KLRN Video Blog | October 1

A Conversations Special

We're heading out now to UTSA's main campus to shoot a Conversations Special tonight at the University Center theater. First off at 5 they'll be screening The Wall documentary, and afterwards we'll record a Conversations program about the documentary.

The DOC is all about a wall that's being built along the Mexican border in an effort to cut down and/or eliminate illegal immigration. Whether you're a supporter of the Wall or don't like it at all, the documentary's a fascinating look at what's happening there.

Former WOAI Trouble Shooter Jeff Coyle is hosting the Conversations record, and The Wall director Ricardo Martinez is the subject. A live audience will be asking questions and this will all be turned into a Conversations Thursday night the 8th of October. If you can't join us for the live taping, please join us for the program playback.

This one speaks for itself!

Read, Read, Read!

Celebrating Under The Stars

On Saturday, September 19, KLRN and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park held a night “under the stars” at Mission San José. The outdoor event featured booths, music, and a special preview screening of the Ken Burns upcoming documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Families were greeted by the music of the Mariachi Monterrey band and were treated to a special performance by the Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio. With picnic baskets and blankets, families enjoyed the sneak peek of the film in one of San Antonio’s most beautiful historic settings. Kids received live trees to plant, and adults were given re-useable bags. Special thanks to Park Rangers Al Remley and Susan Snow for their help in making this event possible. Be sure to watch the film when it premieres on KLRN this Sunday night at 8 pm! Click here to learn more about the documentary and all of the local efforts surrounding the launch.

Contributed by Lisa McGrath, VP of Educational Services at KLRN

KLRN Kids & the Biscuit Brothers Jamboree

On Saturday, September 12, The Biscuit Brothers participated in the KLRN Kids Club Members-Only Event, Biscuit Brothers Jamboree, at Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne, TX. We had over 200 KLRN members come to this fabulous event.

The Biscuit Brothers’ four-piece band did a total of three on-stage performances for about a half-hour each. During these performances, The Biscuit Brothers involved the audience in all aspects of their performances, encouraging children, their parents and other attendees to dance, sing, and make suggestions for animals and animal sounds to be used in the songs.

Additionally, The Biscuit Brothers educated children in between the stage shows in the “instrument petting zoo.” There they were able to show the kids how each of the different instruments is played and the sound that each makes.

Kids and their parents enjoyed wagon rides through the ranch during the event. The rides were entertaining, as well as educational, since the ranch has a collection of unusual animals including Longhorn cattle, Emus, llamas, Red Stag and Chinese Deer, bison, reindeer, rams, and donkeys.

Burger King, a sponsor, donated the use of their moon bounce.

KLRN members had activity tables and were given a cowboy hat, bandana, and goodie bag.

All in all, many parents and child caregivers stated to staff that the event was fun and exciting for the children, and it was something their kids would remember for a long time to come.

Contributed by Lisa Marie Gibson. To learn more about KLRN Kids, visit klrn.org/kids.

Raising Readers: Mission Possible 2009

Raising Readers families took on a night of baseball with the San Antonio Missions Baseball Team! Under clear skies, Super WHY threw the first strike of the night! The children and their families on the Fiesta Party Deck cheered for Super Why, Alpha Pig, and Martha as the fans in the crowd clapped, hooted, and hollered. Throughout the evening, children posed with the characters wearing their spirit shirts and clutching their books. All clad in Super Why, Alpha Pig, Princess Presto, and Wonder Red masks, the children played on the deck wearing their new, autographed gloves as they threw the ball around with their new friends. Our fantastic reader, Naomi, chased the Puffy Taco during the 7th Inning Stretch. With a gentle nudge, the Taco collapsed before reaching home plate! We had an amazing evening cheering on the Missions to a victory. Books, bats, and balls… Mission Possible: Raising Readers ACCOMPLISHED!

KLRN Video Blog | September 1

Sesame Street Special Takes On Tough Times

On Wednesday night, September 9, join Elmo and a few friends for a primetime television special featuring brief documentaries about real-life families and the story of a Muppet family coping with the ups and downs of these uncertain economic times. Hosted by Al Roker, Deborah Roberts and Elmo and his friends, the special will offer help, hope and strategies for families and will encourage children to express their feelings and ideas as their families adjust to a new life.

FAMILIES STAND TOGETHER: FEELING SECURE IN TOUGH TIMES
Wednesday, September 9, 8 PM

Learn more at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/toughtimes

Watch a preview:

What a great tribute to a great show...

What a fantastic tribute to our friends on Sesame Street! Looking back at all of the stars, the years and the graphics and songs just brings back memories of my own about the show. Good times, Sesame Street! Keep up the good work and congratulations on the big 4-0.

