Photo Credit: Blue Valley Recreation
The kids were lined up along the outside of the partition, faces pressed against smooth glass and eyes wide with amazement. They marveled at the construction equipment digging a deep hole on the other side of the wall. Equipment as large as the dinosaurs they studied in summer camp was scooping dirt from the soon-to-be indoor aquatic center, and the kids were mesmerized. The glass wall was needed for safety purposes: kids on construction sites are not a good fit—but kids and construction vehicles could be. As recreation professionals, we constantly look for programs and events relevant to our communities. When I saw dozens of kids watching the construction vehicles build the natatorium, I realized the opportunity.
Birth Of A Community Event
Blue Valley Recreation Commission’s Touch-A-Truck in Overland, Kan., was started 11 years ago as a way to reach children in the agency’s service area, but it became more than that. The event strengthened community ties. As the first experience of its type in the metro area, was an opportunity for preschoolers ages 3 to 6 (with an adult) to experience hands-on the very vehicles they were looking at from behind the glass. It was natural to open the event further and turn local businesses into community partners. Hospitals, city municipalities, tow truck services, and even FedEx now look forward to the face-to-face communication.
Not Just For Kids
Companies send the vehicles to the event at their own expense, and drivers often volunteer their time, so it’s crucial to make them feel important. While the vehicles may not arrive to much pomp and circumstance, all exhibitors are treated as VIPs. Each one is welcomed upon entering the area and given a sign with the agency’s logo and the company name displayed for all to see. This is done because sometimes it’s difficult to see the company’s name on a vehicle. The signs help parents make a connection between vehicle and exhibitor. After booths and vehicles are set, fresh fruit, coffee, and pastries are waiting. Later, during the event, staff members personally deliver a special “thank-you” basket. This atmosphere creates a family feel with business owners, vehicle drivers, and patrons engaging in friendly conversation.