​A Summer of Adventure for Denver kids

The Denver Public Library wants to take kids on an adventure this summer—all without leaving the city. The library kicks off its signature Summer of Adventure program Friday, June 1, and aims to improve children’s literacy skills and learning opportunities through a variety of activities, including reading. The program runs June 1–Aug. 11 at all Denver Public Library locations. Registration packets are available at each branch location beginning June 1.

The Summer of Adventure program is more than reading. The program includes experiential learning in the form of programs and maker challenges where children use STEM concepts to have fun and enhance learning skills during non-school months.

Literacy studies show that children who do not read during the summer demonstrate a significant loss in reading skills, while students who read just five to six books throughout the summer months perform better the following school year.

“Our summer program has always focused on keeping kids reading throughout the summer,” said City Librarian Michelle Jeske. “The new Summer of Adventure program takes things further and incorporates informal learning and activities that help prevent summer learning loss,” Jeske adds. “Now, kids can attend a library event, submit a project to our maker challenge or use their MY Denver Card to explore the city. Activities keep kids engaged and learning over the summer, which is our primary motivation.”
 
Denver Public Library has offered summer reading programs for local residents for over 89 years. Summer of Adventure is one of the library’s most important programs for children and teens and is offered each June–August at the Denver Central Library, 25 branch locations and through two bookmobiles. In 2017, DPL had 24,425 children participate across the city.


About the program
The Summer of Adventure program provides free activities, suggestions for summer reading and incentives for Denver kids. It is divided into two age-appropriate themes:


Preschool and younger
Encourages parents to read and engage with kids in a variety of activities, including nature walks, finger painting, dance parties, making music and library programs like Storytime. As parents/caregivers complete a variety of activities together, they can earn free books.


Kids (K – 5th grade)
The program offers rewards for reading independently or with an adult as well as completing tasks such as library programs, STEM activities, maker challenges and more. Register at any Denver Public Library location and receive a book or journal to get started. Once registered, kids will be entered into weekly drawings for a chance to win family passes to various cultural and recreational institutions.

Teens (6th-12th grade)
Teens focus on reading, making and exploring during Summer of Adventure. Like the kids challenge, teens are entered into weekly drawings for a chance to win family passes to various cultural and recreational institutions. Teens who complete 12 activities can receive a book after June 30.


Complementary activities are also held throughout the summer at all branch locations including: workshops, craft making, musical entertainment and more. Details are available at denverlibrary.org and at all branch locations.
 
Cost:
All programs of the Denver Public Library including Summer of Adventure are free and open to the public. While the library encourages everyone to sign up for a library card, one is not required to participate.

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