| Reno Rodeo helps kick off literacy program |
|
|
|
|
Reno Rodeo helps kick off literacy program at Glen Duncan Elementary School and visits 26 local elementary schools with reading program
The Reno Rodeo is not only “The Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West,” it is also one of the most caring; Reno Rodeo was the first in the nation to recognize the role rodeo could play in addressing literacy in our schools, mainly first graders. For the eighth year, the Reno Rodeo Association will be presenting the Black Stallion Literacy Project (BSLP) to help first grade students in the Washoe County School District discover the joys of reading and the wonders of learning. Jim and Teresa Lindsey, Co-Chairman, their horses, Mr. Buc, Dancer and Nevada Sky, Reno Rodeo volunteers, Miss Reno Rodeo Megan Lucke and the Miss Reno Rodeo candidates will be visiting local elementary schools to promote reading and literacy. This year the rodeo reading program will visit 26 Washoe County Elementary schools and give out over 5000 books to first graders. The books were paid for by a grant from the Reno Rodeo Foundation. If you were like most children, you probably wanted a pony when you were a child. What better way, then, to excite a child’s imagination and interest in reading than by tapping into the innate fascination children seem to have with animals, particularly horses? The Black Stallion Literacy Project and the Reno Rodeo take a simple but unique approach to motivate children to read: provide first grade students with an opportunity to experience the magic of touching and interacting with a live horse; talk to them about rodeo, horse care, and the importance of reading; and encourage participating first graders to read by presenting them with classic hard cover books, “Little Black, a Pony” and “Little Black goes to the Circus,” by Walter Farley, author of the Black Stallion. In 2001, the Reno Rodeo Association and the BSLP provided two books to each first grade student at 8 WCSD elementary schools; approximately 400 children benefited from the program. Today, the Reno Rodeo Black Stallion Literacy Project has visited over 12,000 first grade students and given out over 25,000 books. In addition to the Reno Rodeo staff and volunteers, the Bureau of Land Management instructs students in fire safety techniques and responsibilities, and the children are given an opportunity to “high five” or hug special guest, Smokey Bear. Children are also given a goodie bag, fire prevention materials, coloring books, Reno Rodeo pencil bags and free tickets to the Reno Rodeo. Recent Award and Recognition Reno Rodeo info |
