Upcoming Events

  • IPEI's 2025 spelling bee  poster features an illustration of a bumble bee on a rich yellow background with black lettering
    IPEI’S ANNUAL ADULT TEAM SPELLING BEE
    SATURDAY MARCH 8TH  |  4PM to 6PM
    Liquid State Brewing Company, 620 W. Green Street, Ithaca

    JOIN THE BUZZZZZZ!

    Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) hosts the 27th annual Adult Team Spelling Bee at Liquid State Brewing Company on Saturday March 8th from 4pm to 6pm. This annual “fun”draiser event supports IPEI’s grants programs for local teachers and students.

    Gather your “hive” of up to six people to participate in this friendly team competition for orthography lovers and autocorrect aficionados alike. Teams work together to accumulate points for every correctly spelled word over four rounds to vie for a queen bee trophy and pots of local honey. Last year’s winners, the South Hill Hive Mind, included individuals who had never met before the event.

    Brandon Fortenberry (DiscIthaca) returns this year as the Bee MC and Zoë Van Nostrand (former IPEI Board Member) will serve again as the Bee Pronouncer. Guest “beekeepers” include Bob Proehl (Trivia Master and Local Author), alongside other Ithacans to be announced.

    Register your business or community group below to secure one of the ten team spots!

    Not able to make the event? Consider sponsoring a Spelling Bee Word for $100 to raise funds for grants to teachers and students while featuring your company or community group at the event.

    Due to space constraints, IPEI’s Spelling Bee is a participant-only event. In the future, we hope to find a venue that can accommodate spectators. Thank you for your understanding.

    Questions? Email ipei@ipei.org.


    HIVE LEVELS:

    • Business ($400) for 2-6 bees
      Includes recognition on IPEI social media and newsletter, business name acknowledgement during the event, logo and team name displayed at table, and one free drink per team participant. 
       
    • Community Group ($300) for 2-6 bees
      Includes team name and community group name displayed at table and one free drink per team participant. 

    yellow Register button with black letters

    IPEI thanks Cayuga Health for their Premier Event Sponsorship of this year’s Spelling Bee event along with sponsors Cornell University, CFCU, and Liquid State Brewing Company. 

     

  • PAST EVENTS

  • Orange flyer with image of ice cream cone dripping with caramel including details of IPEI Flavor Fundraiser

  • EAT ICE CREAM IN OCTOBER TO SUPPORT IPEI!
    IPEI Ice Cream Flavor October Fundraiser

    Join us at a Social Night – Thursday, October 17, 5:30 – 7:00pm
    @ Purity Ice Cream, 700 Cascadilla St, Ithaca

    Eat ice cream and support IPEI throughout the month of October by purchasing our Flavor Fundraiser: Haunted Harvest Treat. Enjoy a reimagining of a fall favorite, apple pie, in this tasty mix of vanilla ice cream infused with caramel swirl, tangy sweet apples, and crunchy golden graham crackers. 

    On Thursday, October 17th from 5:30-7:00pm head out to Purity to grab a cone of Haunted Harvest Treat and meet IPEI staff and Board Members. We’ll have coloring activities to celebrate the start of the school year and the fall season!  

  • A cute zombie figure holds a disc with a pumpkins and skulls in the background to highlight the annual Disc Ithaca Spooker event.

  • Disc Ithaca Annual Spooker Event and IPEI Fundraiser
    Saturday, November 2, Registration starts at 12:30pm and event runs until 7:00pm
    Tucker Hill, Locke, NY
    REGISTER HERE

    DiscIthaca’s hosts their annual club finale and IPEI Fundraiser – The Spooker!!!

    This event is open to everyone with a pulse, though zombies with at least two fingers may be admitted with TD Approval.

    Your entry includes:
    – 2 Rounds of Disc Golf at the beautiful Acadia Social Club (a.k.a. Tucker Hill)
    – 1 round by day and 1 by night (for the Glow Round glow accessories will be available!)
    – Catered Meal provided between rounds
    – Full Color Innova Disc

  • Colorful image of carousel and bees that highlight IPEI events

    Sweeten the end of summer with IPEI!
    FRIDAY AUGUST 23 & SATURDAY AUGUST 24
    Stewart Park, Ithaca

    • Fri. Aug. 23 & Sat. Aug. 24 from 11am – 7pm: Take a Free spin (or many!) on the Carousel.
    • Fri. Aug. 23 at 7pm: Grab Free ice cream prior to the Movies in the Park screening of Monsters, Inc.
    • Sat. Aug. 24 from 3-5pm: Meet IPEI’s staff and board and enjoy Free ice cream and activities!

    We can’t wait to hear your ideas for strengthening local community and school connections!

     
     

     

  • IPEI's adult spelling bee graphic on yellow background with illustrations of bees and sponsor logos

     

    IPEI’S ANNUAL
    ADULT TEAM SPELLING BEE
    SATURDAY MARCH 9th
    4PM – 6PM
    Liquid State Brewing Company

    JOIN THE BUZZZZZZ!

    Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) presents the Adult Team Spelling Bee, now in its 26th year! This annual fun-draiser event brings together community members and word aficionados to support grants for teachers and students in the Ithaca City School District.  

    Puns, quips, and witticisms abound as ten “hive” teams compete for one Queen Bee Trophy and pots of golden honey from Cornell’s Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies and Gil’s Honey Bees. 

    Brandon Fortenberry (DiscIthaca) returns this year as the Bee MC and Zoë Van Nostrand (IPEI Board Member) will serve again as the Bee Pronouncer. Guest “beekeepers” include Matt Butler (Ithaca Voice), Moira Lang (ICSD School Board Vice President), Bob Proehl (Trivia Master and Local Author), and Lisa Swayze (General Manager at Buffalo Street Books).


    HIVE LEVELS:

    • Business ($400) for 2-6 bees
      Includes recognition on IPEI social media and newsletter, business name acknowledgement during the event, logo and team name displayed at table, and one free drink per team participant. 
       
    • Community Group ($300) for 2-6 bees
      Includes team name and community group name displayed at table and one free drink per team participant. 
    IPEI thinks that Cayuga Health is the “bee’s knees” for their Premier Event Sponsorship of this year’s Spelling Bee event along with sponsors Cornell University, Liquid State Brewing Company, and 14850.com