Concerts
March 1, 2007March 9
March 5, 2007
Want to decorate a boomerang in Australia? Decorate a dragon mask in Japan? Taste Kenya’s ethnic cuisine?
Youngsters across the Triparishes can experience the world March 17 at the third annual CASA For Kids Springfest.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that Saturday, the Terrebonne Courthouse Square will come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of several countries. Youngsters can travel the globe n or, in this case, from booth to boothnenjoying hands-on activities, entertainment and food native to that country.
Along the way, they’ll get their passports stamped as they move across the “world.”
The fund-raising even benefits CASA of Terrebonne, a non-profit agency dedicated to speaking for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts.
According to Executive Director Courtney Arceneaux, the organization promotes and supports quality volunteer representation for children to provide each child with a safe, permanent, nurturing home.
Each year, attendance has risen at the Kids Springfest, Arceneaux said. And every year, more countries are added to CASA’s world trip.
“We were actually brainstorming, trying to think of a signature event geared toward children,” she said of the event’s inception.
“The idea was to give children something fun, but incorporate learning into it as well.
The Springfest is our own little version of Disney’s Epcot.”
Around the courthouse square, tents representing the various countries are erected.
Each volunteer group that runs the tent provides youngsters with something unique to that country, Arceneaux said.
The activities are as dynamic as the countries themselves. Art lovers will enjoy decorating boomerangs and dragon masks, or making sand art necklaces, bottle figurines, paper flowers, wind socks and pin wheels.
There’s also rain sticks, ocean drums or leather bracelets to be made.
In Hawaii, youngsters can test their mettle with a hula-hoop. Or dig for diamonds on another stop.
“If they participate in an activity, each child is sure to win a prize,” Arceneaux explained. “If they make a craft, they take that craft with them.”
Live entertainment includes the Young Audiences, of New Orleans. Drawing on the culturally diverse theme, CASA has hired Samba and percussionist Curtis Pierre, Journey of the Drums, and Dancers of the World to perform with colorful streamers.
There will also be a cake-walk and different events calling for the audience’s participation, Arceneaux said.
Rebuilding the globe and all its amazing activities wouldn’t be possible, the CASA director admits, without the support of the many companies and school and civic groups participating.
“They’ve done an amazing job selecting their countries, decorating their tents and coming up with activities and prizes,” she said.
Because the organizations supply all their own materials, CASA’s expenses are limited to paying the entertainers and renting tents and tables.
Home Depot and the parish’s Vo-Tech school have even chipped in, with the home improvement store providing a playhouse to be raffled and the latter providing the manpower to build it. Tickets for the raffle are $5.
In addition, a cypress rocking chair, child’s picnic table, sandbox, quilt and bicycle will be raffled.
CASA of Terrebonne serves children in the 32nd Judicial District. Cases are courtappointed, and CASA teams trained community volunteers to ensure that the child’s wishes are conveyed to the court.
“Our goal is to find each child assigned to our agency with a safe, permanent home,” Arceneaux said.
Last year, the agencies 47 active volunteers were assigned 120 cases.
On average, Arceneaux said volunteers spend about 10 hours a month face-to-face with the child.
Before being assigned a case, she said volunteers must first undergo an extensive background check and 30 hours of training.
“We do an FBI, state and local check on volunteers,” she said. “And once a volunteer is assigned a case, we ask that they be prepared to stay on that case for 18 to 24 months.”
Because many of the children have trust issues with adults, it is essential to grow the relationship between the child and the CASA representative, she said.
“It’s very rewarding work helping these children,” Arceneaux said. “Most of our volunteers get so involved they can’t turn their backs and walk away.”
For more information about becoming a volunteer or about the Springfest, contact CASA of Terrebonne at (985) 876-0520.
