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 In order to make EarthFest as enjoyable as possible, we would like to provide you with the necessary information for travel and parking ahead of time. Please read the following tips and share them with the other teachers/chaperones on your bus.
Please note: There are often other large events taking place in the region around the time of EarthFest. If you use an outside bus company for your travel needs, make your arrangements early!
Because of the volume of buses on our parking lot the day of EarthFest, and since most school buses look nearly identical, there may be some difficulties in locating your bus when you are ready to take the children back to their school. To make your bus easier to identify, two signs will be provided with the name of your school to post on the back window and side of your bus. Decorate them in any way you like — make it a classroom project with an environmental theme!
- We unfortunately do not have the means to contact the bus drivers ahead of time. We ask that you provide the included information under “Bus Tips for Bus Drivers” to the driver so that he/she may read it over before you depart.
- Double check with the bus driver as to what time you need to bring the children back to the bus.
- Go over with the children what they should do if they get separated or lost at EarthFest (have them go to one of the Information Tables marked on the event map).
- Make sure you post your signs on the bus. Tape one sign on the window near the main door. Tape the second on the emergency door in the rear, towards the bottom of the door so it is not blocking the driver’s view. Please ask the bus driver for permission to tape the signs inside the bus.
- Ask the bus driver if the school bus is going to be staying on our lot for the day or if the bus is dropping your group off and coming back to pick you up. This is a very important detail that needs to be decided before you leave your school.
- Make sure the bus driver knows the only entrance/exit for EarthFest will be from Butler Pike.
If your bus is dropping off the children, leaving, and returning later in the day:
The bus will drop you off alongside the field for EarthFest. Please mention to your children that they need to stay calm (no pushing, shoving, or running) when getting off the bus and when getting back on the bus. When the bus comes back to pick up your group, it may not be located in the exact spot where you were dropped off due to the number of buses picking up the children at the same time. Your bus should be located somewhere along the edge of the grass. The signs provided will help you identify your bus. We will have staff on hand to help you find your bus if needed.
If your bus is staying on our lot for the day:
 Your bus is going to pull into the parking spot first. Once the bus is parked in the spot where it will stay for the day, you will be able to escort the children off the bus.
- If your bus is parked facing the ball fields, escort the children off the bus and walk forward to the gravel sidewalk, which will lead you to EarthFest. We will have staff on hand to make sure you lead the children in the correct direction.
- If your bus is parked facing the parking lot, escort the children off the bus and towards the rear of the bus, across and between the other parked buses, and continue on until you reach the gravel sidewalk, which will lead you to EarthFest. We will have staff on hand to make sure you lead the children in the correct direction.
- At the end of the day when you are ready to leave, please stay on the grass until you have all of your children accounted for. Then escort your children to your bus. This time you will approach the bus from the rear. Please make sure your children load the bus in a single line, staying away from the front of the buses. Once the bus driver has confirmed everyone on the bus is accounted for, the bus will then pull out and head back to your school.
We do not want anyone by the ball field located next to where the buses park for the day. The reason is simply a safety issue. Since the ball field is located next to the area where the buses pull out, we don’t want the children accidently stepping in this area. For the safety of the children, we ask that you stay away from the ball field.
If your bus IS NOT staying for the day (returning later to pick up):
- When you are dropped off in the morning, your bus will pull up to the edge of the grass in front of EarthFest. In the afternoon, we are expecting about 20 to 30 buses so there may be a line of buses waiting to pick up the various groups. Please make sure you are able to identify your bus.
- Please make sure your students are staying clear of any other bus. We do not want students playing near or around the buses.
If your bus IS staying on our parking lot for the day:
- The students should remain calm while exiting the bus and walk in an orderly fashion until they reach EarthFest. No pushing, shoving or running on the pavement or around buses at any time.
- Please do not leave anything on the bus. The buses will not be accessible until you are ready to leave.
- If your bus is parked facing the ball fields (facing away from the parking lot), escort the students off the bus, heading past the front of the bus and forward to the gravel sidewalk, which will lead you to EarthFest. We will have staff on hand to make sure you lead the students in the correct direction.
