Panther Fall Festival set to kick of SCC school year

Talk about it

When Maddie Skaalrud and Katherine Redmon were deciding on a project for their Girl Scout Gold Award, they stuck to what they know -- school activities.

Between the two of them, they cover eight activities including cross country, track, basketball and National Honor Society for Skaalrud; and golf, softball, NHS and Future Leaders of America/DECA for Redmon.

Some of those sports and activities get little, if any, attention from the community.

“We know how it feels to not be supported,” Redmon explained.

The event

To bring attention to all the activities St. Croix Central schools offer to students outside of the classroom, instead of just the sports, the pair is planning the Panther Fall Festival.

The festival is on Friday, Aug. 28, which is also the day of the first varsity football game and last weekend before school starts. Events run from 3-9 p.m. at the St. Croix Central High School, 1751 Broadway St., Hammond.

Tickets are $10 per person or $30 per family. Advanced purchase tickets are available at Associated Bank-Hammond Branch, Citizens State Bank-Roberts Branch, Hammond Golf Club, St. Croix Valley YMCA and some Central athletes.

Any money raised above expenses will go to the school’s extracurricular activities, the pair said.

Included in the night’s events are a tailgate meal, volleyball scrimmage, football game, kids games and the Joey O Show.

The afternoon will begin with introductions and a dance team performance at 3 p.m. in the high school gym. A volleyball scrimmage for high school and middle school players will start at 3:30 p.m. and last until 4:30 p.m.

A tailgate meal of pulled pork sandwiches, chips and a drink will start at 4:30 p.m. Kid and family-friendly games will be offered by different student organizations starting at 4:30 p.m.

At 5 p.m. Joey O, a golf comedian and motivational speaker, will take the stage. Joey O has appeared on the Tonight Show and at the Bob Hope Classic. He’s written four books.

Joey O’s show includes acrobatic golf tricks. He hits balls while doing handstands, standing on a large rubber ball and other not-so-typical shots.

“He never shanks it either,” Redmon said. “It should be really entertaining.”

The tailgate dinner and games will continue at 6 p.m. The alumni band will take to the track at 6:30 p.m. for rousing peppy tunes.

The football game against Ellsworth will start at 7 p.m. People interested in only attending the football game will be allowed to pay regular admission prices, but will only be allowed in the stadium at 6:30 p.m. or later.

During halftime, there will be a relay by the cross country team and a showcase of SCC High School teams and organizations.

Also at halftime, a St. Croix Central student will have a chance to win the most coveted parking spot in the lot -- No. 7. Other prizes will also be raffled. Tickets for the drawing are $1 and will only be sold at the event.

The Fall Festival is a cooperative project between Skaalrud, Redmon and leaders from all the school’s clubs and fall sports. The planning committee is made up of two people per group, totaling about 20 people.

“They’re all pretty excited about it,” Skaalrud said.

The goal

After the Panther Fall Festival, Skaalrud and Redmon will have completed their project for the Girl Scout Gold Award.

To be eligible for the Gold Award, Skaalrud and Redmon must spend at least 65 hours on the project. That shouldn’t be a problem, they said.

“We’re going to have a lot more hours,” Redmon said. They’d already had several all-day work sessions by the end of July, Skaalrud said.

The pair decided to make theirs a joint project since they spend all their time together anyway. The pair said they’re best friends, evident as they finish each others’ sentences.

In fact, Redmon was Skaalrud’s reason for joining Girl Scouts. She started in fourth grade, while Redmon claims to be a “lifer.”

Redmon said she was always around Girl Scouts because her older sister and mom were involved. The line of Scouts in her family stretches back to her grandmother, if not further. Her mom Cindy is currently her troop leader.

“I like helping people,” Redmon explained. “Girl Scouts is a good way to do good things for the community.”

The pair said they like bonding with friends and doing fun activities through Girl Scouts.

The Hammond/Roberts troop is one of the biggest high school troops in the area, with nine girls involved.

The troop has also seen more girls than average earning their Gold Award. Nine girls in the past seven years from the troop have earned the award.

“Usually you’re lucky to have one,” Redmon said.

The casual nature of the troop has kept them interested in Scouting, the pair said.

“We don’t sing,” Skaalrud said with a laugh.

Additionally, the girls do the requirements for badges, but don’t actually get badges.

“They are kind of expensive,” Redmon said.

The troop is involved with the community through activities like “flamingo-ing” for the library and working at a homeless shelter.

“It’s laid back. We do what we want,” Redmon said.

For more information about the Panther Fall Festival, e-mail scc1810@yahoo.com.

Tags: st croix central, hammond, roberts, gold award, education, communities