Facts

SUBJECT:	KinderCaminata (March and April each year)
PARTICIPANTS:	Estimated annual number of Kindergarten students: 6,000
WHY:	To introduce through hands-on demonstrations and exhibits, career opportunities available as a result of a college education. The primary goal is to plant the seed of higher education as soon as the child begins school.
PARTICIPATING COLLEGES:	Cypress, Fullerton, Golden West, Irvine Valley, Santa Ana, Santiago Canyon (Orange County). Allan Hancock, Canada, Cuesta, Foothill-DeAnza, San Bernardino Valley (other California Community Colleges).
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS:	Anaheim City, Buena Park, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Newport-Mesa, Ocean View, Orange, Placentia-Yorba Linda, Santa Ana, Savanna, Tustin and Westminster.
HISTORY:	Founded in 1993 by Galal Kernahan. He proposed the concept of KinderCaminata to Los Amigos of Orange County, a service organization dedicated to enhancing opportunities in the Latino community. The first KinderCaminata attracted 2,000 students to Santa Ana College on March 31, 1994.
CÉSAR CHÁVEZ:	The event is traditionally held near or on the birth date of César Chávez (March 31), the renowned United Farm Workers leader. On the day of the event kindergartners are given caps with Chávez's motto, "¡Si, se puede!" (Yes, you can!).
ORGANIZATION:	KinderCaminata is a non-profit organization supported by an annual fundraising dinner, salute to chancellors, presidents, superintendents, community organizations, colleges and university contributors. KinderCaminata is governed by a volunteer board of directors composed of the four Orange County community college district chancellors, university, business, education, and community leaders.

KINDERCAMINATA VISION

KinderCaminata: Orange County education and community leaders developed a concept whereby kindergarten children would be exposed to higher education at the earliest possible time in their school lives.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION

First KinderCaminata: March 31 1994, at Santa Ana College with 2,000 participants.
Number of Participants from 1994 to 2004: 70,000.
Past Sponsors: Anaheim Angels, Coca-Cola, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Disneyland, H.E.R.E. Union Local 681, UFCW 324, Hispanic Unity USA, Los Amigos of Orange County, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union, Quezada, Godsey and Company, Target-Mervyn's, U.S. Department of Commerce-Bureau of the Census, United Way of Orange County, University of California, Irvine, Los Angeles Times.
Past National and Local Media Coverage Include: Latina Magazine, California Educator, Channel 4, 5, and 7, OCN, KWIZ, Radio Exitos, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, La Opinion, EXCELSIOR, Para Todos Magazine, and numerous other multimedia, multilingual sources.

2004 KINDERCAMINATA INVOLVEMENT

Dates for 2004: March - April
Estimated Participants: 6,000 children
Community Colleges Participating in 2004: Cypress and Santiago Canyon (Orange County).
Two School Districts in Orange County: Orange Unified School District and Santa Ana Unified School District.
In-Kind Contributions: KinderCaminata is run and operated by volunteer board members and advisors, community organizations, community colleges, and universities.
Participation: Invitational priority is given to kindergartners in schools with low-income attendance areas.