El Día de los Niños

How Idaho Communities celebrated in: 2007 / 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

2007

Garden City 

Sponsoring organizations: Lolly Wyatt Head Start and Garden City Public Library 
Contact: Julie Armstrong /  Phone Number: 429-0012 /  E-mail: jarmstrong@focaf.org
Date of celebration: April 27, 2007
Location of Celebration: Garden City Library- 9115 Chinden Blvd. Garden City, ID 83714
Free books: No
Our celebration plans: Booths set up by various community groups.

2006

American Falls |Blackfoot |Boise |Caldwell | Chubbuck | Coeur d'Alene |Hailey | Jerome | McCall |Meridian |Mountain Home | Pocatello area |

American Falls
Contact: Emily Johnson (208) 226-2335
Primary Organizer: American Falls District Library
On April 28th from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, the American Falls District Library is hosting an event that will include the high school jazz band, games, crafts, prizes, snacks and balloons for all children in the community. One hundred and fifty people are expected to attend. The Bingham Co-op is a co-sponsor.

Blackfoot"5 de mayo celebración"Primary organizer: United Way of SE IdahoA family and children activity day will be held on May 6th from 10 am to 5 pm in Blackfoot. 

Boise 

1) "Head Start/Early Head Start Día de los Niños Day"
Contact: Marc Swinney (208) 344-9187
Primary Organizer: Friends of Children and Families, Inc. (Head Start)
Head Start will hold a parent appreciation night on April 28th, a community appreciation day, and will celebrate with the children in their classrooms with a min-parade in Cassia Park. The community partners will be invited for lunch with the children and families. They will also partner with First Books to give away free books as drawing and door prizes.

2) "El Día de los Niños Celebration"
Contact: Melinda Mahr (208) 426-4404
Primary organizer: Boise State University Children's Center
The Children's Center will hold their event on April 28th in partnership with other Boise State student organizations including the Cultural Center, Bilingual Club, and the Organizatcion de Estudiantes. Expected to participate are over 130 BSU students, faculty and staff, parents and children enrolled in the BSU Children's Center.

3) "Celebration of Children and Families"
Contact: Sunny Reed, (208) 424-0943
Primary Organizer: Idaho's Heart
The event will be held at the Discovery Center of Idaho on Saturday, April 29th from 10 am to 6:30 pm. In addition to free access to the Discovery Center of Idaho, event organizers will sponsor various crafts and activities at tables and booths inside the Center. Highlights include the Ada County Sheriff's SWAT Mini-Kids Obstacle Course and Monster Truck, and various emergency vehicles for tours and presentations. The event will also honor animal involvement by St. Luke's Therapy Dogs, Boise Police Department Horse Patrol, and Ada County K-9 Unit. The Boise Public Library will host a celebrity reading corner from 10 am to 5 pm with special readings by local celebrities including Boise Chief Masterson and various local sports icons. Up to 2,000 families representing Boise elementary and junior high schools are expected.

Partners include: Ada County Sheriff, Boise Parks and Recreation, Boise Public Library's Youth Services Department, Boise State University's Organization of Student Social Workers, CASI Foundation for Children, Cyndee Waterhouse, Elmore County CASA, Exchange Club of Boise, Family Advocacy Program, Foresters, Friends of Children and Families Head Start, Horseshoe Bend School District, Idaho Air National Guard, Idaho Association of Education for Young Children, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine, Idaho Youth Ranch, Idaho's Heart, Inc., Junior League of Boise, Mountain Home Public Library, Pioneer School of the Arts, Safe Place Ministries, SANE Solutions Program, Shepherd's Home, St. Luke's Children's Hospital, Warm Springs Counseling Center, and Women's and Children's Alliance.

Sponsors include: Friends of Children and Families Head Start, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Foerstel Design, Idaho Children's Trust Fund, Regence Blue Shield, and Maggie Moos'.

