Paws & Claws: Summer Reading 2021

Join us at the Hennessey Public Library for a fun, creative, educational program this summer!

This summer we’ll be learning about various animals, habitats, carrying capacity, the food chain, and much more! Along with interactive, educational activities, participants of all ages can engage in fun summer activities such as water balloons, yard games, animal-themed yoga, and charades. Decorate and build birdhouses for your yard, make an wild-life or ocean-themed diorama, and create beautiful tie-dye t-shirts this summer!

Above all, we’ll be encouraging patrons of all ages – from infants to the elderly – to pick up a book each day and engage their minds and imagination. Reading or being read to provides countless benefits for all ages – its exercise for the brain, exposing it to new vocabulary, perspectives, information, and concepts. Reading promotes empathy and emotional intelligence as well as reduce stress and provide a reprieve from the uncertainty of life. It is especially important for children – of all ages – to engage in books throughout the year to avoid losing their developmental profess between school semesters. Your health and safety are our top priority this summer. We encourage our patrons to continue to participate in social distancing. We will be taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of illness and keep you and your family healthy.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

  1. Register

Registration for the program will begin Tuesday, June 1st and continue until June 4th.

Patrons of all ages are welcome and required to register to participate in the Summer Reading program.

Pick up a registration form from a member of staff at the circulation desk.

Upon submitting a registration form, you will receive a calendar of events, a reading log, and information worksheet to help develop your personal summer reading goals.

2. Sign Up for Activities

Some activities will be limited to a capacity of 15 youth participants. Registered participants will take priority and can sign up for these activities in advance at the circulation desk.

While many of our activities are open to all ages, some activities will have age restrictions. Ages will be listed on the calendar and sign-up sheets. Please ask staff if you have any questions or concerns.

Please note, for your child’s safety, it is recommended that any child under the age of 9 be accompanied by an adult while attending an activity.

3. Track your reading and participate in activities and events to win prizes

We’ll kick off the program on Monday June 7th at 2pm. We will introduce the overall program as well as our behavioral expectations while participating in activities. Following the introduction, participants will be invited to play Frozen Critters – an educational version of freeze tag to get kids excited to learn about the food chain and life in the wild. This event is open to all registered participants of all ages.

At the end of the summer we will be hosting a Pizza Party for all participants and family Friday July 30th at 3:30pm with an awards ceremony to follow at 4:30pm. Prizes and giveaways will be determined by participation in activities, reading logs, and drawings. Each participant will be given one reading log but you can pick up additional logs at any time. All reading logs much be turned in by5:30pm Monday, July 26th.

All activities begin at 2:00pm and end at 3:00pm. All children below the age of 9 must have an adult or older sibling present following the activities. Participants are asked to wear clothes and shoes appropriate for playing outside or using art supplies such as paint.

As always, keep up to date on all our adventures on Facebook and Instagram. Just search for “Hennessey Public Library”. For more information, please call us at 405-853-2073 or email us at info@hennessey.lib.ok.us

Summer 2021 Activities

  • Week 1
    • Monday June 7th @ 2pm: Quick-Frozen Critters (all-ages)
    • Tuesday June 8th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday June 9th @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday June 10th @ 2pm: Art Day: Birdhouses (all-ages)
    • Friday June 11th @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 2
    • Monday June 14th @ 2pm: Ecosystems Activity (all-ages)
    • Tuesday June 15th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday June 16th @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday June 17th @ 2pm: Lego Camp (all-ages)
    • Friday June 18th @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 3
    • Monday June 21st @ 2pm: Animal Charades and Yoga (all-ages)
    • Tuesday June 22nd @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday June 23rd @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday June 24th @ 2pm: Art Day: Animal Painting (all-ages)
    • Friday June 25th @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 4
    • Monday June 28th @ 2pm: Head in the Clouds (all-ages)
    • Tuesday June 29th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday June 30th @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday July 1st @ 2pm: Lego Camp (all-ages)
    • Friday July 2nd @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 5
    • Monday July 5th: CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY
    • Tuesday July 6th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday July 7th @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday July 8th @ 2pm: Art Day: Tie-Dye (all-ages)
    • Friday July 9th @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 6
    • Monday July 12th @ 2pm: Animal Scavenger Hunt (all-ages)
    • Tuesday July 13th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday July 14th @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday July 15th @ 2pm: Lego Camp (all-ages)
    • Friday July 16th @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 7
    • Monday July 19th @ 2pm: Web of Life (all-ages)
    • Tuesday July 20th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday July 21st @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday July 22nd @ 2pm: Art Day: Wildlife Dioramas (all-ages)
    • Friday July 23rd @ 2pm: Tween Funtivities Club (ages 7-12)
  • Week 8
    • Monday July 26th @ 2pm: Yardgames and Water Balloons (all-ages)
      • All reading logs due by 5:30pm
    • Tuesday July 27th @ 4pm: Teen Funtivities Club (ages 13-18)
    • Wednesday July 28th @ 10am: Littlest Patron Playtime (ages 0-5)
    • Thursday July 29th @ 2pm: Lego Camp (all-ages)
    • Friday July 30th @ 3:30pm: Pizza Party w/ Award Ceremony to follow