This program was originally presented by one of the neighborhood staffs at the Jardine Apartment Complex. It has grown in popularity, and thus cost, to the point that it needed to be sponsored by the entire complex for budgetary reasons. Designed to pull in the undergraduate student population, who are largely over-committed on campus and in their jobs, this program is an evening of food and Radio Control Car fun.

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The committee began planning for this program in mid-August and decided early-on to have a cook-out associated with the program. A race track was mapped out, food ordered, drinks procured, and advertisements put together in the Jardine Journal--a newsletter which goes to each apartment every month--and in the mailroom for the complex. Residents were able to come for a dinner of traditional American cook-out food (hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and beans) and then sign up to race the cars in competition. Blankets were spread out in the grassy areas of the Plaza neighborhood for residents to picnic on and they cheered their neighbors on as the cars raced around them. Racing lasted almost 2 hours, and prizes of small race cars were given away for the winners of two age divisions--one for adults and one for children. The staff was scheduled in a way that allowed for rotation of staff throughout the evening and everyone had an opportunity to serve, time races, and visit with residents to ensure that community was built through the fun.

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This program was intended to pull undergraduate students particularly out of their apartments and help them get to know their neighbors. Additionally, the hope was that staff would be able to build relationships with residents they don't often see.

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Residents were able to meet new people, and one resident--who is wheelchair bound--gained notoriety and fans through his insistence that he race in his chair with the cars. The staff fixed all of the food ordered in advance and made a run to a local grocery store for additional food as turnout was much higher than anticipated.

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The program was great fun for all involved. Residents of all ages cheered for each other as the competition took place, and most of those in attendance seemed to be the undergraduate students who we were planning for. We underestimated the amount of food we needed, but did not indicate to residents that they needed to only take one piece of meat. Staff members were able to rotate through each of the stations and were thus able to make connections with residents.

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This program could be modified for any living environment on any campus. Race track designers could get really creative with obstacles and features to the race course, and could possible pair the racing with a movie--like Speed Racer.

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