EnvironMentors Chapter Fairs Spring 2012
Benefits of your Chapter Fair • Raise the visibility of your program throughout the community, high school, and university. • Celebrate the end of your program year. • Develop an interest in your program for the following year.
Planning Areas 1. Event schedule and logistics 2. Developing your invitation list 3. Fundraising and sponsorship 4. Spreading the word 5. Making your fair fun 6. Looking ahead: Beyond the fair for you and your students
1. Event schedule and logistics • Fair date ▫ Consider student schedules and testing
• Venue/location ▫ Submit space request early ▫ Find out if food is allowed ▫ Can it accommodate your technology needs?
• Schedule ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫
Start time Length of judging period Award ceremony Guest speakers/panel
2. Developing your invitation lists • Judges • Guest speakers or panelists • General attendees ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫
Students and their parents and families Mentors and their families Program alumni (student and mentors) Teachers and school administrators Program volunteers or supporters at your university Local community Potential students Donors or potential donors
• Send a Save the Date and invite!
3. Fundraising and sponsorship • Event sponsors • In-kind donations ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫
Food/beverages Student swag or thank you gifts from local businesses Raffle prizes Auction items Free use of venue space at university
• Scholarship support ▫ Awards for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place ▫ Content scholarships ▫ Memorial scholarships
4. Spreading the word Publicize your event well… • Before ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫
Community, high school, and university media School flyers Letter to parents Personal calls and emails Facebook and Twitter
• During ▫ Have EnvironMentors marketing materials handy during your fair
• After ▫ Write about your success and share it with the media, students, mentors, parents, attendees, judges, and guest invitees
5. Making Your Fair Fun • Recognize all ▫ Hand out student and mentor certificates of participation or accomplishment ▫ Provide chapter swag (t-shirt, keychain, etc)
• Celebrate top student projects ▫ Provide awards and/or certificates ▫ Offer scholarships
• Hold a raffle • Include food and beverages
6. Looking ahead: Beyond the fair for you and your students • Other science fairs and competitions ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫
Intel ISEF fair Canon Envirothon Siemen’s Competition in Math, Science, and Technology Google Science Fair Local, state, and regional science fairs
• Begin Recruiting for next year ▫ Build on your students’ great projects, enthusiasm, and trip to DC to attract interest for next year’s program among students ▫ Host a high school poster session ▫ Have students present at a school assembly or in science classes ▫ Make an announcement in the morning announcements
Additional Planning Resources • EnvironMentors Coordinator-Teacher Manual • www.sciencebuddies.org for more info on science fair planning