Stingrays 4th of July Parade Float!!!

In the interest of trying to stay under budget, if you have any of the following materials that you'd like to declutter, please donate to the float: 

~ lumber, especially 2x4s & plywood 

~ paint, especially (but not necessarily) exterior - brown, black, white, red, or blue preferred 

~ screws 

~ patriotic-themed fabric, or red, white, or blue fabric (for sails) 

~ rope 

~ plastic gold coins and jewelry, like plastic bead necklaces, to throw from the float during the parade (we'll order some of this, and candy, but if you're looking to rid yourself of some...) 

Email me at [email protected] to arrange drop off, or just leave wood neatly stacked by the fence on the left of the front yard, or other things on the porch. Address is 3112 Sesbania Drive. 

I think it may be helpful to have a table saw when we are building, but I don't know how feasible it is for someone to haul one over to our house. Just putting it out there, in case it's not difficult, as I have other saws, but lack this type. 

This is the most ambitious float we've planned in our tenure as parade float coordinators, so we'll start early with scheduled days to build it. My favorite thing about working on the parade floats is always how we come together as a community to create something. It may sound cheesy, but to me, it's really beautiful. It's like a distillation of the amazing sense of community that I feel as a Stingray mom. 

I'm going to post a poll to help us schedule build days/times/dates. Please look for the Facebook poll and respond ASAP (or email me if you don't use Facebook). 

We've usually had a couple of long open house style days, and people have come and gone as it fitted their schedules. I want to have several days this year. 

Sometimes children have been dropped off to help, which for some kids worked great, and for others meant more of a playdate if the work we had to do was something they could not or did not want to do independently. Generally, in terms of accomplishing the job at hand, it seems most effective when children are accompanied by parents who can work with them as a team. We very much want the kids to feel a part of creating the float! 

Please start planning your costumes now! We'd like to see all the kids/parents dressed as Pirates for Freedom on/with the USA Stingray! 

We still need someone in the know, such as an engineer, to advise us on how to keep the kids safe on a double decker float. Please contact me if you are, or if you know, such a person!