Block Party is an annual RHA event hosted during Raider Days. Raider Days is a week long event that different student organizations are involved in, RHA always being one. Block Party is a carnival event done every year since the start of Raider Days. It is geared towards all students and faculty to get out, enjoy the warm sunny weather and feel a special SOU sense of community and spirit. This spring term, SOU's RHA executive board only consisted of an Acting President and NCC. These two worked hard to put this program together for the residents and students of Southern Oregon University.

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SOU’s RHA reached out to their friends across campus to contribute to this beloved tradition. First, the Siskiyou Chapter of NRHH eagerly agreed to run the cotton candy, snow cone and pop corn machines for the entire event. Next, RHA turned to EPIC, Southern Oregon University's Event Planning Involvement Committee, to contribute. EPIC bought three gift cards to local eateries that were to be raffled off to students who won raffle tickets through participating in other activities. EPIC also held a cake walk booth during Block Party that was a wonderful addition to the sugar high everyone was on. Family Housing was encouraged to hold a booth as well. The Family Housing council worked with RHA to create a booth that was interactive for college students and children. They held a bubble making/arts and crafts station where students and children could make their own bubble wand out of pipe cleaners. This booth was notably one of the most popular booths for attendees. The three area councils also had booths to run. Each council created an activity attendees could participate in and win raffle tickets. Cascade Council had a Pokemon catch game, where participants tried to throw a hoola-hoop around different Pokemon. Greensprings had a minute to win it game where they hosted competitions against the clock to achieve tasks like get an Oreo cookie from the forehead to the mouth without using hands. Then SUMA or Susy/Madrone, had a plinko game set up inspired by The Price is Right. Along with these amazing booths and activities, there was also a free dinner provided by the dining services, Sodexo. The RHA executive board worked with Sodexo to cater dinner at the Stevenson Union, where the event was held, instead of the dining hall. This came at no cost to RHA or the attendees of the program. Three bounce structures were ordered for students to play on. There was an obstacle course, boxing bounce house and bungee run. While playing on these structures, two student bands were invited played their music for everyone to enjoy. Block Party truly was a program for all students and faculty. Everyone who came got to enjoy the sun, food, games and a sense of community. It was a great way for RHA and SOU to end the year with fun and spirit.

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The ultimate goal of this program is to gather students and faculty together to enjoy the missed sunny weather, share Raider pride and have fun. RHA wanted to use as many on campus resources as possible to limit costs and gain attendance from students not normally reached out to by RHA only programs. SOU's RHA takes pride in its on campus connections and always looks for opportunities to bring multiple organizations together to feel the enjoy in putting on a successful program. We also wanted the event to come completely free to all students, faculty and community members, which we were able to accomplish by the collaboration with other organizations and dining services. Also, the past two years, the weather has not been in Block Party's favor, and rain has forced the event to be moved inside cutting back on activities and attendance. Since this year we foresaw good weather, are goal was to get as many attendees as possible. We wanted to take the program to the students, so holding it out doors in the Steven Union in the center of campus life was a great goal we accomplished.

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This program not only left a uplifting, positive impact on attendees, but the organizations involved as well. Students left the program feeling tired from all of the energy exerted on the bounce structures that made them happy and ready to spend the next couple weeks studying for finals. Kids of the community, family housing and faculty were ecstatic by the opportunity to play and have fun on a college campus and their parents relieved by the no cost. Students also got to choose form a menu that is not usually offered in the dining hall. The special menu, a elaborate taco buffet, was a different, delicious treat most residents had not been exposed to before. It was also a great time for faculty and professional staff to talk with and bond with students in a relaxed setting outside the work place and classroom. Strong connections were formed as well between Family Housing, EPIC and NRHH to RHA. The collaboration left a powerful impact and this wont be the last time these organizations will work together. The two RHA members who worked together created a stronger friendship and a meaningful feeling that this year was a good one.

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This was an extremely popular, well attended program for RHA and SOU as a whole. It was designed for all types of people: students, staff, families and community members. Great things were accomplished on such a small budget. Everything fell into place perfectly, the weather, location and creativity all played a crucial role into what made this program so successful. A community has formed over the year between students and staff and this program just gave the chance for that community to be felt by everyone and shared with everyone.

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Block Party has a popular, universal theme of carnival fun. We accomplished so much with this program while using minimal finances. A school of smaller or larger budgets could take this idea and add their own school spirit into it. Cross campus collaboration is also an easy way to take advantage of resources that help gain momentum for a program. When the weather is in your favor, and a prime location obtained there is no stopping a program idea like this. Every college student wants the opportunity to blow off steam. Faculty want to bring their kids to campus to enjoy the fun, play side of college life. Block Party can accomplish these things and more.

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