WHEATLAND — The public is invited to the second Kiwanis Club Discovery Day happening 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Platte County Fire Training Center, on East Cole Street near the railroad tracks. The event is free to attend.
Phathom Holt, Wheatland Kiwanis secretary and chair of Discovery Day, said during an interview Friday that the group plans to hold Discovery Day every spring going forward. She explained the Kiwanis Club gets organizations like the power plant, the Rural Electric Association, the fire department and more to bring their trucks to the event.
“Kids climb on the trucks, get behind the wheel and pretend they’re driving, ask questions,” Holt said. “Hillside Rental will let them control an excavator this year.”
Holt said Discovery Day drew over 350 people last year, and she expects a larger crowd this year if the weather is good.
She said concessions such as cookies, coffee and water will be available for purchase at Discovery Day, as well as hot dog and sloppy joe lunch plates. She said lunch platters will sell for up to $5, and individual items can be purchased for $1.
“We try to keep it affordable for the families,” Holt said.
Holt said free gift bags will go to the first families in attendance. She said last year the first 100 families received the gift bags, but Kiwanis is shooting for 150 this year. She explained the club asks local businesses to donate promotional items for the bags, noting Basin Electric donated the bags, coloring books, yo-yos and crayons. She said the Wyoming Highway Patrol also donated items for the children’s gift bags.
“Different companies donate different items for the kids,” Holt said.
Holt said Kiwanis will accept any donations offered at the event, but donations are not required for families to attend the free event.
“Our main mission on that day is to let the kids have a great, fun activity outdoors and help promote local businesses,” Holt said.
Holt added the first hour of Discovery Day is set up as a quiet hour, with no horns or sirens going off, so that babies and children more sensitive to loud noises can enjoy the event.
Holt said Kiwanis planned to distribute coloring sheets to Platte County elementary schools early this week. She said if a child colors a Kiwanis coloring sheet and brings it to Discovery Day, the child will receive a small prize and the child’s colored sheet will be displayed at the Platte County Fire Training Center.
