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The University of Colorado at Boulder's second annual Spring Fest is expected to draw thousands of students and visitors to campus April 9-11 for the Buffalo Can Challenge, Admitted Student Day, Healthy Kids Day, the spring football game, the Forever Buffs 5K run and other events.

The third annual Buffalo Can Challenge will be held on Friday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Carlson Gymnasium. The event raises awareness of hunger in Boulder County where an estimated 50,000 residents live in poverty. Registered teams will bring nonperishable food items with which to design and build sculptures that are exhibited and judged for awards in seven categories. Winners of the competition will be named at the end of the event and all food items used for the structures will be donated to Community Food Share, the food bank of Boulder and Broomfield counties.

Saturday, April 10, marks the second annual Admitted Student Day when an estimated 4,000 high school seniors and parents from as far away as Maine and Oregon and as close as Boulder and Denver will be on campus, according to Cara Sturman, senior assistant director of admissions.

"This will be an exciting day for admitted students and their families," said Sturman. "For those who have decided they will attend, it is a chance for them to be welcomed into the Buff family. For students still deciding on whether or not they will attend, the day is a perfect opportunity to try ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä-Boulder on for size and determine if it is the best fit."

After registering and picking up a schedule, admitted students will attend the Welcome Pep Rally at the Coors Events/Conference Center from 8 to 8:50 a.m., followed by academic and student life information sessions held throughout campus from 9 a.m. to noon. An information fair will be held at the Balch Fieldhouse Complex from noon to 2 p.m., followed by optional campus tours and drop-in sessions with academic departments.

Also on Saturday, April 10, the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä-Boulder athletic department will host Healthy Kids Day on Folsom Field at 11 a.m. before the spring football game kickoff at 1:30 p.m. At Healthy Kids Day, children in eighth grade and younger are invited to participate in football, volleyball, soccer, basketball and other activities led by student-athletes. Children also will have the opportunity to meet ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä football team members at an autograph session.

"Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity for children to meet and interact with our outstanding student-athletes," said Mike Bohn, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä-Boulder athletic director. "Not only will the kids get to experience one of the greatest settings in college football at Folsom Field, but they'll also learn firsthand that sports and other athletic activities are an important part of a healthy lifestyle."

Spring Fest also will include census campaigning on April 10 when volunteers will canvass low-response-rate neighborhoods, primarily student areas. The volunteers will meet at 9:15 a.m. at the University Memorial Center terrace and receive a free breakfast, T-shirts and hats before heading out to knock on doors and distribute fliers. City Planner Chris Meschuk said the event is a great opportunity for residence hall students, academic departments and other campus groups to organize their own teams for the project. Individuals may participate as well. Census canvassing will wrap up before the 1:30 p.m. football game kickoff.

This year's Forever Buffs 5K run, hosted Sunday, April 11, by Senior Class Council and the Alumni Association, will raise money for the 2010 senior class gift as well as the region of Darfur in Africa. The run will start at 8 a.m. at the Duane Physics and Astrophysics entrance, across the street from the buffalo statue by Folsom Field, and will end on the Duane Physics and Astrophysics lawn. The route will take runners through campus and along Broadway Street, connecting campus with the Boulder community, organizers said.

To register for the Buffalo Can Challenge visit . To volunteer for census canvassing, e-mail Annie Cameron at CameronAnnie@Gmail.com. To register for the Forever Buffs 5K run visit . To view a schedule of events April 9-11 visit the Events Calendar at .