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Project KidCare
SUMMER BLOCK PARTY!!

What better way to kick off summer than a block party for your entire neighborhood?! Certainly none that I can think of. Consider me there, so don't forget to invite the Party Girl.

While you have all the neighborhood families in one place, host a Project KidCare program. Make sure the children in your neighborhood are safe with this photo identification program from Polaroid and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In fact, this program is certainly an incentive for your neighbors to attend.

Invitation

There are several I can think of. A picnic invitation works really well. You can find something summery at your local party or stationery store, in our shops or on your home computer (well, only if you're feeling creative). You'll want to list all of the activities that you see below, the KidCare program and each family's responsibilities (like BYOG—bring your own grill!)…

You may also want to enlist some neighbors to help you in this endeavor so make a little committee. You'll need help. Put someone in charge of the menu and RSVPs, ask someone to plan the activities, ask someone else to arrange permits and someone else to schedule entertainment and logistics like renting tables and chairs. You'll also need a "chairperson:" the person in charge who makes the final decisions, raises extra need dollars (to pay for that entertainment), etc.

Make sure everyone participating is listed on the invitation.

You may also want to call some people who will get behind this and make sure other neighbors attend. List them, too. The more, the merrier. The event will look like a success before it even starts!!

Decorations

I see BBQ. Summer is cook out time, and the living is easy. Use a BBQ design to decorate your tables. Choose from table covers, plates, cups, napkins and more to pull through your theme. Don't forget matching forks, knives and spoons—red and yellow work very well.

For centerpieces, use those mini $5 grills you see at Target or your favorite discount drugstore. Fill them with magic tricks or small toys so the kids (and adults) aren't bored at the table. Finally, tie balloons off the "grill" top. 

You don't need much more than that. Save your budget for the entertainment and activities!

Menu

How easy is this? Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, cold pasta dishes, corn on the cob, apple pie, chocolate cake. A good old-fashioned BBQ menu. Oops, don't forget vegetarians…you may want some veggie burgers and maybe a veggie tray. Set up an old-fashioned lemonade stand, and you may want to think about root beer floats and chocolate phosphates.

For the foods that need to be refrigerated, don't forget to bring plenty of ice and coolers.

A site you may want to check out is www.barbequerecipe.com—you'll find a list of menus, recipes and more that you can circulate around to those who want to bring something different!

Activities

First, and most importantly, round the kids up to get their KidCare photo taken (those pictures just won't look right after a round of face painting!). The kits include everything you'll need: KidCare IDs, Type 600 Color Film, one instant Polaroid camera, seven basic safety tips and one blue backdrop. Each ID lists a child's vital statistics and valuable emergency information.

You may not realize it, but one in seven recoveries are directly linked to this national photo distribution system. Standardized photo identification allows for computerized "age progression" in which the image of a child who has been missing for some time is digitally enhanced to show how the child currently looks.

By the way, Polaroid donates $0.10 per every ID purchased to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Visit Polaroid's Special Events web site at www.polaroidspecialevents.com for other ideas.

What else to do? There are things that are free: set up a face painting area, a tie dye area (have everyone bring an old white shirt), a cookie decorating area and other crafts. Or bring in some entertainment: a bubbleologist (a person who makes art out of giant bubbles), a balloon sculptor (he'll make balloons hats for everyone if you're nice to him and even balloon pets to take home), a clown that does magic or special types of face painting, a magician and/or a guitarist who can host a sing-along. None of this is costly, but you have to make sure everyone will contribute. Or you might ask some of the neighborhood stores to sponsor each entertainer (just a thought!)…

Another fun thing would be karaoke. Some people say it's not "in" anymore, but take it from me, it's always fun. Let the kids get up with some fake microphones and sing their guts out. Let the adults get up and do their own rendition of Bruce Springsteen with an inflatable guitar and make fools of themselves. It's all in good fun. And all you need is a boom box!

How about a photo opportunity where kids (and adults, of course) can stick their head in the slot and become part of the Old West, a couple of swimmers from the turn of the century (the last turn of the century) or others. These props are available at any local prop store in your area and can be rented for minimal cost. Or Party411.com can do make one for you (we just made a great one where two baseball players are standing on either side of The Babe-put your face in wearing your favorite cap and you're part of the team). Have a Polaroid One Shot or a Spectra Kit on hand and plenty of film to capture the picture and present it to the "would be" whatevers.

In the meantime, set up a booth where you can sell Polaroid Instant Cameras so that all of this is captured on film. You can make some money for next year and at the same time, let people submit photographs to the "block committee" for a newsletter that goes out after the event to say, "Wasn't it grand?!"

Favors

While the kids wait in line at the KidCare booth, you'll want to start the fun. Pass out favors. Smile face stress ball yo-yos, jumbo yo-yos, hand-held billiards, clown bubbles, or smile bubbles on a rope to wear around your neck. This will keep them busy.

As evening progresses, think about glow necklaces, glow sticks, glow earrings for the adults, and give each kid a fiber optic wand. There are even blinking reflector necklaces so everyone is safe.

Film Kits

Nothing creates fun at special events like Polaroid Imaging solutions. Great for all special holidays and occasions, these kits help you capture the special moment instantly. Present the photo with a Holiday or party photo mount and get a smile in return.

T600 Kit

T600 film kit with a OneStep Camera allows you to take high-quality images with the push of a button. And with Polaroid T600 instant film, you'll get your convenient square-image shots in just minutes. Choose from T600 kits that have a camera, film and your choice of themed picture mount designs, or just order the mounts! Each kit comes in either a quantity of 50, 100 or 600 pictures.

Key Applications: These kits are ideal for party and event planners who want a low-cost solution for capturing a memorable event or party, drawing traffic to an event, speaking to an audience, and occasionally generating revenue. Kits can also be used for employee incentive programs, school activities, and party souvenirs. Perfect for Christmas holidays, new years parties, corporate events/meetings/parties, tradeshows/promotion events, fund-raisers for charities, community-related events.

OneStep Camera features:

• Focus-free operation
• Built In flash
• 3" wide x 3-1/4" photo size

Order here.

Spectra Kit

Spectra film kit with a Spectra camera offers you a total solution and our sharpest, cleanest pictures with a large, rectangular image format to capture the moment. Choose from Spectra kits that include camera, film and your choice of themed picture mount designs, or just order the Spectra mounts! Each kit comes in either a quantity of 50, 100 or 600 pictures.

Key Applications: These kits are ideal for party and event planners who want a low-cost solution for capturing a memorable event or party, drawing traffic to an event, speaking to an audience, and occasionally generating revenue. Kits can also be used for employee incentive programs, school activities, and party souvenirs. Perfect for Christmas holidays, new years parties, corporate events/meetings/parties, tradeshows/promotion events, fund-raisers for charities, community-related events.

Spectra Camera features:

• Compact, folding camera design
• Auto-focus from 2 foot to infinity
• Programmed fill flash
• 3-5/8" wide X 2-7/8" photo size

Order here.

Okay. I'm tired from thinking about it, I've had so much fun. Start planning today…and make sure your kids are safe!

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