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

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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
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