CaldwellContact: Yolanda de Leon (208) 713-2785Organizer: Canyon County El Día Partners Caldwell is celebrating their 4th El Día event on Sunday, April 30th from 2 to 5 PM in Serenity Park next to the Caldwell Public Library. It will be a family fun-filled event with over 40 booths that will be providing children's activities, a parade, musical entertainment, and book give aways. Organizers expect over 4,000 people to attend. Co-sponsors are: Caldwell School District, Caldwell Public Library, KWEI Radio, Primero Familieas Service Coordination Agency, Senator Crapo's Caldwell Office, Commission on Hispanic Affairs, WICAP Head Start, IMC Head Start, Caldwell YMCA, Caldwell Even Start, Caldwell Success by Six, Treasure Valley First Book Board, local businesses and others)

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Chubbuck - see Pocatello area

Coeur d'Alene"Celebrate Children and Literacy"Primary Organizer: The Harding Family Center (208) 666-6761, ext. 118The whole family is invited on Thursday, April 27th from 1:30 to 4 pm for a celebration which includes a bilingual puppet show, bubbles, hook-a-book, family pictures, art and literacy activities, and refreshments. Co-sponsors include: camp Fire USA, ICAE, Kootenai Head Start, Mountain States Head Start, and North Idaho Parents as Teachers.

HaileyContact: LeAnn Gelskey (208) 788-2036Primary Organizer: Hailey Public LibraryOn April 26th at 10:30 am, the library will host a bilingual story time for children under 4 years and their parents with a kid's safety presentation by an officer from the Blaine County Sheriff's Office. 

Jerome Contact: Linda Henderson (208) 324-5427Primary Organizer: Jerome Public LibraryOn April 27th from 3:30 to 5 pm, the Jerome Public Library will host a bilingual program featuring a bilingual skit, storytime, dancers, music, and a craft. The program is expected to attract 100 to 150 children and adults. Partners are the Catholic Charities of Idaho, the Beach Club Mentors, and the Jerome Head Start. Children will receive free books. 

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McCallContact: Meg Lojek (208) 634-5522Primary organizer: McCall Public LibraryOn April 28th from 3-5 p.m., children will parade from McCall Elementary School to McCall Public Library. They will carry colored streamers. Local mariachi band will play. Bilingual game/book will be followed by face painting and piñatas. Up to 130 children kindergarten through 5th graders are expected to participate. Children will receive a free book. Co-sponsors are Chapala Mexican Restaurant, Idaho Community Foundation, Idaho Academy of Music and the McCall High School Spanish Club. 

Meridian"Dia de los Ninos / Cinco de Mayo"Contact: Shelly Houston (208) 888-4433Primary organizers: City of Meridian and Boys and Girls ClubThe event will be held on May 5th from 4 to 6 pm at the Meridian Boys and Girls Club and will feature fun, food and games. 

Mountain HomeContact: Robin Murphy Primary Organizers: Mountain Home Public Library and Mountain Home Head StartOn April 28th, Head Start will host a children's art display open to the public. Spanish dancers from the Elmore County Hispanic Organization (ECHO) will perform. There will be a children's parade during the day, a display of art books, and the library will be reproducing bookmarks made by children to celebrate the Day of the Child. The bookmarks will be given out at the library at at the El Día evening event which starts at 8 pm. Books will be given away. Co-sponsor is First Book of Elmore/North Owyhee counties. 

Pocatello / Chubbuck areaContact: Jeanne Farnworth (208) 237-2192Primary organizer: Portneuf District LibraryOn April 29th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Portneuf District Library will host a special event featuring a Dinner and a Book with Dad program, teddy bear parade, literacy stations, free food and books. One hundred twenty children are expected to attend. Up to 130 children kindergarten through 5th graders are expected to participate. Children will receive a free book. Co-sponsors are 4-H, Family Resource Center, Sucess by Six, family Service Alliance, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Head Start. 

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2005

American Falls American Falls District Library:

• Contact Person: Emily Johnson, (208) 226-2335, amlibrary@cableone.net. The library will partner with the school district. Activities are in the planning stage.

Blackfoot area:

• Blackfoot Sixth Grade School - contact person: Amando Álvarez, (208) 785-8838, alvaa@d55.k12.id.us. The Blackfoot Sixth Grade School Hispanic Advisory Council will celebrate El Día del Niño on April 15, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. until noon. The event will take place at the school at 50 S. Shilling Ave. Please come enjoy traditional dancing, piñatas, a book donation from Senator Crapo’s office, Sho-Ban JROTC exercises, and many other literacy-related activities. The event is free and open to the public. Come enjoy this great day of celebration!
• Bingham County Youth Coalition -contact person: David Moore, (208) 785-1235, dmoore@co.bingham.id.us. The Youth Coalition will sponsor a fundraiser. They will also have several activities and service projects for high school students.
• Snake River School/Community Library - contact person: Rhonda Butt, (208) 684-3063, srscl@mindspring.com. The library will partner with the Snake River School District and the HALO club to sponsor a celebration.

