For immediate release: February 15, 2008

BLOOMSBURG — Early childhood and elementary education students at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania will get hands-on experience working with children at the 18th annual Children’s Fair on Saturday, Feb. 23. The fair, featuring activity booths for children up to the age of 12, will be held at the Columbia Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public free of charge.

BU students in three early childhood education courses will volunteer at the event, according to Joy Bechtold, assistant professor of early childhood and elementary education. Students in Bechtold’s Methods and Materials course have planned several hands-on activities for children. Students will also help children decorate bags and help at other community booths. The Cat in the Hat will make an appearance, thanks to BU student volunteers.
Working with community members at the event will be a valuable learning experience for students, according to Bechtold. “Within early childhood education, working with both parents and children is so important, and this provides our students with a different venue to gain experience.”

This is the first year that Bloomsburg University has partnered with other community organizations and businesses to participate in the Children’s Fair. “We are trying to expand our program’s relationship with the community, especially the early childhood community, and this is one way Bloomsburg University can be involved,” Bechtold said.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 8,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Professional Studies, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.