Hands-On Learning Fair is April 14 The 16th annual Hands-On Learning Fair, a community celebration featuring exciting learning activities for children birth through age seven and informational exhibits for parents, will take place at the Purpur Arena Saturday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A city proclamation at 9:45 a.m. starts the event, which is centered on the theme, "Building Better Futures for All Children." Approximately 2,500 parents, children, and volunteers participated in last year’s Learning Fair. Creative art, language, science, math, sensory exploration, dramatic play, music, games, and stories are among the many choices of age-appropriate activities for children attending the Hands-On Learning Fair. There is also a parent/infant interaction area designed for the very young. Emphasis is on active involvement in the learning process, rather than entertainment, with learning as its own reward. Adults guide children in their explorations, allowing the youngsters to experience the joy of discovery. The Hands-On Learning Fair is a free family event to mark April as the Month of the Young Child and Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. Young children and their families will have the opportunity to engage in the learning experiences together. The Hands-On Learning Fair is sponsored by the Northeast Chapter of the North Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children (NENDAEYC) and Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota. Local early childhood programs and many other entities involved in early education and development provide the learning activities. These professionals plan and carry out the educational experiences on a voluntary basis, applying the same commitment and expertise with which they engage in their regular early care and education responsibilities. The 2007 Hands-On Learning Fair will again be complemented by Dakota Science Center’s Super Science Saturday, to be held concurrently at the Gambucci Arena for families of elementary and middle school children. In addition, Boy Scouts of America will be holding their annual Scout Show in conjunction with Super Science Saturday and the Hands-On Learning Fair. Community partners in planning this year’s Hands-On Learning Fair are Grand Forks County Social Services, Tri-Valley Child Care Resource and Referral, Healthy Families, Northland Community and Technical College Early Childhood Program, Safe Kids Grand Forks, Parent Information Center, Lakes and Prairies Child Care Resource and Referral, Dakota Science Center, and Boy Scouts of America. Many area businesses, institutions, and individuals donate goods and services for the celebration. These include the Grand Forks Park District, UND, retail businesses, and service clubs. Their support, added to the hundreds of hours contributed by early childhood educators, has helped to realize 15 years of success for this family event and to keep it free of charge. For further information contact: Judy Milavetz, Hands-On Learning Fair coordinator, 775-4473 (H) or judy.milavetz@und.edu Dawnita Nilles, president NENDAEYC, 780-8408 (W) or 18nild@state.nd.us -- Jo-Anne Yearwood, Director, University Childrens Center, joanneyearwood@mail.und.nodak.edu, 701-777-3947