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Take Your Child to Work Day

Spotlight Archive

This summer we will celebrate the ninth annual “Take Your Child to Work Day” (TYCTWD) at the NCI-Frederick and Fort Detrick: Wednesday, July 13, 2005. 

Through this event,hundreds of children over the years have been able to see their parents, guardians, or other relatives in a unique way—at work—and at the same time the children have had a day filled with exciting and educational activities.

Why July, and not April, the national “Bring Your Child to Work” day? At NCI-Frederick, many employees work in restricted areas where their children would not be allowed. Early on, organizers determined to set aside a day in the summer for the children and design safe and educational programs that could take place in permitted areas. Once NCI-Frederick obtained the support of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, we were off and running and have not stopped since!

We Need You!

TYCTWD 2004 hosted more than 300 children. Because attendance has increased dramatically over the past several years, more programs are DESPERATELY needed. As a program sponsor, you will determine the age range that best suits your program and the number of children that your program can accommodate. Once the online registration is closed, children are assigned by lottery to no more than three program sessions. Unfortunately, due the large number of children, sometimes we can only schedule a child with one or two sessions. The goal is to register every child for at least two programs, or all three, if possible. Meeting this goal requires adding a significant number of new programs. That’s why we need you!

Planning Committee Will Help You Develop a Program

You say you don’t have time to plan something? Don’t worry! You only need to provide space and staff—the TYCTWD Planning Committee members will help you develop a child-friendly program in a safe environment and will provide supplies needed to conduct the program. Most programs provide the children with a souvenir of their participation.  Safety inspections are conducted for all programs to make sure that our children will not be injured or subject to any potentially hazardous situations.  Many parents tell us that their children really look forward to this event every year.

Planning Committee members represent the NCI-Frederick; SAIC-Frederick, Inc.; Data Management Services, Inc.; Wilson Information Services Corporation; Charles River Laboratories; the Garrison; and USAMRIID. Because TYCTWD is a facilitywide event, we rely on the support from everyone working at NCI-Frederick and on Fort Detrick, especially as the number of children who register increases every year.

Please consider sponsoring a program or a Hub activity or volunteering; sign up through the Web site that will be activated in March. A member of the Planning Committee will contact you once your information has been received. A telephone hotline number will also be available on the Web site.

Since TYCTWD is for children between the ages of 6 and 13, older teenagers and young adults often volunteer just because they enjoy working with the children. The Directorate of Community Services, Fort Detrick, joined the Planning Committee last year; through this Directorate, anyone (civilian or military) volunteering time outside of work may receive official credit for that volunteer time. Also, those who are still in school may receive some community service credit. 

Please visit the Web site at http://kidsday.ncifcrf.gov , and take a look at the photo gallery from TYCTWD 2004.  It was a wonderful day, but it cannot happen without the support of the NCI-Frederick and Fort Detrick community. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss participation in the event, please e-mail kidsday@ncifcrf.gov.

Maritta Grau, Editor
Scientific Publications, Graphics & Media
SAIC-Frederick, Inc.
National Cancer Institute at Frederick

Barbara Birnman, Writer
Office of Scientific Operations
National Cancer Institute at Frederick

Photography Department
Scientific Publications, Graphics & Media
SAIC-Frederick, Inc.
National Cancer Institute at Frederick

Jim Miller, Web Graphics and Development
Computer & Statistical Services
Data Management Services, Inc.
National Cancer Institute at Frederick