Summer Skoolie

This summer, families connected over dinner and activities through Community Education's Summer Skoolie initiative. Skoolie, a colorful bus, became the hub of activities in four cities in District 833. For eight weeks, the bus made weekly stops at schools including Armstrong, Newport, Pullman and Royal Oaks elementary schools.

Through the initiative kids and their families had the opportunity to conduct science experiments, drive robots, jump in bounce houses, and make friendship bracelets, bookmarks and slime. In addition, kids and families met police officers, firefighters and local officials from their respective communities.

Summer Skoolie began in 2018 as a partnership with No Kid Hungry and Second Harvest Heartland to provide summer meals to children in the community. This summer, with the help of SoWashCo CARES and many local generous sponsors, Summer Skoolie was able to expand its purpose – to provide family fun for all in a safe and welcoming environment so youth, families and the broader community can come together to connect.

Local sponsors included 3M, 3M Wizards, All Saints Lutheran, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Costco, Cottage Grove Lions, District 833 high school robotics teams, District 833 Nutrition Services, Girl Scouts, Girl Onward, The Grove Church, Hiway Federal Credit Union, Hy-Vee, Light the Way Church, Mik Mart Ice Cream, Newport Farmer's Market, Newport Library, No Knots, Nunnabove (band), Park Grove Library, Park and Recreation Departments from the cities of Cottage Grove and Woodbury, River Valley Church, SNAP Outreach, St. Thomas Aquinas, Washington County Health Department, Woodbury Baptist, Woodbury Lutheran, Woodbury Rotary, Woodbury Thrives, YMCA and Youth Service Bureau.

“With the overwhelmingly positive feedback we’ve received from the communities we’ve been in, in addition to the over 5,000 meals that were served, you can bet that if our local businesses and churches are willing to partner with us again, we’ll be back next summer as well,” says Youth Programs Coordinator Sue McKeown.

Skoolie will continue to make appearances in the community through the school year. Track Skoolie’s location through the Community Education Facebook Page at facebook.com/SoWashCoCE or at ce.sowashco.org/community/ce_skoolie.