Library Corner: Summer youth programs abound at EALD

We offer so many different activities and programs at East Adams Library District for youth!

This summer, we have daily activities for kids including GAMERZ, Lego Club, kid crafts, and free movie showings. On August 8, NASA Ambassador Joe Bruce will be here to show us what it takes to be an astronaut or NASA scientist, and on August 17 we’re hosting an Astronaut Training Camp at the City Park at 2 p.m. so kids can see if they have what it takes to make it in space. Kids earn extra tickets for our Summer Reading Club grand prize drawing for every event they attend this summer, so mark your calendars!

We’re also hosting a six-week Coding Camp this summer for kids ages 10-15 who are new to coding or want to expand on the skills they learned during our weekly Coding Club during the school year. Their mission is to create their own special project, which will be on display August 12 at 2:30 p.m. Friends and family are invited to the showcase event so they can see all the hard work the kids have been doing at the library this summer.

On August 21, we’re holding a Tween & Teen NERF Battle for ages 10-17 at the City Park. Kids can either bring their own un-modified NERF guns or use one of ours. Homemade or modified NERF guns aren’t allowed because NERF guns go through safety testing before they’re sold and we want everyone to stay safe and have fun! We will be providing the ammo (basic Elite NERF darts) so kids don’t have to bring—and possibly lose—theirs. The NERF Battle starts at 4 p.m.

This fall, we’re starting a Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for Tweens and Teens. YAC will be a volunteer group whose members work on library projects, provide ideas and event feedback, and help plan events for tweens and teens with help from library staff.

The mission of the group is to engage youth as lifelong library users by promoting reading, volunteering and participation in the library. YAC members are also encouraged to advocate for the library and take up leadership roles to improve the library for the communities we serve. General Membership is open to any local youth from 5th to 12th grade and applications can be picked up at any branch location in Lind, Ritzville and Washtucna.

School is starting soon and we’re already starting to plan for our regular school-year activities for kids of all ages. Preschool story time will start up again on Monday mornings this September and for kids, we’ll again be offering Lego Club, Coding Club, GAMERZ, Page Turners Book Club, STEAM Club, Mystery Club and free movie showings every month starting in September.

During the school year, kids 3rd grade and older can ride the Library Bus from Lind and Ritzville schools to the library. Parents need to call the school or send a note letting school administration know that their child has permission to ride the bus and that they have a way home from the library.

During the school year we also have our Teen Scene Free Pizza Fridays on the last Friday of every month. Teens are encouraged to come snag a few slices of pizza and just hang out with their friends. The first Free Pizza Friday will be September 27 at 4 p.m. for ages 13-18.

On the third Wednesday of every month we hold a Tween Zone activity for ages 10-12. Last school year we held a costume party for Halloween, a Bad Art Night, pizza and board games, crafts, Wii Bowling tournament and a Star Wars Spoof movie. This year our YAC members will help plan the Tween Zone activities and we can’t wait to see what they come up with! The first Tween Zone will be September 18 at 4 p.m.

Follow us on Facebook at East Adams Library District, check out the event calendar on our website at http://www.eastadamslibrary.org or pick up a monthly calendar the next time you’re in so you can keep up with all the fun programs we’re doing for kids every month!