The Principal Story Town Hall

Are you working on your degree in school administration or are you a veteran principal? Are you a school superintendent, professor of education or government leader committed to education reform? If so, make plans to join other education leaders in a unique opportunity to discuss school reform and the important role school leaders play in this effort. Presented by KLRN, this Town Hall will feature four local school principals and the producer of The Principal Story, Tod Lending, and will be hosted by Tanji Patton. Join us on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 in the Southwest Room at UTSA Downtown. A light dinner will be provided and all attendees will receive an outreach kit. Register now, seating is limited! Click here for more information and to RSVP.

To learn more about The Principal Story, visit the Wallace Foundation website here.

An Update on The National Parks: America's Best Idea

We've been talking about The National Parks: America's Best Idea since March when Ken Burns was in town. And now with the film scheduled to air in just over one month (9/27), the buzz continues to build, both locally and nationally.

SHARE YOUR STORY: Have you visited a National Park recently or do you have a story from a childhood visit? We are collecting your stories, photos and home videos at klrn.org/parks.

SCREENING AT MISSION SAN JOSE: Pack a picnic and bring a lawnchair for an evening under the stars in one of San Antonio's most beautiful historic settings. Join us for fun family activities, mariachis and preview The National Parks: America's Best Idea. Saturday, September 19, 6-9 PM.

SPONSOR THE BROADCAST LOCALLY: Help bring the history and stories of our National Parks to South Central Texans by underwriting the broadcast of the program on KLRN. Andrea Scotto, ascotto@klrn.org, can provide all the details.

KLRN Video Blog | August 17

Take a Peek at the PBS Press Tour

I love summertime. This is when PBS announces our fall lineup and it’s so refreshing when new programs are unveiled.

What’s even more exciting is that PBS has just returned from their press tour in Calif. and is already seeing the results of their efforts.

On a conference call I participated in yesterday with the PBS Communication Advisory Council, the media team reported “…strong media attendance, including the Associated Press, TV Guide Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and more than 130 other publications and Web sites with 60 million+ total circulation.” USA Today called last week’s PBS Press Tour “excellent” and Washington Post’s Lisa de Moraes said “PBS’s press tour is the best lineup by far.”

You can check out the PBS Press Tour yourself on YouTube. Among the highlights you’ll find:

• David Tennant brings a “breath of fresh air” to Masterpiece
• Astronaut Mike Massimino on twittering from Space
• Patti Smith interview outside of studio
• Paula Apsell and Susan Lacy give great overviews of the coming season and how they pick topics/ talent for each season
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – talks about filming in Africa, his parents birthplace
• The Electric Company’s “Shock” beatboxes the letters PBS @7:04

I could go on about what’s new this season, but don’t take it from me or PBS, check out the press tour yourself at http://www.youtube.com/pbs. I’ll look forward to reading your thoughts.

Your Opportunity to Walk with Dinosaurs

Have you heard that dinosaurs will be in San Antonio this fall? Walking with Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular will visit the AT&T Center on November 4 -8.

Anyone interested in dinosaurs, history, engineering, or robotics will be amazed at this show. The live show is based on the famous Walking with Dinosaurs series produced by BBC and seeks to once again bring dinosaurs to life. The entire floor of the AT&T Center will be cleared to make room for these massive creatures. KLRN viewers will have a chance to watch a behind the scenes documentary about this amazing production. “Walking with Dinosaurs: The Making of the Live Experience” will air this Sunday at 7:00pm. I’ve watched this program and, trust me, it will amaze you to see the amount of work that goes into designing and creating these life size creatures. …And I do mean life size. The largest dinosaur is 72 feet from nose to tail! Anyone familiar with engineering won’t be surprised to know that there are some tense moments. No design is every implemented without a few hitches. I don’t want to give away any details, so you’ll just have to watch. Don’t forget to tune-in to KLRN on Sunday (8/16) at 7:00pm.

Andrea.

P.S. Please note that the above clip is from the Live Experience event and not from the Making of… documentary.

Ruff n Stuff | KLRN KIDS Go Back to School

Families zoomed into the San Antonio Children’s Museum on Saturday, August 8, attending the Passport Back to School event. Over 1,100 people entered the doors and ventured to the Tooth Booth, the kid-powered elevator, and the H-E-B Kids’ Market, making new friends and having fun along the way! As children were engaged in play, they were learning! Any time is learning time and what a perfect location for children and their families to play together. It was amazing to see children pushing along their shopping baskets choosing their purchases and it was just as fun watching the parents observing and engaged too. Children stood in the middle of a large bubble in the Bubble exhibit, they dug for treasures and manned a front end loader. A special treat was the Fetch lab where they made catapults and released cotton balls; Ruff Ruffman, from the PBS KIDS GO! show, Fetch with Ruff Ruffman, made special appearances too.

Community partners shared important program information with parents and caregivers; they learned more about parenting programs, home-visiting programs, the important role they play as the child’s first and most important teacher, and about resources that are available for them in their communities! Children walked away with school supplies, backpacks, books, and smiles. We’re really excited that the event was such a hit and we look forward to the next time where we can help kick-off a new school year!

Blogger: Maricella Borroel