Children, Youth & Families Picnic Celebration

When: Monday, April 22, 2013

Time: 3:30 - 7:30 PM

Where: The North Plaza and North Lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol

What: A fun, free, family-friendly event with 60 different activities, entertainment, family leadership training and community resource sharing!

• 3:30 – 7:30 PM Picnic Celebration and Activity Areas Open

• 3:45 – 4:15 PM Live Performance by Lil’ Mike and Funny Bone, a Native American performance duo

• 4:15 – 4:45 PM Live Performance by Oklahoma Kids, a 'Little League' of Entertainers

• 4:45 – 5:15 PM Remarks from Governor Fallin and Commissioner White (all activity areas are temporarily closed)

• 5:30 – 7:30 PM Picnic Style Dinner

• 6:00 – 6:30 PM Live Performance by Jimmy Wayne, Professional Country Music Artist (meet and greet to follow)

• 6:30 – 7:30 PM Entertainment provided by Emcee One

• 7:30 PM Picnic Celebration Ends

Why: Healthy minds and bodies are important for every child. Communities must come together to assure that every child and family has the needed resources to reach their full potential. Together, we can: support services for children and families, prevent problems before they start and create a system that works!

Parking Information: All parking spaces are reserved for Capitol staff, unless otherwise noted, until 5:00 p.m. There is free, but limited, parking around the Capitol complex. Carpooling is encouraged. A map displaying available parking is available here. Large buses must park in the west parking lot close to the Governor’s mansion. There will be several checkpoints along the northbound and southbound lanes of Lincoln Blvd. where volunteers can assist you with crossing the street. Four 6-passenger golf carts will be circulating throughout the picnic to assist families with young children and others who need assistance. If you live in Oklahoma City, the Metro Transit routes 18 and 23 go into the Capitol complex. You can check the fare and times at www.gometro.org.

Once You Arrive: You’ll need to check-in at one of the two registration tables to receive your free, goodie bag. The registration tables will be located on the northwest corner of the Capitol building and on the north lawn closest to NE 24th Street under the big, white tent. Please, only one goodie bag per family.

Snacks and Dinner: Snacks and water will be available beginning at 3:30 p.m. A free boxed dinner will be provided to all registered attendees beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please indicate the number of type of sandwiches you’d prefer on your pre-registration form. The sandwiches will be on a white French bread, meat only, and free of veggies and sauce/condiments, unless otherwise noted. There will be veggies and condiments available on the side. Pre-registering does not guarantee that your preferred sandwich will be available.

Preparing for the Picnic: It’s important to review the parking map before arriving at the Capitol complex so you can easily find an available parking space. This entire picnic will be outdoors. Please plan appropriately, such as wearing clothes that are suitable to the weather and protecting your family by wearing sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. You may want to bring some hand sanitizer, a picnic blanket or some lightweight, foldable chairs. A limited number of tables and chairs will be provided under the picnic tent for your family to eat dinner or to rest in the shade. To help reduce waste, several water canteens will be available to refill your reusable water bottles. Bottled water will also be provided; please recycle your water bottle when you’re finished. A first aid station will be provided by the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, but if someone in your family has special medical needs, please bring all the necessary equipment and medication. Standard and accessible portable toilets will be located in two locations. All of this information will be on the map you'll pick up at the registration table.

In case of rain or bad weather: If there is rain, the event will be moved to the concourse area of the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, home to the Oklahoma City Redhawks, located at 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive in Oklahoma City. Free parking is available east of the ballpark in the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center parking lot. You’ll enter the Ballpark through the southeast entrance. Decisions regarding event cancellation will be made no later than 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. Please check the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services webpage (www.odmhsas.org), call (405) 522-3908, or check Facebook or Twitter for any updates regarding a change in venue or cancellation.

This Event will use photograph and record video and film footage in connection with archival, promotional and publicity campaigns of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. By your presence in this Event area, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be photographed and recorded as part of the release in video and/or any and all media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, throughout the universe and by the advertising and publicity thereof. Further, by your presence here, you grant permission for your likeness and voice to be included therein without compensation, credit, or other consideration. If you do not wish your likeness to be recorded on video, please go to the registration table to receive a sticker designated for such purpose which must be worn throughout the Event. Thank you for your cooperation.

Last Modified on 04/17/2013

Interesting Facts

In Oklahoma, about 39,000 children live with a serious mental health condition.

From 2003-2007, suicide was the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-24 and for youth ages 15-24.

At the end of state fiscal year 2012, there were 9,123 Oklahoma children in the OKDHS out-of-home care.

Oklahoma’s public high school students reported in 2011 that 71% had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more days during their life and 50% had ever tried cigarette smoking.

Interesting Facts

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