Boise area:

• Ada Community Library - contact person: Amanda Pittman, (208) , pittman@adalib.org. The library will host an open house from 1 - 3 pm on the 30th. During that time they will offer crafts, activities, stories and music for all ages.
• Garden City Public Library - contact persons: Diane Matejka, (208) 672-0433 x 15 dmatejka@gardencitylibrary.org. or Gabriela Magnuson. The Garden City Library will celebrate El Día del los Niños on Saturday, April 30, 2005 from 2 to 4 pm. First Lady Patricia Kempthorne will attend the event. Children from the Boise Folkloric Cultural organization will perform Mexican dances at 3 pm. Activities include Alfy the clown entertaining children with balloon sculptures, crafts for parent and child, and face painting. Stories will be told in Spanish and English. Each child will receive a free book courtesy of Treasure Valley Reading Foundation. There will also be booths from Parents as Teachers, with information on early literacy, and the Infant and Toddler Program, with information on immunizations and developmental milestones.
• The Idaho Child Abuse Prevention Coalition - contact person: Sunny Reed, (208) 424-0943, idahosheart@ideasforyou.com. Boise's first official Children's Day Celebration will be held at the Discovery Center of Idaho (131 Myrtle Street, Boise) on April 30th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. First Lady Patricia Kempthorne will attend the event. In addition to free entry into the Discovery Center, the Rhythm Dogs will provide entertainment and Coalition members will host various crafts and children's activities. Additional guests include Boise City Horse Patrol, St Luke's Therapy Dogs, an outdoor obstacle course, Fire Service (including a fire truck and an instructional fire safety house), Patrol Cars, and a Celebrity Reading Corner.
• Meridian District Library - contact: Jillian Subach, (208) , jillian@mld.org. On Thursday, April 28 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. the library will celebrate El Dia de Los Ninos / The Day of the Child with children in Meridian! Join us at the library to see children perform (Irish dancers, junior fiddlers, and more) and showcase their multi-ethnic talents. Snacks too.

Buhl:

• Contact Person: Louise Nofziger, (208) 543-5184, lounof@hotmail.com. The City of Buhl will celebrate the Day of the Child on the Saturday before Easter with a children's parade themed "Hats Off to Children." The children walk or ride bikes (tricycles, wagons, etc.) along a 15 minute parade route. Each child receives a blue ribbon, Read to Me stickers, magnets, bookmar,ks, and coupons from local businesses. Partners in the event include Kiwanas, Head Start, Chamber of Commerce, Buhl C.O.P.S., Buhl City Council, and the Buhl Police Department.

Caldwell:

• Contact Person: Connie Weisgerber, (208) 870-3625, kwei@cableone.net or Candi Ciscell, (208) 459-3242, cciscell@hotmail.com. A community fair will be held in Serenity Park on April 30 from noon to 3:00 pm. First Lady Patricia Kempthorne will attend the event. It will feature free handouts, activities, snacks, educational literature, and entertainment. Community partners include the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the Caldwell School District, the Caldwell Public Library, KWEI Spanish radio station, Head Start, Even Start, Idaho Reads VISTA, and others. Community organizations and businesses are contributing cash and prizes which will include books, party favors, and refreshments. The Caldwell celebration has grown each year and organizers are anticipating at least 2,000 children will attend.

Chubbuck - See listing for Pocatello area.

Coeur d'Alene / Hayden Lake / Post Falls area:

• Haden Branch, Kootenai Shoshone Area Libraries - contact person: Karen Yother, (208) 772-5612, ex 20, karens@cin.kcl.org. The library will partner with the Sons of Norway, high school foreign language classes and North Idaho Health District. Planning is still underway.
• Post Falls Head Start - contact person: Beth Ann Fuller, (208)773-6164, BFuller@nicheadstart.org
• Coeur d’Alene will celebrate El Dia de los Ninos y Libros on Thursday, April 28th from 1:30 to 4:30 at the Harding Family Center (422 N 25th St.). They will have puppet shows, bubbles, snacks, tunnels, and arts and activities.

Emmett:

• Emmett Public Library - contact person: Marsha Werle, (208) 365-6057, mwerle@qwest.net. The library will have a booth at Sports Island in Emmett. There will be games, food and information. Other community sponsors are Starfish Promise Coalition, the Recreation District, and various youth groups.

Garden City See listing for Boise area.

