Kids Strive to Reach #SummerReading Goals

On your mark, get set…READ! Children, teens, and adults are running to participate in Summer Reading Fun, the Forsyth County Public Library’s annual summer reading program.

One proud young patron shows off the racecar
he made at the Cumming Library’s Summer
STEAM Team program this week. The program
 teaches science and math concepts with fun,
hands-on activities for children ages 8 to 11.

Registration for the program opened on the last day of school and over 4,000 patrons have already signed up and set a summer reading goal, says Laura Bradley, Program Manager. Over 2,300 patrons attended the Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnivals held at the Forsyth Conference Center and the Cumming and Hampton Park Libraries just after Memorial Day.

“This year’s Summer Reading Fun theme is focused on health and sports,” says Bradley, “so patrons will see programs and storytime activities that they may not usually associate with the library.”

The theme was selected by the Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CSLP), a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children, teens, and adults at the lowest cost possible for public libraries.

“In addition to traditional summer programs like puppet shows, animal visits, and music and magic performers, we’ll be offering programs that educate patrons of all ages about health and wellness,” says Bradley.

The Library is working with the UGA Extension to present programs for adults on cooking with fresh herbs, healthy eating on a budget, preserving foods from the garden, and ideas for packing healthy lunches. Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre will present programs on safety and nutrition for kids. And a local chef will also give two workshops for teens in July on preparing healthy no-bake meals.

The Library’s popular STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs have also been adapted to include sporting events and sports science. Early this week at the Cumming Library, young patrons studied the physics of drag racing and then constructed their own racecars and tested them on a ramp to see which designs and materials made the fastest cars.

Later this month, STEAM programs at the Post Road Library will explore the effects of motion and force in athletic activities and answer the question “What did you eat?” with a study of human and animal digestive systems. A full schedule of STEAM programs is planned for each library branch and students in 3rd through 5th grade are invited to participate.

Patrons can register for Summer Reading Fun online or in-person at any Forsyth County Public Library branch through July 31. Participants have until August 6 to record books toward their summer reading goal.

The Library and its Summer Reading sponsor, FCPL Friends and Advocates, will reward children and teens who set and reach a summer reading goal with a free paperback book.

All registered Summer Reading participants who meet their reading goal will also be entered in a raffle drawing for several grand prizes. Readers up to grade 5 will be entered to win a Family Fun Pack, graciously donated by Stars & Strikes. Readers in grades 6 to 12 will be entered to win a gift card and basket from AMC Theatres. Adult readers will be entered to win an Apple iPad mini.

For information about summer events for children, teens, and adults, check the Library’s online event calendar at www.forsythpl.org to view programs by age group or by location. Printed Summer Program Guides are also available at each branch.