NOLS kicks off summer activities, reading program

Branches of the North Olympic Library System have a variety of activities this summer that encourage reading, inspire creativity and learning and provide opportunities to connect to the community.

The Library’s Summer Reading Program activities aim to engage young people and families to help prevent the “summer slide” and build a lifelong love of reading; library officials say youths who don’t read during the summer can lose up to a third of what they learned in the previous school year.

The 2018 Summer Reading Program includes a reading challenge with incentives to earn a free book and T-shirt, chances to win prizes and events for all ages happening both within and beyond library walls — from music to magic, bowling parties to beach walks, storytimes to science.

Track your page count

Sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at a local NOLS branch beginning June 16.

Track your reading from June 16-Aug. 18 and earn prizes made possible by local Friends of the Library groups. Earn a free book just for signing up and receive a NOLS Summer Reading Challenge T-shirt when you’ve read for 30 days.

For every 15 days a participant reads, they may submit a ticket in to the grand prize drawing for a chance to win a scenic plane ride with Rite Brothers Aviation, a Whale Watching Tour, a $100 gift card to a local book store or restaurant, or a LEGO set.

Celebrate the start of the Summer Reading Program with the Hands On Children’s Museum from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, June 16, at the Port Angeles Library. The museum includes interactive exhibits and programs for children, families and school groups. Create your own kazoo, trace fossils, race “Rumble-Bots” and try out Makey-Makey creations with the Hands On Children’s Museum.

Build a planter box with The Home Depot at 2 p.m. the Forks Library. All supplies are provided by Sequim’s Home Depot and store employees are volunteering their time to offer the workshops. An adult must accompany children under the age of 8. Participants are encouraged to bring their own hammers (if they have them), but the library will also have hammers available for use.

The Summer Reading Program is generously supported by the Friends of the Library at all four NOLS libraries.

For more information about the Summer Reading Program and other events, visit www.nols.org/srp, call 360-417-8500 or email discover@nols.org.