Duck Fest 2023 retuns this weekend at Navarro ISD
(Seguin) – May the ducks land wherever they fall. The Navarro Education Foundation is changing things up in hopes of creating even more excitement for its annual Navarro Duck Fest Fundraiser.
NEF President Katie Clark says after a few years of hosting the event along the waterways of Walnut Springs Park in downtown Seguin, this year’s effort will return to district grounds where instead of floating to the finish line, the ducks will be dropped from the sky.
“This year is going to be super exciting. Instead of floating the ducks, we are dropping the ducks from a helicopter onto the Navarro High School football field and the closest 30 ducks to the center of the Panther will win prizes. The rubber duckies will be dropped out by either the winner of the Principal’s Challenge or a representative that is assigned. Whichever campus adopted the most ducks wins the $3,000 Principal Challenge Grant and gets to drop the ducks out of the helicopter,” said Clark.
Clark says adopting the $5 rubber ducks is easy. She says all folks have to do is go online and purchase them under the education foundation tab found on the district’s website at nisd.us. Also on that page, will be the opportunity to sign-up for another fun event scheduled that same day.
“We also have a 5K this year. We are back at the high school and junior high at Navarro and we will be starting the 5K at 11 a.m. The Navarro Jazz Band will be playing. We will have the national anthem at 11 and then the 5K will kick off and it’s all on campus at Navarro and as the runners finish up and come back, we will drop those ducks from the helicopter,” said Clark.
Of all the changes to this year’s fundraiser, Clark says returning Duck Fest to the Geronimo community is perhaps the most exciting of them all.
“The original Duck Fest was actually in Geronimo and we floated the ducks on Geronimo Creek and we had a 5K at the school so with the drought situation at Walnut Springs and then there was some damage to that little dam that helped pool up the water at Walnut Springs, we were very concerned about water levels and flow which is always kind of a challenge with floating ducks for a race. So, we brainstormed as a board. Somebody mentioned dropping them out of the helicopter and the idea formed and we ran with it,” said Clark.
Clark says the invitation to Duck Fest is for everyone and even encourages families outside the district to join in on the fun. She says the bottom line is ensuring those extra dollars for classrooms districtwide.
“Then something very important to understand is that all of this money goes back to classroom grants at Navarro. Last year, we gave $80,000 in classroom grants to enrich the campus. The teachers apply for the grants for things like field trips, technology, materials, things that they need for their classrooms to make the educational system more exciting,” said Clark.
This year’s list of changes also includes moving up the fundraiser to April instead of May.
The goal for the group is to adopt out 1,500 ducks for the helicopter drop. During Duck Fest, families will also be treated to free kids’ games. Kona Ice will also be on site. The Navarro Cheerleaders will also be selling hot dogs, chips and drinks.
The Duck Fest Helicopter Drop and Waddle 5K will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Navarro football field. 5K registration and warm up begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by the helicopter duck drop at noon.
Again, cost to adopt a duck for a chance to win a prize is $5. The cost to participate in the 5K Waddle is $10 per person.
Ducks will be available for adoption up until the drop or while supplies last.