Exploration Station will be unveiled tonight during Friday After 5!
Because of the “rain in” at FA5, the newly wrapped bus will be parked inside the Owensboro Convention Center Exhibit Hall #2.
- 4:15: Ribbon cutting
- 5:00: Launch Party/Book Drive
Immediately following the GO Chamber Ribbon Cutting, the Exploration Station Launch Party & Book Drive will begin. The public is invited to tour Exploration Station and drop off age-appropriate (toddler to teen) books. Books collected will be taken into neighborhoods this summer and given to children and teens with little access to reading material during the summer.
Exploration Station has been ‘wrapped’ by SFG with an engaging motif depicting a wide variety of thought-inspiring graphic elements. In addition to ‘wrapping’ Exploration Station, SFG has made an investment in the interior. The inside of Exploration Station has been designed with an Internet café feel that includes state-of-the-art high capacity Wifi, two large screen monitors, a dedicated laptop and a wireless printing station.
“We are proud to be a title sponsor of this project as it will serve as a vital platform in the drive for educational excellence. As a long standing member of the Daviess County community, we are pleased to be able to engage with and enrich our neighbors’ lives through endeavors such as Exploration Station,” said Ric Herrera, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Specialty Foods Group.
Exploration Station is scheduled to be at every Friday After 5 from May 20 – Aug 5.
“With more than 60 neighborhood visits planned for June and July, we will make a significant impact with our students who struggle academically,” said Jimmy Lyddane, DCPS Director of Elementary Schools. “Schools utilizing Exploration Station this summer for individual and group directed learning include Audubon, Country Heights, East View, Meadow Lands, Sorgho, Southern Oaks and Whitesville. 7 schools – 9 neighborhoods – 7 weeks during June and July. Principals and staff involved in Exploration Station’s summer program believe in this so strongly, the majority of them are volunteering their time for the kids.”
Organizers are borrowing laptops and other devices from DCPS this summer to provide services and take resources out to kids.
Businesses and individuals interested in helping the Foundation provide educational enhancements for students are encouraged to contact Vicki Quisenberry (270.231.5583 or [email protected]). A summer schedule for Exploration Station is available on the Foundation website.
WHY Exploration Station?
“Research indicates that most students learn at about the same rate,” said Caleb York, Audubon Elementary School Principal. “Summer Slide is the ‘loss of learning’ over a period of time that occurs in students who do not have consistent access to educational materials. For some students, Summer Slide can equate to a two-to-three month backtrack. I am looking forward to bringing meaningful learning experiences to our students and families this summer.”
“When principals asked the Foundation to assist with providing a conduit for addressing Summer Slide, I knew we had to step up our game and help these kids overcome barriers to education,” stated Quisenberry. “In addition to addressing Summer Slide, Exploration Station has recently been designated an approved Summer Feeding Program site during June and July. DCPS staff will provide meals to students who visit. We will begin working on the school year schedule this summer and plan to add after-school tutoring, FAFSA and college application assistance, Leader-in-Me, fall festivals and other activities.”
Participant Comments
“The School Nutrition Department is thrilled to have another opportunity to support student education in Daviess County!” exclaimed Lisa Sims, DCPS School Nutrition Director.
“Our title sponsor, SFG, has been instrumental in making Exploration Station a reality,” said Quisenberry. “We’ve added some major advertisers just recently including Domtar. Exploration Station is the perfect opportunity for local businesses to become engaged in educational efforts: current DCPS students are their future customers and employees. We truly appreciate local support and are looking forward to working with those dedicated to impacting children and education in our community through Exploration Station.”
From Whitesville Elementary School Principal, Cindy Appleby: “The opportunity to offer Whitesville and Knottsville’s students the Exploration Station is amazing! Our students live primarily in rural communities and live miles from the public library so having access to books all summer will be a treat. Our Exploration Station Team is working hard to plan fun weekly visits to our two communities filled with science experiments, art activities, and physical activities. Our mission is to reduce the summer slide when our students return next fall.”
From Meadow Lands Elementary School Principal, Kevin Lowe: “Students and families will benefit from the Exploration Station in many ways! Students will learn throughout the summer by taking advantage of the opportunities provided through the program. Meadow Lands students will be reading year-round by being able to check out texts and take accelerated reader tests through resources provided on Exploration Station. Exploration Station is a win-win for the MLES community! The community also benefits in knowing the students learn no matter where they are including in a bus or in school.”
Jennifer Humphrey, Principal of Southern Oaks Elementary School, stated, “We are very excited about being able to offer a way for our students to continue reading over the summer with support from our staff through Exploration Station!”
