WSU Makes Science and Art a Walk in the Parks
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University is gearing up for its annual Arts in the Parks and Science in the Parks traveling summer programs.
Science in the Parks is entering its 11th year, while Arts in the Parks will begin its eighth year. Activities are offered in conjunction with the Ogden City School District’s free summer lunch program and aim to excite children about learning while enjoying a free meal.
“Since its inception, Arts in the Parks has worked to celebrate the fun of creating stories, music, dance and visual art,” said Kathryn MacKay, co-director. “We started with only three parks and 200 to 300 participants and have grown to six parks with more than 700 participants. This is a fine example of WSU's commitment to collaborate and serve the community and to help connect both participants and helpers to the joy of the arts.”
Staff and volunteers plan different activities for each day centered on a theme with an educational purpose. Though the locations change each week, the program stays the same.
Arts in the Parks has daily themes this year: Monday, Tell it with storytelling; Tuesday, Imagine it with puppets and theater; Wednesday and Thursday, Play it and Move it with music and dance; and Friday, Visual Arts with the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
Science in the Parks has chosen See it!, Hear it!, Build it!, Move it!, Feel it! for its daily themes.
“The community gets science brought to them, instead of expecting they need to come to campus or a classroom,” said Adam Johnston, Science in the Parks director. “Because we get to have these events in neighborhood parks, we help spread the word that science is all around, accessible and playful. We want to show that science is something that all get to engage with, and at all levels.”
Science in the Parks activities will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Arts in the Parks from noon to 1 p.m. All activities are free thanks to current sponsorship from Weber County RAMP and support from Weber State University. Ogden City School District Summer Lunch Program serves free meals to anyone under 18, along with lunches for purchase for adults.
For more information on Science in the Parks, visit weber.edu/scienceintheparks;
and for more on Arts in the Parks, visit weber.edu/artsintheparks
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Dates and locations for Arts in the Park:
- June 5-9, Lorin Farr Park (769 Canyon Road, Ogden)
- June 12-16, 4th Street Park (275 4th St., Ogden)
- June 19-23, West Ogden Park (751 W 24th St.)
- June 26-30, Monroe Park (850 30th St., Ogden)
- July 5-7, Mt. Ogden Park (3144 Taylor Ave., Ogden)
- * Note: No lunch or art hosted on July 3 and 4
- July 10-14, Lester Park (663 24th Street, Ogden)
Dates and locations for Science in the Park:
- June 5-9, Lester Park (663 24th St., Ogden)
- June 12-16, Lorin Farr Park (769 Canyon Road, Ogden)
- June 19-23, 4th Street Park (275 4th St., Ogden)
- June 26-30, West Ogden Park (751 W. 24th St., Ogden)
- July 5-7, Monroe Park (850 30th St., Ogden)
- *Note: No lunch or science hosted on July 3 and 4.
- July 10-14, Mt. Ogden Park (3144 Taylor Ave., Ogden)
For high-resolution photos, visit the following links:
Charles Bowker, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • charlesbowker@weber.edu- Contact:
Kathryn MacKay, Arts in the Park co-director
801-626-6782 • kmackay@weber.eduTodd Oberndorfer, Arts in the Park co-director
801-626-7689 • toddoberndorfer@weber.eduAdam Johnston, Science in the Park director
801-626-7711 • ajohnston@weber.edu