What is BLOCK Fest®?

A fun, interactive hands-on block experience to encourage parent-child engagement, boost early learning, and introduce STEM education
In an hour event, families explore five different block stations of non-interlocking blocks
Block stations are guided by a trained facilitator to:
- Support parents in discovering how to help their child learn early math and science concepts
- Assist children in scaffolding them to the next level of block play with proper modeling and the usage of open-ended questions

Why should we host an IBFE event?

It is FUN!
It is LEARNING!
It is an activity for the entire family to participate in…hooray for parent-child engagement!
It introduces STEM learning, promotes literacy, enhances problem solving, communication skills, and more through block play
Borrowing it is easy; the entire exhibit is housed in a small utility trailer, making pick up and return quick and simple.

If you are a trained host, you will be compensated for IBFE events you facilitate outside of your “home organization” when scholarships are available
Your facilitation time will be compensated up to $300 (exhibit assembly, event facilitation, exhibit disassembly)
Your mileage will be reimbursed at $0.58/mile; including travel to pick up and return the BLOCK Fest® Exhibit trailer and travel to event location

A BLOCK Fest® Host is someone who has completed the BLOCK Fest® Host Training through Twiga Foundation and can facilitate a BLOCK Fest® event
The BLOCK Fest® Host Training is a 4-hour interactive training through Zoom; the cost is $350 per person
- Idaho STEM Action Center has generously granted 12 Host Scholarships to train facilitators across the state
- Identify a potential host in your organization and apply for an IBFE Host

Apply for an IBFE scholarship (if needed)
Coordinate with the IBFE Team to schedule your event & borrow the exhibit
Coordinate with the IBFE Team to secure a BLOCK Fest® Host to facilitate your event

Idaho STEM Action Center has generously granted 20 event scholarships (a $750 value) to bring BLOCK Fest® to communities across the state; apply for an IBFE Scholarship for your community
The scholarship covers registration assistance, the time and travel of a BLOCK Fest® Host to facilitate your event, and the transportation cost of the exhibit

Apply for an IBFE Event Scholarship
Coordinate with the IBFE Team to:
- Schedule your event & obtain the exhibit
- Register your participants secure a BLOCK Fest® Host to facilitate your event
- Recruit volunteers to assist at the event (approximately 7, plus Host)

Complete the BLOCK Fest® Host Training: (if you’ve already been trained, we ask you complete the training again, it’s updated and specific to this project…and Twiga will cover your re-training fee)
Recruit volunteers to assist at the event (approximately 7, plus Host)
Coordinate with the IBFE Team to schedule the 1-hour training for your event volunteers (the first Volunteer Training in conducted by Twiga, any subsequent will be facilitated by the BLOCK Fest® Host…we provide you a PowerPoint)
Coordinate with the IBFE Team to register your participants
Facilitate at least one event through the IBFE project (2019-2020 school year)
Facilitate at least three events in the next two years to obtain BLOCK Fest® Host Certification
Collect data from your events and submit to Twiga Foundation after your event