Press Releases:

Kids Meet Firemen at Playgroup this Week

KEY WEST (455 words) – One of the most important steps in early literacy in called inside-outside and outside-inside learning. In other words, seeing what is inside the book outside in the real world and vice versa. Countywide, fire rescue squads plan to attend Monroe Youth Challenge Program’s Be the Change Playgroups this week to bring the fire truck theme alive.

This event is free and open to the public for families with children from birth to age five. Older siblings are welcome. Parents and children are to meet real firemen and women, have the opportunity to take exciting pictures and share books about fire trucks at their playgroup.

Schedule of Fire Truck Visits

Wednesday, June 24 Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department is scheduled to be at Friendship Park at 10:30 a.m. for Grupo de Juego, a playgroup for Spanish-speaking families. Also on Wednesday, June 24 Marathon Fire Rescue is scheduled to be at Rotary Park at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, June 25 Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department plans to meet the MYCP Playgroup families at Burton Memorial Church at 6:15 p.m. The same evening, Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department is set to bring a fire truck at 5:15 p.m. to the Big Pine Community Park playgroup which is a bi-lingual group.

Friday, June 26 the Key West Fire Department is programmed to attend the MYCP Playgroup at Poinciana Park at 6:30 p.m.

Contact Information

Key Largo’s Grupo de Juego meets Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at Friendship Park. Contact Adrianna Ornelas (305) 451-2235 or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grupo_de_Juego_Key_Largo.

The MYCP Tavernier playgroup meets Thursdays at Burton Memorial, mile marker 93 ocean side. At 5 p.m. a free Dinner is served. Playtime starts at 6 p.m. Contact Nancy Lucas (305) 393-6413 or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MYCPPlaygroupatBurton.

In Marathon the MYCP Playgroup meets Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Rotary Park. Contact Caitlin Sedlak (305) 890-6869 or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MYCPPlaygroupMarathon.

The bi-lingual playgroup on Big Pine meets Thursdays at 5:15 p.m. at the Community Park. Contact  Alicia Newsom (305) 797-9217 or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group//MYCPPlaygroupBigPine.

In Key West, the MYCP Playgroup meets Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Poinciana Park. Contact Chasta Uptegrove (314) 368-5393 or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MYCPPlaygroupKeyWest.

MYCP Be the Change Playgroups help kids have fun and parents raise smarter, healthier kids with confidence. Each group meets weekly for families with children birth to age four to play and practice sign language which improves literacy and increases IQ up to 12 points. In addition, families play I Love You Rituals which decreases discipline power struggles.

These playgroups are funded by a community grant from the March of Dimes. For more information contact MYCP Director Sunny Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319, Sunny.Booker@keysschools.com, or visit http://www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp

Monroe Youth Challenge Program’s mission is to build Developmental Assets and create opportunities so every child in Monroe County can feel safe, loved, and celebrated.