- If your bus is parked facing the parking lot, escort the students off the bus and past the rear of the bus, across and between the other parked buses, and continue on until you reach the gravel sidewalk which will lead you to EarthFest. We will have staff on hand to make sure you lead the students in the correct direction.
- At the end of the day when you are ready to leave, please stay on the grass until you have ALL of your students accounted for. Then escort students to the bus. This time you will approach the bus from the rear. Please make sure your students load the bus in a single line, staying away from the front of the buses. Once the bus driver has confirmed everyone that should be on the bus is accounted for, the bus will then be able to pull out and head back to your school.
An attendance of 9,000 to 10,000 is expected at EarthFest 2008. Due to increased levels of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, temporary changes to parking at Temple University Ambler will be in effect during EarthFest.
- The Meetinghouse Road entrance leading to the large student lot (lot #3) will be closed to ALL traffic.
- ALL vehicles entering and exiting the large student lot (lot #3) will be required to do so by way of Butler Pike.
- Buses must enter the parking lot via the Butler Pike entrance.
- The faculty/staff/visitor parking lots (lots #1 and #2) will be available to faculty and staff and also vendors, exhibitors, and Kids Grow Expo judges attending the event. Access to Lot #1 will still be via Meetinghouse Road.
- A section of the large student lot (lot #3) will be reserved for school buses. The heaviest volume of traffic will occur between the hours of 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. and Noon to 2:00 p.m., when the largest number of school children will be arriving or leaving the campus.
- Directional signs will be placed throughout the campus to assist attendees, employees, students, and visitors.
- Please allow extra time to arrive at your classes and/or offices. Depending upon what time you arrive in the parking lot, parking spaces may be scarce and it may take longer to find one.
- Please drive slowly when entering and leaving the campus, due to the number of people and children that will here.
- We hope you enjoy this important and worthwhile event!
As EarthFest has grown over the years, the number of exhibitors that take part in the event has grown right along with it. Exhibitors are now located in three areas of the event - near the campus Learning Center (Exhibitor Area 1), at the Center of Campus (Exhibitor Area 2), and near the Kids Grow Expo (Exhibitor Area 3). Exhibitors will be informed of the specific location of their booth/table prior to the event - please note that booth assignments are subject to change.
VIEW EXHIBITOR DROP-OFF AND PARKING MAP HERE.
Please follow the signs once you arrive on Meetinghouse Road to where you will unload your exhibit materials. You will follow the “Loop Road” into the rear of campus, near the Learning Center and the Dining Center, to Exhibitor Area 1 (please see Exhibitor Drop-Off and Parking Map). Once you have completed unloading, you will return to the Loop Road. All exhibitors in the rear of campus are asked to park in the designated exhibitor parking location next to the Learning Center indicated on the map as Exhibitor Parking A.
VIEW EXHIBITOR DROP-OFF AND PARKING MAP HERE.
You will follow the “Loop Road” into the central part of campus to Exhibitor Area 2 (please see Exhibitor Drop-Off and Parking Map). Once you have completed unloading, you will to return the Loop Road. All exhibitors in the central part of campus are asked to park in the designated exhibitor parking location next to the Learning Center indicated on the map as Exhibitor Parking A.
VIEW EXHIBITOR DROP-OFF AND PARKING MAP HERE.
As an exhibitor on the Kids Grow Expo side of Meetinghouse Road — Exhibitor Area 3 on the Exhibitor Drop-Off and Parking Map – please be advised that you will be asked to park in the Visitor Parking Lot right next to the event field. You will be directed to the appropriate parking location (indicated as Exhibitor Parking B on the Exhibitor Drop-Off and Parking Map). You may unload your exhibit materials in the lot and travel to your booth space located directly across from the Kids Grow Expo main tent. If you need assistance, please let us know and we would be happy to make accommodations for you.
 For questions about school transportation, bus parking, or changes to parking during EarthFest for students, faculty, and staff, contact:
Susan Spinella
267-468-8312
Larry O’Reilly
267-486-8507
For questions about exhibitor parking, contact:
Jim Duffy
267-468-8108
267-629-9045 (cell) - available after 7 a.m. the day of EarthFest
  
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Changes Include:
Exhibitor Area 1 (Near the Learning Center)