The Skidompha Library Summer Reading Program is set to begin Wednesday, June 1, with activities for youths and adults.
Each year, the Collaborative Summer Library Program picks a nationwide unified summer reading theme to promote and provide summer reading materials and ideas to state libraries. The goal is simple — support literacy when school is out for summer.
Skidompha is joining libraries around the U.S. to celebrate the theme for 2022: Oceans of Possibilities, according to a news release from the Damariscotta-based library.
Children 12 and younger can keep track of their reading to earn raffle tickets and prizes throughout the summer. Every child who signs up receives a free book, and there are five raffle baskets with different ocean themes. Ocean-themed, summer-long programming will feature craft kits, a picture book club, story time, “Mr. Drew and His Animals Too!,” exploring tide pools with the Chewonki Foundation, art and building classes, and free movie screenings of “The Blue Planet” at The Lincoln Theater.
Teens 13 to 18 will receive a free book and other reading treats when they register for the summer reading program. They can keep track of their activities on a bingo sheet and turn them in to earn raffle tickets for three prizes — a relaxation bag (a $25 gift card to Barn Door Bakery, an insulated travel mug, Buddha Board, and Burts Bees gift set are just some of the prizes), a technology bag (with wireless Bluetooth earbuds, Mobile game controller, LED strip lights, and a MERGE cube), and an adventure bag (with a Midcoast Kayak gift certificate for Muscongus Bay Wildlife Tour for 2, first aid kit, two headlamps, and a Nalgene water bottle and more).
Programming includes seed planting, making mandala calendars, seashell painting, a weekly Beach Chair Book Group with lots of time to talk about books and drink lemonade, a weekly board game hangout with snacks, multiple art classes, naturalist walks, and programming with Marine Mammals of Maine.
Adults can join a Bingo challenge to gain entries into a prize drawing that will take place at the end of the summer — the more bingos completed, the more entries gained. Programming includes a monthly ocean-themed virtual book club, a monthly mystery book club offered by Coastal Senior college, biweekly genealogy research help and story collection, a sea shanties book talk and concert, storytelling events, naturalist walks, programming with Marine Mammals of Maine, a shipyards and lighthouse cruise with Maine Maritime Museum, and storytelling events.
For more information about each event, pick up a printed list of summer programs in the library, visit the Kids, Teens, and Adult Summer Reading webpages at skidompha.org, look for Skidompha on social media, or check out the library’s online calendar of events.
Library hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call Skidompha at 207-887-0919.
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