Wonder, Explore and Learn Together!
By Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director
It never ceases to amaze me the creativity and support we receive from The Patterson Foundation. They are a generous and innovative foundation that is helping to make Suncoast Remake Learning Days a reality, highlighting and strengthening our learning ecosystem.
The fourth annual Suncoast Remake Learning Days Festival is quickly approaching! This fabulous 15-day Hands-on Learning event runs from Saturday April 19 to Saturday, May 3, 2025, and takes place throughout Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Beth Duda, Director, Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading shared that with support from The Patterson Foundation, more than 265 organizations have come together to host 380 events. These include schools, museums, libraries, after-school organizations, early childcare centers, universities, colleges, media outlets, places of worship and more. Beth continued, “All the events are free and designed to be hands-on relevant and engaging educational experiences for youth from birth to high school and their families, caregivers and educators.”
With hundreds of events happening across our region, it’s easy to find something for everyone! While events are free, some may require registration, so be sure to check out the event guide linked below.
Here in Charlotte County, the Port Charlotte Public Library is celebrating art in a variety of forms. Imagine painting, knitting, paper crafts and more. You can also build your own garden, experience a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt, or join a storybook read-a-thon. One event I’m especially excited about is Eco-Explorers by the Barrier Island Parks Society, where families can celebrate Earth Day in a fun and interactive way.
Liberty Elementary School is welcoming all incoming kindergarten students and their families, and Sallie Jones Elementary is hosting a STEAM Night with Community Heroes. Looking for dinner and a show? Check out Peace River Elementary School with Tacos and Talent!
The learning doesn’t end with the festival! You have got to check out, “This Book is Cool!”. *I recently reminisced about the first season, when I had the joy of being present (via zoom) when Beth Duda did a reading from Sheep in a Jeep during a live webisode. This amazing program is back for another summer of reading adventures. Thanks to The Patterson Foundation, THIS BOOK IS COOL! is offering a FREE,10-week program to keep young minds engaged with books, learning, and fun all summer long.
For the digital Suncoast Remake Learning Days event guide and This Book is Cool!, please visit: unitedwayccfl.org/ReMakeLearning
For more information about United Way of Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.
*Edited column from the version originally published in the Charlotte Sun.