PBS North Carolina Kicks Off Its Rootle Roadster Tour
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PBS NORTH CAROLINA KICKS OFF ITS ROOTLE ROADSTER TOUR
In partnership with local groups, the Rootle Roadster Tour will visit counties and festivals across the state to share free playful learning experiences and resources with families.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 3/30/2023 — PBS North Carolina’s Rootle Roadster Tour, which offers free playful learning experiences in a fun atmosphere, kicked off Saturday, March 25, in Sanford. The tour will visit six more counties through October with stops in Mount Olive, Elizabeth City, Gaston, Siler City, Morehead City and Raleigh. Now in its second year, the Rootle Roadster Tour provides a fun, inclusive and engaging space for all children and families.
This year, in addition to visiting new locations across the state, the Rootle Roadster will travel to popular fairs and festivals, including the North Carolina State Fair in October, to connect with as many families as possible. At each stop, attendees are invited to play and learn together through free hands-on activities, games, demonstrations with community partners, education resources, takeaways and more.
Rootle, PBS North Carolina’s 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.
“PBS North Carolina’s Rootle Channel brings learning to life in homes and schools across North Carolina. This learning is taking flight with the Rootle Roadster Tour,” says Lauren McDowell, PBS North Carolina’s Director of Children’s Media and Education Engagement. “Our Rootle team has the great honor of extending this learning to communities through each stop on the tour. And thanks to our community partners, we’re able to provide an inclusive day of exploration, learning and family resources.”
This year’s partners include Highland Elementary School in Sanford, the Mount Olive Pickle Festival, the North Carolina Potato Festival, the Museum of the Albemarle, Gaston STEM Leadership Academy, the Silk Hope Ruritan Club, the North Carolina Seafood Festival and the North Carolina State Fair.
Rootle Ambassadors, committed community leaders working to reach early learners and support families with PBS KIDS–inspired engagement, will also be present at most tour stops.
“By bringing the Rootle Roadster to their home community, they can also meet their Rootle Ambassador, who are so knowledgeable about their community’s unique needs.” says Dr. Melissa Rihm Thibault, PBS North Carolina’s Chief Education and Innovation Officer. “The connections that children, parents and caregivers make at Rootle Roadster Tour stops are lasting.”
The Rootle Roadster Tour is made possible through funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS).
“We’re so excited to support PBS North Carolina’s outreach to families of young children across our state with the Rootle Roadster Tour,” says Ariel Ford, Director of the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education. “We share PBS North Carolina’s commitment to supporting young children’s learning and growth by bringing playful, educational opportunities and resources directly to NC families and communities.”
Rootle Roadster Tour Schedule
Visit pbsnc.org/RoadsterTour for the most up-to-date information.
Sanford, Harnett County
Saturday, March 25, 10 AM–1 PM
1915 Buffalo Lake Road
Sanford, NC 27332
Rootle Ambassador Brandy Powers
Mount Olive, Wayne County
Saturday, April 29, 9 AM–2 PM
123 North Center Street
Mount Olive, NC 28365
Rootle Ambassador Tameka Allen
Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County
Saturday, May 20, 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday, May 21, 10 AM–1 PM
North Carolina Potato Festival
501 South Water Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
Rootle Ambassador Faith Mosley
Gaston, Northampton County
Saturday, August 12, 10 AM–1 PM
Gaston STEM Leadership Academy
400 Broughton Street
Gaston, NC 27832
Rootle Ambassador Dr. Stacey Henderson
Siler City, Chatham County
Saturday, September 23, 10 AM–1 PM
4221 Silk Hope Road
Siler City, NC 27344
Morehead City, Carteret County
Friday–Sunday, October 6–8, 10 AM–4 PM
North Carolina Seafood Festival
412 D Evans Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
Raleigh, Wake County
Saturday, October 14, 10 AM–1 PM
Saturday, October 21, 10 AM–1 PM
4285 Trinity Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
Rootle Ambassador Twanna Joyner Jones
Support
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.
About the Rootle Ambassador Program
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.
About PBS North Carolina
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 channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina 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 Contact
Laura Kieler, PBS North Carolina
press@pbsnc.org