2012 YOUTH SUMMER READING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
June
KIDS SUMMER KICK-OFF/ MOVIE NIGHT Friday, June 1 7:00 PM Location: Celery Flats Historical Area Age Group: FAMILY/ALL AGES Summer is finally here, and we can’t wait to share all the fun things we have planned! To kick it off right we are throwing a party! Enjoy Magic & Fun with magician Jeff Wawrzaszek in the Amphitheatre. Also, be sure to stop by the various interactive booths and displays! A dance party will take place until dusk, when movie time will begin! Be sure to bring bug spray and blankets to sit on for your movieviewing enjoyment. Concessions are available for purchase. A joint venture with the Portage Summer Entertainment Series.No registration required. TAKE FLIGHT WITH BATS OF THE WORLD Friday, June 8th 2:00 PM Location: Celery Flats Historical Area Age Group: ALL AGES Learn the truth about bats, as we explore their life after dark in this exciting live animal presentation. How do bats use sound waves to navigate in the dark? What is the bat’s role in the food web? Learn about conservation. This program runs 45 minutes and you will get to meet bats from North America, South America and Africa—some with a 3 foot wingspan! This informative event is for all ages. A joint venture with the Portage Summer Entertainment Series. (In the event of rain, this program will be held inside the Hayloft Theatre at same location). No registration required. B.A.R.K.!-Books Are Reaching Kids! June 18th - August 10th Age Group: ELEMENTARY AGE Sign your child up to read one-on-one to a well trained canine at the library. Studies show that children who practice reading aloud to a nonjudgmental K-9 can improve their reading skills. Your child can read whatever they want for 20 minutes. Don’t miss out! This promises to be a very “pawsitive” experience.Various times and days are available. Please call the Youth Information Desk at 329-4544 Ext. 603 or stop in to register for a date and time. Registration begins June 4th. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU EATING—LUNCH N’ LEARN Thursday, June 14th 11:00 AM Location: Celery Flats Interpretive Center Age Group: ALL AGES Explore nature in your own backyard with the help of Naturalist Dan Keto. What did humans eat before farms and gardens? You will learn where the foods we eat everyday originally came from. This program is a cooperative effort with the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Portage Parks and Recreation Department. No registration required. MOTHER GOOSE STORYTIME Monday, June 18th and 25th 10:30 AM Age Group: INFANT/TODDLER This special time is designed for children from birth to 23 months. Delight and stimulate your baby’s senses with books, rhymes, and music. A developmentally appropriate playtime will follow. Appropriate for 0 months to 23 months. No registration required. EXPLORING CELERY FLATS WITH A NATURALIST Monday, June 18th 7:00 PM Location: Celery Flats Interpretive Center Join Naturalist Dan Keto as you explore the rich natural world encountered along the trail and around the historic buildings of the Celery Flats Historical Area.You and your family will be amazed at all the living things that can be found close to home. Discover ways you can explore nature around your own backyard. This program is a cooperative effort with the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Portage Parks and Recreation Department. No registration required. DANCES OF INDIA Tuesday, June 19th 1:00 PM Age Group: ALL AGES Enjoy a performance of vibrant, Bollywood-style dances, featuring Susan Iervolina’s students in beautiful traditional costumes. All ages welcome. No registration required. FAMILY STORYTIME Wednesday, June 20th & 27th 10:30 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Children will build language skills while listening to stories, learning rhymes, moving to music, and learning the mystery letter of the week! No registration required.
LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS!IN THE EVENING Thursday, June 21st 6:00 PM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required. LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS!IN THE MORNING Friday, June 22nd 10:00 AM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required. SUMMERTIME READING! SUMMERTIME NATURE! Monday, June 25th 7:00 PM Age Group: ALL AGES Book pages come alive outside on the trails around the library. Learn about literature that celebrates the summer season. Be ready to encounter the unexpected as a naturalist uncovers hidden treasures. Look for Naturalist Dan Keto outside the library. This program is a cooperative effort with the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Portage Parks and Recreation Department. No registration required. ABC ACTIVITY TIME Friday, June 29th 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Drop in playtime including sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, pocket charts, manipulatives and more. This is a time for your child to practice skills that will help them get ready to read! Open to Preschoolers with their favorite adult. The focus is for parents to participate in the learning process with their child while making it fun! No registration required.
July B.A.R.K.!-Books Are Reaching Kids! June 18th - August 10th Age Group: ELEMENTARY AGE Sign your child up to read one-on-one to a well trained canine at the library. Studies show that children who practice reading aloud to a nonjudgmental K-9 can improve their reading skills. You child can read whatever they want for 20 minutes. Don’t miss out! This promises to be a very “pawsitive” experience.Various times and days are available. Please call the Youth Information Desk at 329-4544 Ext. 603 or stop in to register for a date and time. Registration begins June 4th. REGISTRATION REQUIRED HAVING A GREAT TIME OUTSIDE AT HAVERHILL PARK Monday, July 2nd 7:00 PM Location: HAVERHILL PARK Age Group: ALL AGES The park alongside Haverhill school and on the bicycle trail of the Portage Park System is a great example how Portage Parks bring nature to our neighborhoods. Explore nature in your own backyard with the help of naturalist Dan Keto. This program is a cooperative effort with the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Portage Parks and Recreation Department. No registration required. MOTHERGOOSE STORYTIME Monday, July 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th 10:30 AM Age Group: INFANT/TODDLER This special time is designed for children from birth to 23 months. Delight and stimulate your baby’s senses with books, rhymes, and music. A developmentally appropriate playtime will follow. Appropriate for 0 months to 23 months. No registration required. FAMILY STORYTIME Wednesday, July 11th, 18th, 25th 10:30 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Children will build language skills while listening to stories, learning rhymes, moving to music, and learning the mystery letter of the week! No registration required.
