RESULTS • 7000 people walked through • Children had access to STEAM education “Into the Wild” exhibit rooms • Raised awareness of the need for • 3500 people earned a polished gemstone STEAM education for participating in at least 10 STEAM • Over 35 organizations raised awareness education activities of their location and opportunities to • Elementary schools colored and spend time in the outdoors, connect with researched the 535 bird species of the nature, or learn about our history LRGV for an Into the Wild art exhibit. and culture. • 75 “Wild Art” palmfronds were painted by • Access to live creatures helped children community teens and adults for an Into overcome their fears of wild animals, and the Wild art exhibit. raises their interest in visiting them in the various nature parks.