FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 3/21/2022 — PBS North Carolina’s Rootle Roadster Tour, which offers free learning resources in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, kicks off Saturday, March 26, in Brevard. The tour continues through September with stops in High Point, Winston-Salem, Manteo, Pembroke, Smithfield and Windsor. At each stop, families can play and learn together with free hands-on activities, games, demonstrations with community partners, education resources, takeaways and more.
“PBS North Carolina engages with families in person through events like the Rootle Roadster Tour because it helps us gain a better understanding of their communities and build authentic, lasting relationships,” says Jade Packer, PBS North Carolina Interim Director of Children’s Media and Education Engagement. “Once those relationships are established, we can be a better partner and of better service to the children and families of North Carolina.”
Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s locally branded 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel, is a trusted educational partner to families, caregivers and educators across the state. In addition to sharing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), literacy, physical, social-emotional and sensory activities, the Rootle Roadster Tour aims to build awareness of community resources and services from local partners who serve young learners (ages 5 and under). At selected events, Rootle Ambassadors from the community will also be on hand.
“The Rootle Roadster Tour doesn’t just extend our engaging PBS KIDS programming and deliver educational activities to communities across the state, it also elevates the good work of our partners—Rootle Ambassadors, libraries, child-care providers, museums and other local organizations—and brings well-deserved attention to their offerings,” says Dr. Melissa Rihm Thibault, PBS North Carolina Chief Education and Innovation Officer.
The Rooter Roadster Tour is made possible through funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Preschool Development Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) Grant.
“Through the Preschool Development Grant, we aim to deepen engagement with families, especially those living in rural communities,” says Dr. Kristi L. Snuggs, Deputy Director, PDG B-5 Project Director, NC Division of Child Development & Early Education. “Supporting families as their children’s first teachers, Rootle Roadster events provide an opportunity to deliver and help build access to critical early childhood programs, services and resources within their very own community.”
Brevard, Transylvania County
Saturday, March 26, 11 AM to 2 PM
Transylvania County Library
212 S. Gaston Street
Brevard, NC 28712
With Rootle Ambassador Erika Brock
High Point, Guilford County
Friday, April 8, 4 to 6:30 PM
Part of Week of the Young Child drive-through event
Fairview Family Resource Center
401 Taylor Avenue
High Point, NC 27260
With Rootle Ambassador LouMecia Staton
Winston-Salem, Forsyth County
Saturday, April 23, 10 AM to 1 PM
Atkins High School
3605 Old Greensboro Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Manteo, Dare County
Friday, May 6, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Part of KidsFest
Roanoke Island Festival Park
1 Festival Park
Manteo, NC 27954
Pembroke, Robeson County
Saturday, June 25, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
1 University Drive
Pembroke, NC 28372
With Rootle Ambassador Connie Locklear
Smithfield, Johnston County
Saturday, July 23, 10 AM to 1 PM
Smith-Collins Park
E Lee Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Windsor, Bertie County
Saturday, September 17, 11 AM to 2 PM
Windsor Elementary School
104 Cooper Hill Road
Windsor, NC 27983
With Rootle Ambassador April Swain
The Rootle Roadster Tour was made possible by Grant Number 90TP0056-03-00 from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The project described was supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0056-03-00, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Rootle Ambassadors are committed community members who support families of young learners and are trained to share PBS early education resources within their communities. Over the course of five years, the Rootle Ambassador program will expand to all 100 counties in the state, bringing valuable, vetted early childhood content to communities across North Carolina. Learn more at pbsnc.org/rootle-ambassadors.
As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS Kids and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS NC serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
-PBS NC-
Media Contacts:
Kathleen Kramer, PBS North Carolina Marketing & Communications
kkramer@pbsnc.org
919-549-7059