At Dozer Day, kids get hands on the controls

It’s that time again, for children and big kids whose hearts skip at the site of heavy equipment: Dozer Day returns next weekend for its sixth edition.

The popular event, which drew 16,000 visitors to the CEMEX-Fisher Quarry site last year, offers youngsters the chance to climb into excavators, backhoes and bulldozers, ride a big dump truck, and crawl over giant tires and through twisting pipes.

There will be several other games and activities geared to children and families.

Dozer Day will run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

It again will be on the west side of the Southeast 192nd Avenue and Brady Road intersection, just off state Highway 14 (Exit 10).

Tickets are available at http://www.nutterfoundation.org or at participating metro-area branches of: iQ Credit Union, First Independent Bank, Riverview Community Bank and On-Point Community Credit Union.

Cost is $5 for children age 2-12 and seniors 60 and older, and $7 for adults (small children are free). At the gate, tickets will be $7 for children/seniors, $10 for adults.

Inside the grounds, most events are free. Food and beverages are for sale. There is no ATM.

Proceeds from the nonprofit effort go the Vancouver-Clark County Parks Foundation and other local children’s charity groups.

Friday will be set aside for about 500 Vancouver school district students in the Lunch Buddy program, with their adult buddies.

Early slots during the weekend are available to sponsors. New sponsors are welcome, as are volunteers.

See the website for details, or call Stephanie Hadley at 360-823-1322.