After a most challenging year for education, what if you and your children could enjoy hundreds of free events that remind the whole family just how fun learning can be? 

For the first time, Northwestern Pennsylvania is participating in the national Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA) festival, which will bring a 10-day celebration of learning to our region. Northwestern Pennsylvania will host 60 local events (some in person, others virtual, and a few hybrid) between May 6 and 16 as part of the festival, with access to 400+ additional virtual events happening nationwide. 

The Remake Learning Days festival was created in Pittsburgh in 2016 and has grown to include 17 regions of the country this year. Organizer Kelsi Wilcox Boyles is glad that our region has joined that group.

“We were really excited to join and work with our community partners to create a great festival in our own backyard,” says Wilcox Boyles, Education Program Specialist at Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 in Clarion, a regional education agency providing support for more than 20 public schools, non-public schools, and career and technical centers in western Pennsylvania. “For me, it was a no-brainer, a win for everyone involved, our PreK-12 schools and early learning centers, higher-ed colleges and universities, local libraries, community centers, AND especially our local families.”

The past year has been challenging for parents, students and schools. “Having something that is refreshing and different,” she says, will offer a much-needed break “from the same day in and day out that has been happening.”

A small sampling of regional events are listed below: 

• “Take & Makes” from local schools and community libraries: 
  • Take and Make: LEGOS Candy Dispenser
  • Take and Make: Mother’s Day Paper Circuit Card
  • Take and Make: Static Electric Tissue Paper Butterflies
• Virtual Events:
  • Let’s Make Frittatas!: Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro
  • Art Lessons with Erie Art & Culture
  • Bot or Not? Exploring Artificial Intelligence with Families
• Community Scavenger Hunts  
  • Falcon Foragers (Emlenton)
  • Oiler Community (Oil City)
  • Titusville Treasures (Titusville)
• Community Family Days: 
  • Full STEAM Ahead Family Day (Slippery Rock)
  • Family Fun UN-Fest (Indiana)
  • Spring at the Springs (Emlenton) 
  • Taking Learning Outside Day (Titusville)

While over half of the regional and national events are virtual, they all involve some level of hands-on learning, which is a focus of Remake Learning Days. 

“Kids can use many household items to participate in these activities from home,” says Michael Hale, supervisor of school improvement services at Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5 in Edinboro. This hands-on experience helps make “that direct connection of education to be more intentional for students.” 

Northwest Tri-County is among five Intermediate Units in northwestern Pennsylvania organizing this year’s Northwestern PA region’s festival.  

Being part of Remake Learning Days also connects local event hosts with a bigger network, says Hale. “They can all benefit from the attention that each of the individual events are going to be getting. That’s what’s exciting — everybody can benefit from everybody else’s involvement.”

For families, the benefit is all about discovering just how many cool learning experiences are available in the region. 

“For these 10 days in May, there’s plenty to do, to learn with your family, to get out and engage with these community partners,” Wilcox Boyles says. In the process, you’ll discover innovative learning opportunities that are available year-round. 

As they discover cool summer camps, fun summer learning programs and more, Wilcox Boyles says,  “families will see the pockets of innovation and opportunities available for their children.”

More information about Remake Learning Days events in Northwestern Pennsylvania can be found here: https://remakelearningdays.org/northwesternpa/

Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA) is led by Remake Learning, a network that ignites engaging, relevant, and equitable learning practices in support of young people navigating rapid social and technological change. National partners of RLDAA include PBS Kids, Digital Promise, Common Sense Media, Learning Heroes and Noggin. RLDAA is generously supported by The Grable Foundation, The Hewlett Foundation, Schmidt Futures, Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation. Follow RLDAA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the hashtag #RemakeDays. 

Remake Learning Days of Northwestern PA fosters educational curiosity as it relates to science, technology, maker, arts, and outdoor learning. Regional organizers include Midwestern IU IV, Northwest Tri-County IU#5, Riverview Intermediate Unit #6, Seneca Highlands IU#9, and Armstrong Indiana IU#28 and various event hosts across the region including schools, libraries, nonprofits, businesses, and other community centers. Visit https://remakelearningdays.org/northwesternpa/ for more information or follow Remake Learning Days using #RemakeDaysNWPA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.