From Balancing Rocks To 3D Printing
Let The Summer of Adventure Begin
By Tara Bannon Williamson
Park Hill Branch Librarian
Summer of Adventure begins on June 1!
The library has been offering a summer reading program for as long as I can remember. A primary goal is to curb the loss of reading and math skills experienced by youth during the summer months. The library is excited to offer a wide variety of informal learning and activities over the summer, creating a flexible environment by encouraging participating inside the library, online, and in the community.
Each year, the Denver Public Library makes small improvements, incorporating the latest research and input from customers. This year, those going into kindergarten through graduating high school have three learning paths to take: READ, MAKE, and EXPLORE. Those younger than kindergarten will follow the “Five Every Child Ready to Read” practices – SING, TALK, READ, WRITE, and PLAY.
Research shows that intrinsic motivation is a beneficial state that comes from within an individual, and is not generated from an external reward. With intrinsic motivation, the reward is the behavior itself.
For example, I take a walk to enjoy the beautiful trees along Montview because I have the will and interest to enjoy the activity at hand. If I were only to take a walk if I promised myself a cannoli from Spinelli’s (extrinsic motivation) that would not have the same long-term benefit as me building a healthy habit through self-confidence and dedication.
Summer of Adventure participants have the opportunity to earn two prizes this summer. The first is available at the time of registration which, depending on your age, will be an egg shaker, journal or book. The second prize will also be a book. We love giving away books to keep, as studies have proven that the number of books in a child’s home has a significant impact on the success of the child later in life. Having as few as 20 books in the home makes a momentous difference propelling a child to a higher level of education, and the more books you add, the greater the benefit.
Read on for the details on the adventures that await you this summer at the library!
Pauline Robinson Library Events
Tech Help Appointments |Mondays and Tuesdays, noon – 1 p.m.
Get technology assistance from one of our in-house experts on your own device or a public computer. Learn the basics, such as email, social networking, word processing and eMedia. Call 720-865-0290 to schedule an appointment for Monday or Tuesday.
Rain Garden Work Day | Saturday, June 2, 9:30 – 1 p.m.
Participate in building Pauline Robinson’s Rain Garden. Bring your gloves and a shovel and rake. We will continue to learn about rain gardens and will be digging and planting.
Board Games | Mondays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 @ 1:30 p.m.
A board game is a tabletop game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked “board.” Some games are based on pure strategy, but many contain an element of chance; and some are purely chance, with no element of skill.
DYI Dry Erase Board | Tuesday, June 5, 2 p.m.
Participants will make a dry erase board using a picture frame. (Teens)
Preschool Storytime | Wednesdays, June 6, 20, 27, 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for 3-5 year olds and their parents or caregivers.
Man of 1000 Songs | Wednesday, June 6, 3 p.m.
Rob Wivchar using vocals, acoustic guitar and harmonica, The Man of 1000 Songs will present children’s classics, Disney tunes and classic rock. Ideal for ages 0-11.
Maker Thursdays |Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28, 1:30 p.m
Design, build, and tinker with lots of fun materials to create anything you can dream up. Engineer and build the best solution to a problem using simple materials.
Birdhouses | Tuesday, June 12, 2 p.m.
Build and create a custom-painted birdhouse. A home that can provide a place for birds to live. Real tools, real wood, real cool. We can add them to our rain garden once that is built. (Teens)
Mini Early Literacy Fair with If Not You, Then Who?| Wednesday, June 13, 10 a.m. to noon
Join us for two hours of literacy fun! Explore a variety of activities that focus on the early literacy skills (READ, WRITE, TALK, SING, PLAY, LAUGH). Babies, toddlers and preschoolers will play and learn with simple hands-on activities that can be continually re-created at home for endless learning and fun. Program is geared toward ages birth to 5 years and their caregivers.
Zine Workshop with Denver Zine Library | Wednesday, June 13, 3 p.m.
What is a zine? Learn about this unique form of publication and Denver’s Zine Library, then make your own mini booklet. Ideal for children grades K-5.
3-D printing Basics | Tuesday, June 19, 2 p.m.
Want to learn about 3D modeling? Interested in 3D printers? We’ll teach you how to use free 3D modeling software (available at tinkercad.com) to create objects that can be 3D printed or even used in video game creation.
DISCLAIMER: 3D printing is SLOW, so we won’t be able to print out your creations right away. You will receive a print of what you design in the workshop 1-2 weeks afterwards. (Teens)
Clothespin Airplane | Wednesday, June 20, 3 p.m.
Be an engineer! Build and design an airplane using popsicle sticks. Ideal for children grades K-5.
The Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, June 23, 12 p.m.
This month’s selection: Home by Toni Morrison. Drop-ins are welcome.
Sound Formation | Tuesday, June 26, 2 p.m.
Rhythm & Percussion. This is an interactive workshop with high quality hand percussion instruments from around the world, for participants to use. Workshop helps understand the true nature of rhythm. (Teens)
Stained Glass Frame | Wednesday, June 27, 11 a.m.
Learn about colors with this visual and tactile art activity. Ideal for children age 0-5. (Join us right after Storytime.)
UV Bouncy Balls | Wednesday, June 27, 3 p.m.
Be a chemist! Make bouncy balls using fluorescent tempera paint and see how it reacts when exposed to black light. Ideal for children ages 8-12.
Enter the Maker Challenge for a chance to win a prize for a project you’ve made this summer. Starting June 1, visit http://denverlibraryadventures.org/and click on “Share Your Project.”
Park Hill Library Events
All Ages Storytime | Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for children of all ages and their parents or caregivers. Craft activity immediately follows the program.
Baby Storytime | Thursdays and Fridays at 11:15 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their caregivers. Play and social time immediately follow the program.
