SPENCER, Iowa — The Clay County Regional Events Center and Positively Spencer Youth will host Clay County’s 7th Annual Family Fest at the Clay County Regional Events Center on Saturday, March 4th from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Family Fest is free for all to attend and is open to the public.
Families can enjoy activities for all ages and learn about what local businesses, groups and organizations can do for families. This year will include a “FanZone” including hourly meet and greets with area and state mascots and athletes, including ISU’s Cy, the Spencer High Tiger and Iowa Lakes Community College Pirate Jack. As an added attraction to the “FanZone”, Spencer Municipal Utilities will be bringing MLB Network’s Pitch Toss Inflatable, giving kids a chance to try out their pitching skills and win prizes from MLB Network.
Safety City will be back with police cars and ambulance, while local law enforcement, firefighters and EMT staff will be available to talk to kids. Included this year will be a smoke trailer where kids and families can learn first hand about fire safety. New with Safety City this year, attendees can view the H.E.A.T. Tactical Vehicle, used throughout Northwest Iowa in High-risk Entry and Arrest Team situations.
An electric service truck with a trencher for kids to see up close and touch, as well as demonstrations on how to locate for underground electric service will be part of SMU’s activities. There will also be a transformer set up where kids can have some hands on experience.
“We are excited to be part of family fest again this year and have some neat hands on activities planned. Kids will get to see an electric service truck up close, as well as see what it is like to be a lineman,” says Amanda Gloyd, SMU marketing & community relations manager.
ISU Extension and Outreach Clay County is back with exciting activities for 4-H Find-out Day, including bunny hopping and dog obedience courses. New this year, Extension will bring a FLEx Trailer and Bee-Bots. The Bee-Bot robots are designed for young children, are easy to operate, and are a perfect tool for teaching sequencing, estimation, problem solving, and just having fun. FLEx is a mobile learning program for advanced design technology benefitting 3rd through 12th students and beyond in a 21st century paradigm. Structured around STEM, design thinking, 21st Century skills, and University Constructs (4 C’s), this environment extends distant educational offerings by delivering full-scale augmented and virtual visualization, digital to real prototyping, circuit bending and visual programming.
Amy Forrette, director of youth programming at ISU Extension and Outreach says, “We’re excited to bring some new additions to Family Fest this year. The Bee-Bots are colorful and easy to operate for young children making it a perfect teaching tool. Interactive virtual reality and 3D printing are becoming increasingly popular technologies. We are excited to bring in the opportunity for kids to experience them first hand through the FLEx Trailer.”
STEM activities provided by Iowa Lakes Community College will be back at Family Fest this year with hands-on games and activities. ILCC offers an exciting and fun way for kids to have a chance to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. There will also be a KidZone sponsored by Spencer Family YMCA that will have a number of activities including a Gaga Pit and a giant parachute.
“The Spencer Family YMCA is excited to be a part of a great family focused event. In support of Healthy Living and Youth Development the Y will be providing activities in the KidZone including our new Gaga Pit, a giant parachute and kid Hopper activities,” says Jennifer Coffman, membership and marketing director. “We’re looking forward to being a part of the KidZone where kids can be involved in various activities.”
The Clay County Regional Events Center and Positively Spencer Youth would like to thank the sponsors who help make this event a success: Farmers Trust & Savings Bank, Spencer Hospital, Spencer Municipal Utilities, Spencer Family YMCA, Community Bank, Iowa Lakes Community College, Arnold Motor Supply and the Spencer Jaycees.
— Clay County Fair
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