Boy Scout workshop invite

I've been invited to give a kite workshop to a large group of Boy Scouts in March. It's so exciting to be able to volunteer my time! It's all very preliminary, but this is what I know so far:

• I'll lead a two-hour workshop for Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts of America
• The boys will be 7-9 years old
• The activity will be held at Ridgetop Elementary School, 5005 Caswell Ave., Austin, TX

I need to get to work on a supply list and presentation--WOOT!

2011 Zilker Park Kite Festival workshop schedule released

Four workshops are scheduled throughout Austin in celebration of the 2011 Zilker Park Kite Festival. The kite making workshops are sponsored by The Exchange Club of Austin and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department.

The workshops are free and will take place rain or shine. The kites in the workshop are easy to make and participants can enter their creations in the Zilker Park Kite Festival kite contest.

All materials are provided and volunteers will help make sure things go smoothly. Kites will be on display and kite makers will be present to answer questions about kite making or kite flying.

Workshop Schedule:
noon-1:30 p.m., Sat. Feb. 5 at South Austin Recreation Center
noon-1:30 p.m., Sat. Feb. 12 at Pan Am Recreation Center
noon-1:30 p.m., Sat. Feb. 19 at Dittmar Recreation Center
noon-1:30 p.m., Sat. Feb. 26 at Gus Garcia Recreation Center

For details, call 512-974-6700.

Kite making at Sheriff's Extravaganza

I helped a few dozen children make kites today. The Exchange Club of Austin provided the paper, crayons, straws, tape and string. About half a dozen volunteers provided patient guidance.

Children could choose from an alien, butterfly or smiley face. They colored the illustration, then made two folds. A few pieces of tape later, the children would run around trailing their creation behind them. Sometimes the kites even floated in the breeze.

Purchase: kite-making supplies

Tomorrow I'll be at the Leander Public Library showing children six and older how to make a simple diamond kite from tissue paper, dowels and tape.

This week I bought four pairs of child-sized scissors, two rolls of packing tape and 30 dowels. I still have a ton of tissue paper from a previous purchase. I should have enough for 15 kites. Not sure what the turn out will be like, but I'm excited!