09/08/2026
American River College is opening its doors to parenting students and their families for a free day of exploration, connection, and celebration on Saturday, September 12 from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. Held during National Student Parent Month, Beavers Build Futures is designed with student parents and their children at the center. RSVP: https://bit.ly/4gnK9ZC
Children receive a HomeBase Adventure Map at check-in and spend the day visiting ARC's HomeBases, trying hands-on activities and collecting a stamp at each stop. A completed Adventure Map earns a prize and an entry into the closing raffle. Additional activities throughout the day include face painting, balloon art, T-shirt decorating, and more.
While kids explore, parents can visit the Resource Fair, where ARC departments and community organizations share information about basic needs support, childcare, career support, and services for veterans, refugees, and first-generation students.
The morning also features "Short Path, Big Future," a moderated panel of ARC career education faculty highlighting certificate and degree programs that are short-term, affordable, and lead to careers with strong job growth and stable pay. Panelists will speak about what each program covers, how long it takes to complete full-time or part-time, and what graduates typically earn. Children's activities run at the same time so parents can attend.
The day closes with lunch, brief remarks from campus leadership, and the Adventure Map raffle, with prizes including gift cards and family gift baskets.
