Pope County Library System Homeschool Connection Hosts Second Annual Survival Skills 101 Event

04/05/2024 

POPE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM HOMESCHOOL CONNECTION HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL SURVIVAL SKILLS 101 EVENT

Hector, Arkansas:  The Pope County Library System Homeschool Connection held their second annual Survival Skills 101 event at Cecil Riley Memorial Park in Hector on Saturday, April 23, at 10:00 am.  Staffed by Emily Nealy and Brandy McClure, the Homeschool Connection is a department of Pope County Library System Outreach Services. Nealy and McClure, along with other members of the Outreach staff,planned the event, and representatives from Russellville,  Atkins, Dover, and Hector libraries, as well as numerous community organizations and volunteers, participated.

Pope County EMS, Pope County OEM, Big Piney Ranger District, Boy Scout Troop 214, Saint Mary’s Regional Health System, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Hector Fire Department, Hector Police Department, Arkansas Alliance of Bloodhound Specialists, Arkansas River Valley Amateur Radio Foundation, Cyclone Cycling,and Survival Flight, Inc. all set up information stations around Cecil Riley Memorial Park.  Pope County 4-H, Hector4-H Club, and Sequoyah Kids 4-H Club hosted a concession stand fundraiser.  And Americana Creative Workshop provided makeup for volunteers who agreed to be “zombies” for the afternoon Fun Run.

Hector Public Library presented a Zombie themed Storytime at noon, and the Homeschool Connection team hosted a Zombie Fun Run that afternoon at 1:00 pm.  Forty-four children participated, and parents signed up for a prize drawing.   The children crawled through an obstacle course, grabbed a backpack, and tried to avoid “zombies” as they stopped at six survival skill learning stations and made their way to a cardboard zombie city finish line.  Children who were tagged by “zombies” rushed to a “hospital” tent for the “antidote,” then rejoined the group.

The Pope County Library System appreciates the support of the community organizations and volunteers who participated, as well as sponsors Wildcat Pizza Shack, Hector Hardware,Turtle in the Way Café, Lowe’s Home Improvement, West Fraser, Circle S Feed &Farm, El Barrio Mexican Restaurant, Harps Food Store, Mak Daddy’s Old Town Meet‘N Eat, McB’s Stoplite, Pirates Cove, and PDQ.