Back to School Rodeo to wrangle information, entertainment
Local school districts and community businesses, agencies and nonprofit organizations will all be wrangled together under one roof for the city of Yuma's inaugural Back to School Rodeo.
Over 50 booths will be at the free even from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 28 at the Yuma Civic Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive, said Martha Guzman, city public affairs coordinator.
In addition to opportunities for K-8 students and their parents to meet with local school staff and personnel before school begins, children will receive free health screenings, haircuts, vision screenings and learn about topics such as crime prevention, fire safety, health and nutrition.
“The Back to School Rodeo is a family-friendly event providing an opportunity to increase awareness and availability of education, health and social services for parents and children through interactive, informative presentations, displays and entertainment,” said Guzman, noting that the initial idea was suggested by Councilwoman Leslie McClendon.
“As a ‘one-stop' destination, our focus is to help students with all of their school related needs.”
School districts will have information on how to register, the school schedule, bus routes and school nutrition. Crane and Yuma Elementary School District 1 staff and Harvest Preparatory Academy personnel will be available.
Sunset Community Health Center will provide immunizations as well as body mass, height and weight screenings.
The Yuma Police Department will be on hand to teach kids and parents about a variety of topics, including bike safety and stranger danger.
After-school activity booths will have information about extracurricular activities including karate, dance, hockey and Special Olympics.
Every half-hour, various presentations and performances will be taking place on the main stage area in the civic enter's Yuma Room.
Although the event is free, attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable foot items for the Yuma Community Food Bank.
“We really want to help them out with a food drive as they continue to feed families in our community,” Guzman explained. “If kids don't eat then they're not going to be successful in school.”
The first 500 children through the door will receive a city of Yuma drawstring backpack. Raffles and craft projects will also be offered during the event.
Guzman said she hopes to expand offerings to high school students as well in future events.
For more information about the event, call 373-5040.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
1. Yuma Parks & Recreation kids activities
2. Home Depot
3. Lowe's
4. Chicanos Por La Causa/Migrant Head Start
WEST WING
1. Yuma Police Department
2. Yuma Fire Department
3. Boy Scouts
YUMA ROOM
1. Crane School District
2. Dance Makers
3. Dawn's Dance Studio/Jazz of Yuma
4. Yuma In-Line Hockey League
5. Yuma Youth Fast Pitch
6. Yuma Youth Soccer
7. Yuma Boys Baseball League
8. Catch n' Go Flag Football
9. Cenpatico
10. Special Olympics Arizona River Area
11. S.M.I.L.E. Independent Living Center
12. Yuma Ballet Academy/Ballet Yuma
13. Harvest Preparatory Academy
14. Z Fun Factory/Waylon's Water World
15. Yuma School District 1
16. Chicanos Por La Causa/Migrant Head Start
17. Saddles of Joy
18. Yuma Police Department
19. Stars Learning Center
20. Larios Karate Club
21. Reach Out & Read
22. YMCA
23. Z TrendZ
24. Yuma Art Center
25. Yuma Parks & Recreation
26. Boys & Girls Club
27. Barnes & Noble
28. Easter Seals Blake Foundation
29. First Things First
30. Fret Works!
31. Mr. B's Bicycles
32. Yuma Sun
33. Crossroads Mission
34. Yuma County Dentists
35. Child & Family Resources
36. Arizona Game & Fish
37. YCITPA
38. Yuma County Library District
39. Yuma County Sheriff's Office Explorers
40. Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center
41. Yuma Community Food Bank
42. Yuma Regional Medical Center
43. Yuma Co. Health Services District
44. Dr. Sam Carroll – Dentist
45. El Dorado Broadcasting
EAST WING
1. JCPenney – haircuts
2. Patricia Miranda – haircuts
3. First Smiles – Yuma
4. Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona
5. Regional Center for Border Health
6. San Luis Walk-In Clinic
7. Sunset Community Health
8. Walmart Vision Center
9. Corona Optique