Grand View:

• Eastern Owyhee County District Library - contact person: Kathy Chick, (208) 834-2785, eolibrary@yahoo.com. The library will partner with the elementary school publicity and awareness. They plan to distribute bookmarks, books, and flyers. An activity will be held at the library to include music, dance, international games, and snacks from various cultures.

Hailey:

• Hailey Public Library - contact persons: LeAnn Gelsky and Jeanie Johnston , (208) 788-2036, lgelsky@haileypubliclibrary.org. The library plans to partner with Head Start for a special storytime.

Hayden Lake:

• See listing for Coeur d'Alene.

Idaho Falls:

• Idaho Falls Public Library - contact person: Bonnie Cromwell, (208) 612-8334, bcromwell@ifpl.org. The Idaho Falls Public Library will celebrate childhood and bilingual literacy on Saturday, April 30th, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., with a program featuring four different cultures: American Indian - Navajo, Japanese, Mexican and Scandinavian. Activities will include stories, songs, and a craft from Japan. Participants will make a carp kite, related to a Japanese tradition of flying carp kites for each boy in the family on the day of boys.

Jerome:

• Jerome Public Library - contact persons: Linda Henderson or Shannon Klaas, (208) 324-5427, lhenders@ci.jerome.id.us. The library will hold a celebration on April 30th at 1 pm. It will be held at the library or may move to Moose Park (on the corner). Call the library for information. The event will include Mexican food, dancers, bilingual puppets and crafts. The library will partner with Head Start and VISTA Volunteers.

McCall:

• McCall Public Library Contact person: Meg Lojek or Lida Clouser, (208) 634-5522, library@mccall.id.us. The McCall Elementary School and Chapala's Mexican Restaurant will partner with the McCall Public Library. Children will parade from the school library to the public library where they will hear a mariachi band and every child will receive a free book. The celebration will also include piñatas and art activities.

Meridian See listing for Boise area.

Mountain Home:

• Mountain Home Public Library Contact person: Robin Murphy, (208) 587-4716, rmurphy@mountain-home.us. The library will partner with ECHO, a Hispanic organization. Events are in the planning stage.

New Plymouth:

• Armoral Tuttle Public Library Contact persons: Talya Nay, (208) 278-5338, npl@cableone.net or Rebecca Luna (208-642-2804, reluna@students.TVCC.cc. The library plans informational promotion through the library and the local paper. The library will partner with the school, churches, childcare providers, and businesses. They will hold a storytime and have balloons, handouts and cookies.

Orofino:

• Orofino Clearwater Memorial Public Library - contact person: Ellen Tomlinson, (208) 476-3411, etomlinson.cmp@valnet.org. In the planning stage.

Pocatello area:

• Marshall Public Library, Pocatello Contact person: Kathryn Poulter, (208) 232-1263 x 28, kpoulter@marshallpl.org. The Marshall Public Library will partner with the Portneuf District Library, Pocatello High School, Idaho Unido, and the library board of trustees. Their Día de los Niños events will be held during National Library Week. On April 11th, they will have a Spanish storytime and a Family Reading Night with door prizes, cookies, and lots of stories including tales in Spanish and American Sign Language.
• Portneuf District Library, Chubbuck - contact person: Jeanne Farnworth, (208) 237-2192, Jeanne_Farnworth@hotmail.com. The Portneuf District Library will partner with the Family Resource Center, the Bannock Youth Foundation, the Family Service Alliance and other community organizations to sponsor a children's fair with activity books, prizes, and fun. Post Falls See listing for Coeur d'Alene.

Twin Falls:

• Salvation Army Contact person: Becky Bonnett, (208) 733-8720. The Twin Falls celebration will be held at the Salvation Army thrift store in Twin Falls. Hot dogs and Coca Cola products have been donated. The local radio station will be giving away swimming passes and there will be children's activities and entertainment such as an inflated jumper and clown.
  

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2004

Ada County

Ada Community Library (headquarters) and
Star Branch Library
Contact person: Tamra Hawley-House, (208) 362-0181, thawley@adalib.org

The libraries plan to celebrate with open houses on Friday, April 30th from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. They will have drop-in activities for families including stories, songs, crafts, cookies, and movies (at Ada Community headquarters only).

For other Ada County locations, see Meridian and Garden City below.