TITANIC ADVENTURE Wednesday, July 11th 6:00 PM Age Group: TWEENS (3RD-5TH GRADE) Join us for an exciting night exploring the Titanic from the comfort of your library! I.D. images, search for clues, and see what it would have been like for a kid on the Titanic. REGISTRATION REQUIRED LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS!IN THE EVENING Thursday, July 12th 6:00 PM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required. LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS!IN THE MORNING Friday, July 13th 10:00 AM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required. RETURN OF THE BIG TRUCKS! Tuesday, July 17th 10:00 AM Age Group: SUMMER KIDS, ALL AGES Calling all construction kids! Meet Big Truck Driver Mike and learn some construction site safety. Please gather in the lower level meeting rooms.You can then climb aboard real dump trucks, excavators, front-end loaders, and more. Remember your cameras! Parking is limited so please plan ahead. Rain/weather reschedule date is July 24th at the same time and place. Co-sponsored with the City of Portage Street Department. No registration required. MID-DAY MAGIC “TRICKS N’ EATS” WITH MAGICIAN ALAN KAZAM Friday, July 20th 11:00 AM Age Group: ALL AGES Bring your lunch and watch the magic happen right before your very eyes! Magician, Alan Kazam, is a family friendly entertainer that will leave you wondering “How’d he do that?” No registration required. continued on back page
ABRA CADABRA! MAGIC TRICKS WORKSHOP Saturday, July 21st 10:00 AM Age Group: ELEMENTARY (K-5TH GRADE), TEENS Magician Alan Kazam is going to teach you how to learn and perform a bag full of take home tricks to amaze your friends and family. Registration is required. $10 per child will include a magic book, magic wand, and some fun tricks. REGISTRATION REQUIRED ON THE WAY TO THE BOG Monday, July 23rd 7:00 PM Location: WESTLAKE NATURE PRESERVE Age Group: ALL AGES At Westlake Nature Preserve beyond the pavilion is a path that leads through the forest towards a gem of a bog. Join Naturalist Dan Keto on a walk to the bog. Discover seasonal highlights as we move from forest to bog. Observe the plants and animals that call this unique place home. This program is a cooperative effort with the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the Portage Parks and Recreation Department. No registration required. ABC ACTIVITY TIME Friday, July 27th 10:00 AM Age Group: PRESCHOOL Drop in playtime including sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, pocket charts, manipulatives and more. This is a time for your child to practice skills that will help them get ready to read! Open to Preschoolers with their favorite adult. The focus is for parents to participate in the learning process with their child while making it fun! No registration required.
August B.A.R.K.!-Books Are Reaching Kids! June 18th - August 10th Age Group: ELEMENTARY AGE Sign your child up to read one-on-one to a well trained canine at the library. Studies show that children who practice reading aloud to a non-judgmental K-9 can improve their reading skills. You child can read whatever they want for 20 minutes. Don’t miss out! This promises to be a very “pawsitive” experience. Various times and days are available. Please call the Youth Information Desk at 329-4544 Ext. 603 or stop in to register for a date and time. Registration begins June 4th. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
‘TWEEN CUPCAKE WARS WORKSHOP Tuesday, August 7th 6:30 PM Age Group: TWEENS (3RD-5TH GRADE) Try out your cupcake creativity! Fill and decorate cupcakes, build a stand, and set up the perfect cupcake photo op for our online “cookbook”. REGISTRATION REQUIRED LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS!IN THE EVENING Thursday, August 9th 6:00 PM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required. LEGOS! LEGOS! LEGOS!IN THE MORNING Friday, August 10th 10:00 AM Age Group: ALL AGES Come on in and express your creativity. LEGOS of various sizes will be provided for all ability levels. No registration required. ART ENCOUNTERS: A FESTIVAL OF MUSIC, ART DEMONSTRATIONS, AND INTERACTIVE ART AND CRAFTS FOR ALL AGES Saturday, August 18th • 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Location: PORTAGE SENIOR CENTER AND PORTAGE DISTRICT LIBRARY Art Encounters is an art festival full of dance, music, interactive art, an artist reception and demonstrations, even juggling and tightrope walking topped off with a create your own sundae ice cream social. There is truly something for everyone. The afternoon begins with Cirque Amongus which introduces potential performers of all ages to the fundamentals of circus arts - juggling, movement and balancing. You may create your own sundae while listening to tunes by the Portage Senior Band, then learn the basics from local artisans from knitters to wood carvers. The events culminate at Portage District Library with a performance by musicians from the K’zoo Folklife Organization and Hired Hands. Librarians will provide interactive art for all ages and members of Artists and Illustrators and the Chinese Ladies’ Art Club will host an art exhibit, artist demonstrations and reception featuring painting, drawing, multimedia and jewelry. These events are free and are sponsored by the Portage Summer Entertainment Series and Portage District Library. No registration is required.
300 LIBRARY LANE • PORTAGE, MI 49002 • 269.329.4544 • WWW.PORTAGELIBRARY.INFO
Youth Summer Reading Program
2012 Summer Reading Program & Events Portage District Library
June 1st - August 8th Preschool and elementary age children earn prizes for reading (or being read to) books of their choice throughout the summer! Simply keep track of the number of hours read and every 5 hours earn a prize. The goal is to read 30 hours before August 8th.