Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA) is back in Badgerland this spring with a variety of in-person events and opportunities for people of all ages to find new ways of learning and get creative.
From April 22-30, southern Wisconsin will host its second annual RLDAA with the help of Kathe Crowley Conn, CEO of WeThinkBig. These educational events and learning opportunities will include hands-on arts projects, outdoor learning, science, technology and more.
Among the events that Crowley Conn is looking forward to: On April 22, organizer Kia Karlen will host an Earth Day Seed Balls event at the Madison Children’s Museum. Kids grouped from pre-K to third grade will create seed balls full of soil, clay and water in order to support pollinators in their neighborhoods. They’ll help replenish areas where native plants are scarce and have fun learning a bit of science along the way.
On April 23, organizer Amy Mitchell will host Coding for Kids at the Beloit Public Library. This event will give kids who play computer games an inside look at how these games really work.
Along with kid-focused and family-focused events, educators will also find learning opportunities. The festival offers unique Professional Development sessions tailored to out-of-school educators, childcare providers and other non-traditional educators to help them assist their students in reaching their full potential.
Among this year’s options for educators is a virtual event called Teaching About Careers in the Forest. This event from the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education is designed to help middle and high school teachers and support staff find more resources to introduce their students to the many fascinating careers that relate to forests.
As the festival dates approach, more events are being added that explore the festival’s various learning themes, including the arts, youth voice and more. Crowley Conn is excited to see these learning opportunities being made available for so many people in the region, whether they plan to attend events out in the community or log in from home. This year’s virtual events are expected to be just as engaging and immersive as the many in-person events.
CAREGIVERS AND KIDS
RLDAA Badgerland particularly prides itself on bringing multiple generations together through hands-on learning, Crowley Conn says. The theme of this year’s RLDAA festival is “Explore, Wonder and Learn Together” and that’s something the Badgerland team sees as a priority — giving parents and kids as many opportunities as possible to engage in wondering and learning together.
When young learners make discoveries with their parents and caregivers, the whole family grows their sense of creativity and capability. These events also help families discover learning resources in their community available through a wide range of arts, education, and cultural organizations. RLDAA events often help families discover afterschool programs or interesting classes they didn’t realize existed in their community.
This diversity of organizations has been crucial in the development of the RLDAA festival in Badgerland, and Crowley Conn is excited to see it coming together again this year thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many educators, sponsors and families.
Remake Learning Days in southern Wisconsin is made possible through multiple local partnerships with universities, arts organizations, businesses, nonprofits like We Think Big, and also local schools and local media. Badgerland is a close-knit community that comes together for community festivals, making RLDAA a natural fit for the region.
Many thanks to the national sponsor The Grable Foundation and national partners — Remake Learning, PBS KIDS, Common Sense Media, Learning Heroes and Digital Promise — for their generosity and commitment to family-friendly festivals.