Buhl

Contact person: Barbara Gietzen, myrgietzen@filertel.com

The City of Buhl will celebrate the Day of the Child on April 10, 2004 beginning at 9:00 am with a children's parade. Community organizers include the Buhl Public Library, Head Start, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Buhl and the Buhl Kiwanis Club. The celebration theme is "Hats off to Children," and children are encouraged to wear decorated hats, costumes, and ride decorated bicycles or wagons. At 10:00 am an Easter Egg Hunt will be held under the direction of the Buhl Kiwanis Club. The Mayor and City Council will hand out ribbons and coupons from various businesses to all parade participants. The city anticipates 150 children will participate in the parade with more participating in the Hunt. Last year 25,000 plastic eggs containing cash or merchant's certificates were distributed.

Caldwell

Contact person: Connie Weisgerber, (208) 870-3625, kwei@cableone.net

The Caldwell mayor will sign a proclamation earlier in the week, and a community fair will be held in Serenity Park on April 30 from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. It will feature a parade, an appearance by Smokey the Bear, entertainment, and information booths sponsored by the Caldwell Police and Fire Departments, Terry Reilly Health Clinic, the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, BSU Bilingual Education Student Organization, OELA, Girl Scouts, Success by Six, the Caldwell School District, the Caldwell Public Library, KWEI, and others. Idaho Public Television will present a family activity. Community organizations and businesses are contributing cash and prizes which will include books, party favors, and refreshments. Organizers are anticipating at least 500 children will attend.

Garden City

Contact person: Diane Matejka, (208) 672-0433 x 15 dmatejka@gardencitylibrary.org

The Garden City Public Library will host a Spanish storytime and play time at the library on April 30th at 10:15 am. Approximately 30 children and families are expected to attend.

Idaho Falls

Contact person: Amando Alvarez, (208) 529-1334, aalvarez@ifpl.org

The Idaho Falls Public Library and the Hispanic Access Advisory Council (HAAC) plan a celebration featuring Indian dances, piñatas, JROTC drills, martial arts exercises, and an open house and tours at the Idaho Falls Public Library. Give away items include books, school supplies, restaurant coupons and a bicycle. One hundred children are expected to participate.

McCall

Contact person: Meg Lojek, (208) 634-5522, library@mccall.id.us

The McCall Elementary School and the McCall Public Library will host an event featuring a local Mariachi band, bilingual stories, a parade, and cultural games. Participating children will receive books, party favors and information on multicultural literature. Chapala Mexican Restaurant and Idaho Academy of Music are supporting the celebration.

Meridian

Contact person: Jillian Subach, (208) 888-4451, jillian@mld.org

The Meridian District Library is planning a family event on April 30th from 4:00 to 5:30 pm which will include songs, games and crafts from other countries, snacks, fun decorations and a multicultural book display. The library will also be celebrating the opening of their bookmobile with balloons and tours in the parking lot.

Contact person: Peggy Gardner, (208) 888-4433 gardnerp@meridiancity.org

Meridian Mayor Tammy de Weerd will be spending the day with children in the Meridian community. She plans an Arbor Day Celebration and lunch at Ponderosa Elementary School. She then will go to Chaparral Elementary to talk with 3rd graders about city government and duties of the mayor. Her day will end at the Meridian Public Library celebrating the international holiday to recognize the uniqueness of all children.

Orofino

Contact persons: Ila Burch or Jennifer Dunaway, (208) 476-3411, jenniferrd@orofino-id.com

The Clearwater Memorial Library will host activities which include a parade, stories read in Spanish and English, crafts, games and ice cream. Participating children will receive party favors and bookmarks.

Sho-Ban Tribe, Ft. Hall

Contact person: , Shirley Kaiyoo, (208) 238-8164, slkaiyoo@aol.com

"Honoring Tomorrow's Leaders" is the theme of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' 2004 Children's Day celebration. Two events are planned. A children's fair with a circus theme will be held on Friday, April 30th from 4:00 to 8:30 pm at the Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School. It will feature booths with games, prizes, food and fun. On Saturday, May 1st, a family concert will be held at the school from noon to 1:30 pm.

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2003

Many Idaho libraries and their community partners have been celebrating El Día de los Niños the past few years, including those in American Falls, Blackfoot, Buhl, Caldwell, Hailey, Idaho City, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Nampa, and Pocatello.

Here are a few photos from the 2003 celebrations:

Books from the Generation of the Child are presented to Roosevelt Elementary librarian.

Roosevelt Elementary students performed an El Día de los Niños rap.

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