Toddler Storytime | Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their caregivers.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturdays, June 2 and 30, 11 a.m.
Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Telling Your Life Story | Tuesday, June 5, 4 p.m.
Everyone has a story to tell. Learn how to identify your own stories of the people, events and experiences that shaped who you are.
Bonus: This six-step process also can be used to help declutter and downsize.
Hummingbird Henna for Teens | Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m.
Learn about the history of henna, practice designs with henna ink, and have a professional design applied to your hand/arm/leg. Ideal for ages 11-17.
*Arrive early, seating is limited.
May the Force (of Static Electricity) Be With You | Wednesday, June 6, 3 p.m.
Static Electricity surrounds us, binds us, and is a whole lot of fun to explore. Come Padawans, learn the secrets of static electricity and join interactive demonstrations on how you can harness its Force to move objects, generate lightning, propel starships, and more.
Drive-In Movie Box Cars | Wednesday, June 6, 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate National Drive-In Movie Day by making a car from a box and then watching some short films with popcorn. Ideal for ages 2-8.
Pool Noodle Craft | Friday, June 8, 3 p.m.
Make a bow and arrow and pom pom shooter from pool noodles. Ideal for ages 5-12.
Stone Balancing with Tom O’Dwyer | Saturdays, June 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2 p.m.
Play with the forces of gravity and nature as you learn to balance stones by settling your mind and harnessing your own artistic design. Children 7-14 must be accompanied by an adult. Come to one or all sessions.
Magic Club | Monday, June 11 and Monday, June 25, 4:30 p.m.
Do you already play Magic: the Gathering, or are you interested in learning? Stop by two afternoons a month to play and meet other teens. Ideal for ages 10-17.
Mindful Mobility | Tuesday, June 12, 4 p.m.
Incorporating mindful breath and alignment, we’ll open up the body to improve range of motion and balance for safety and longevity. Simple, fun and accessible to people of all fitness levels.
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) | Tuesday, June 12, 6 p.m.
Join the Park Hill TAB. Help plan events and projects, talk about your favorite books, music, movies and make your opinion count. Plus snacks. Ideal for ages 13 and up.
Safari Sally | Wednesday, June 13, 3 p.m.
Meet some amazing animals up close and personal with Safari Sally. Find out not only how they make our world a better world, but how we can help make it a better world for the animals.
Voice of the Wood Chamber Players | Wednesday, June 13, 6:30 p.m.
Four cellos and two violins. Good friends, playing great music, and having a wonderful time in a casual atmosphere.
Pashmina, with Author Nidhi Chanani | Thursday, June 14, 4 p.m.
Meet Nidhi Chanani, guest at Denver Comic Con and author of the acclaimed graphic novel Pashmina. In this colorful and heartwarming debut, Chanani weaves a tale about hardship and self-discovery born from juggling two cultures and two worlds.
Father’s Day Gift Making | Friday, June 15, 3 p.m.
Decorate a mug for dad or someone special with oil based markers. Ideal for ages 5-10.
Tape & Paint Dots for Preschoolers | Monday, June 18, 10:30 a.m.
Use various materials to create an art piece. Ideal for ages 1-5.
Kids’ Book Club | Tuesday, June 19, 3:30 p.m.
Read one or more books from these graphic novel series: Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosoczka, Baby Mouse or Squish by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. Book club fun includes a Lunch Lady relay race, create your own graphic novel character and have a snack that Squish loves.
Edible Revolution for Teens | Tuesday, June 19, 6 p.m.
Class covers shopping and cooking skills with recipes easily reusable at home. Topic: rice and pasta. Ideal for ages 11-17.
*Arrive early, seating is limited.
The Amazing Elstuns’ Magic Hoedown | Wednesday, June 20, 3 p.m.
A special hourlong summer presentation for family audiences featuring the comedy magic of real live married magic couple Dave and Connie Elstun.
Tools for Your Caregiving Journey with Jane Barton | Wednesday, June 20, 6 p.m.
Discuss and test drive some tools for mapping the caregiving journey including CareMaps by Atlas of Caregiving which will help you map and assess your current and future care situation, as well as other online resources.
Tween Book Club | Thursday, June 21, 3:30 p.m.
Walk Two Moons by Sharron Creech
Activity: TBD
Underground Comedy Club: David Rodriguez | Thursday, June 21, 7 p.m.
David Rodriguez, who has played clubs and indie rooms across the Western U.S, lives in Fort Collins with his wife and two kids who he loves very much but makes fun of onstage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Eighteen and over only due to adult content.
Rock Painting | Friday, June 22, 3 p.m.
Decorate rocks to keep or to hide around the neighborhood as part of the kindness rocks trend. Ideal for ages 5-12.
Community Center Stage: A Little Help | Tuesday, June 26, 4 p.m.
Come explore your supportive relationships and learn about the mission and services of A Little Help, whose mission is to connect neighbors to help seniors thrive.
Talon Talk | Wednesday, June 27, 3 p.m.
We will dive into the characteristics that define raptors and why they are important to our ecosystems. Discover the various types of birds of prey found all over the world, what it takes to care for a bird of prey, and learn how Nature’s Educators is permitted to keep raptors. Animal ambassadors will be present.
African Americans in the West | Wednesday, June 27, 6:30 p.m.
Terri Gentry from the Black American West Museum will highlight the prominent role African-Americans played in the settlement of Colorado as miners, soldiers, homesteaders, schoolteachers, ranchers, blacksmiths, cowboys, lawmen and more.
Bleach Pen T-Shirts | Friday, June 29, 3 p.m.
Use a bleach pen to make a design on a shirt. Ideal for ages 5-12.