LEWISTON — Lewiston-Auburn students, their parents and residents are invited to the Bates College campus Saturday to watch a soccer, lacrosse or football game, free.

Lewiston-Auburn youth football games will be held in the college’s new multimillion-dollar football stadium Saturday. A harvest fair atmosphere, with pumpkin-carving and face-painting, will be offered next to the football field.

Saturday is the first L-A Community Day at Bates, Athletic Director Kevin McHugh said.

The college recently held its homecoming and parents weekend. Now it wants to invite Lewiston-Auburn to see a game and tour the campus, McHugh said.

Everyone knows about Bates, but not everyone is familiar with the campus, McHugh said, adding that the college wants to change that. “We’re looking at ways to engage with the community,” he said. Sports is a perfect venue to do that, McHugh said. Using the NCAA promotion of “Take A Kid To the Game,” Bates is expanding on that offering not only with football, but but men’s soccer, women’s soccer and field hockey.

Bates has sent out thousands of fliers to Lewiston-Auburn schools inviting youngsters to games and mini-sports clinics. “Admission to the games, to the clinics, everything’s free,” McHugh said.

Bates is also committing to help raise money for famine relief efforts in the Horn of Africa. On campus Saturday, there will be a booth for Atlantic Global Aid, a Lewiston-Auburn-based group working to raise money and supplies to bring to Somalia and Kenya in December.

The booth will offer information on what the group is doing and how millions of children are dying from starvation because of an extended war and drought. Bates will donate Saturday’s concession sales to Atlantic Global Aid, McHugh said. A large number of Lewiston-Auburn immigrant residents have strong ties to the famine victims in Somalia and Kenya.

The overall goal of L-A Community Day is to help build aspirations. Bringing a youngster on campus to see the college, watch a game or meet college students can plant thoughts in youngsters that they will go to college, McHugh said.

“We want to show what college athletics is about,” he said. “Hopefully, we expose them in a positive way to the campus and the college community. We do believe our kids can be role models, that younger kids in sports will look up to them.”

A side benefit for Bates, McHugh said, is “maybe we’ll pick up some fans in the process.”

Go and do:

What: Lewiston-Auburn Community Day at Bates. The community is invited to “Take a Kid to the Game” and watch college sports games, free.

Field hockey and women’s soccer game at 11 a.m., Campus Avenue Field.

Football game, 1 p.m., Central Avenue Field.

Men’s soccer at 2 p.m.

All games are against Middlebury College.

Before the 1 p.m. football game Lewiston FLY will hold an in-house senior championship game. At halftime, Auburn JV will play Lewiston FLY; and Auburn varsity vs. Lewiston FLY.

Youth clinics:

9 to 9:30 a.m., lacrosse, Campus Avenue Field.

9:30 to 10 a.m., baseball clinic, Leahey Field, Central Avenue.

10 to 10:30, basketball clinic, Gray Athletic Building, Central Avenue. All clinics free to boys and girls, given by Bates athletes and coaches.

Also offered throughout the day: campus tours, Bobcat athletic contests, fun family activities.

For more information: http://home.bates.edu/views/2011/10/06/athletics-community-day/

Copy the Story Link