Involve + Engage = Sustain: GEAR UP and Winter Sports

Involve + Engage = Sustain is a column dedicated to providing you with specific tools on community and parent engagement written by Becky Wilson, our Community Engagement Specialist.

As November blows into Oregon, our thoughts go where all thankful and apple-cider-scented hearts go: WINTER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES! Since it is easier to access parents in a nice, warm gym, here are a couple of ideas to take advantage of the proximity.

1. Many of you have “College Wear Days” at school periodically. Consider dedicating one or two home games as “College Wear Games” – wearing college wear will get parents a discounted ticket in. Don’t forget to OWN the event as GEAR UP on the roster or program, advertise them well in advance, and (during the game) periodically have the game announcer explain what’s going on and why.
2. Set up a GEAR UP welcome table inside the door, handing out flyers of upcoming age-appropriate GEAR UP events (financial aid nights, scholarship writing workshops, OSAC & FAFSA deadlines, etc.)
3. Back to “college wear” events, as you add community or parent partners to support your program, consider providing them with a GEAR UP logo T-shirt in return for free admission, if they wear it! I have a vision of a sea of “College: it’s not a dream, it’s a plan!” in the bleachers.

If you have additional ideas, let’s hear them! Now, go enjoy some apple cider :)