Teen & Tween Summer Reading Program – June 22 through August 5
The Teen & Tween Summer Reading Program (SRP) is open to students entering grades 5 – 12 in the fall.
Registration begins June 22. You can participate online using the Beanstack web site or app, or participate in person using a paper log.
How the Teen & Tween Program works:
- Register using your preferred method – online or in person.
- Read 2 or more hours a week.
- Check in at the Youth Reference Desk each week beginning June 27 and pick up your weekly prize.
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Complete all 6 weeks of the Summer Reading Program and turn in your reading record between Monday, August 1 and Sunday, August 21 to receive a goody bag and automatically be entered into the Final Prize Drawing to be held on Monday, August 22. Goody bags will continue to be available for pick-up through the end of August while supplies last.
Teen & Tween Events – Pick up a copy of the SRP brochure at the Library or download a PDF below. See each event page for more details and to register. Registration is required for all in-person and virtual Teen and Tween events.
MiLibraryQuest: Treasures of the Deep
Wednesday, June 15 – Sunday, July 31
Grades 5 – 12
Teens and tweens in grades 5-12 are invited to participate in MiLibraryQuest: Treasures of the Deep this summer. Pirates, shipwrecks, and monsters have inhabited our oceans for millennia. This quest will challenge teen explorers to complete a crossword puzzle by finding clues on the websites of Michigan libraries. Answers to the puzzle will include famous pirates, real shipwrecks, and mythological monsters.
To get started, head to our Teen Services page or go to the MiLibraryQuest web site. Solve the puzzle by July 31 and enter to win a prize.
Join our Break-In Bags event on Thursday, July 21 at 7 p.m. to work on the Summer Quest with other teens and tweens.
Teen/Tween Summer Reading Kick-Off Pirate Party
Wednesday, June 22
2:00 – 3:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Monday, May 23
Teens and tweens can take part in pirate-themed games and activities to celebrate the start of the Summer Reading Program.
Thursday, June 23
Grades 7 – 12
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Registration required – begins Monday, May 23
Volunteers are needed at the Library this summer. Attend this meeting to find out how you can get involved.
Tuesday, June 28
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Grades 5 & 6
Registration required – begins Tuesday, May 24
Book: Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz
Join us to discuss this month’s book and play a giant version of Clue. Get a free copy of the book at the Youth Reference Desk after you register.
Wednesday, June 29
2:00 – 2:45 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Wednesday, June 1
Make sand art and create other summer crafts.
Teen “Bring Your Own Book” Club: Graphic Novels
Tuesday, July 5
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Grades 7 – 12
Registration required – begins Tuesday, June 7
Teens are invited to join our “Bring Your Own Book” Club. Bring a graphic novel to talk about with the group, to share your recent favorites and get new recommendations from teens like you. We’ll play games and create recycled comics crafts while we discuss.
Thursday, July 7
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Thursday, June 9
Come to the library to create the worst art you can make. That’s right – don’t worry about making something good, just enjoy the creative process! Many materials will be on hand for you to make your disasterpiece. At the end, we’ll vote on a “worst of the worst” to win a trophy commemorating their achievement.
Monday, July 11
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Friday, June 10
Design your own unique ocean animal T-shirt with vinyl stencils and diluted bleach spray. Please bring a pre-washed cotton black or color T-shirt – no white shirts.
Comic Art Fantasy with Artist Jerry DeCaire
Wednesday, July 13
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Friday, June 10
Join us for a live drawing demo by Marvel Comic illustrator Jerry DeCaire. Comic art has long been used to bring fantasy to life. Super heroes, orcs, elves, sorcerers, dragons, wizards, and more. As quickly as the eye can follow, art and fantasy are created in this fascinating live drawing performance.
Friday, July 15
6:00 – 8:30 pm
Grades 6 – 12
Registration required – begins Friday, June 17
Take part in a special summer MTG tournament. Prizes awarded to top players. Everyone in grades 6 through 12 with knowledge of game play and rules is invited to attend. Please bring a Commander deck. Co-sponsored with SRSLY Dexter.
Tuesday, July 19
2:00 – 3:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Friday, June 17
Join us for an afternoon of painting inspired by everyone’s favorite aquatic predators – sharks! Follow along with instructions and then add your own creative touches to make your painting unique.
Thursday, July 21
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Friday, June 17
If you like escape rooms or have always wanted to try one, come try a break-in bag at the Library! Instead of trying to get out of a room, you need to solve a series of clues to break into a bag of prizes. We’ll also work together on solving this year’s MiLibraryQuest summer puzzle.
Tuesday, July 26
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Grades 5 & 6
Book: Island of Thieves by Josh Lacey
Registration required – begins Tuesday, June 28
Join us to discuss this month’s book and take part in a treasure hunt. Get a free copy of the book at the Youth Reference Desk after you register.
Virtual Cooking Class: Strawberry Shortcake
Thursday, July 28
2:00 – 3:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Tuesday, June 28
Over Zoom, Chef Jyl Nolan of A Curious Kitchen will show you how to prepare a classic summer dessert – strawberry shortcake. Receive the recipe a week before the program, gather your ingredients, and cook along with us.
Aquatic Engineering Challenges
Monday, August 1
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Tuesday, June 28
Take on a series of ocean-related STEM challenges, including building towers that will stand up to simulated hurricane conditions.
Teen “Bring Your Own Book” Club: Favorite Childhood Books
Tuesday, August 2
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Grades 7 – 12
Registration required – begins Tuesday, July 5
Teens are invited to join our “Bring Your Own Book” Club. Bring a favorite book from your childhood to talk about with the group, to share your favorites with others and get new recommendations from teens like you. We’ll do some activities inspired by childhood while we discuss – think storytime, finger painting, and more.
Teen/Tween Interactive movie – Encanto
Thursday, August 4
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Grades 5 – 12
Registration required – begins Thursday, July 7
Finish out the Summer Reading Program with an interactive showing of Encanto. During this screening for teens and tweens, we’ll use props and actions to follow along and take part in the story. Be ready to sing along!
The Library has updated its programming attendance requirements. Face coverings optional but highly encouraged in group indoor settings. Face covering requirements are subject to change without notice. Registration may be required for in-person programming. If registration is required, registrants will need to register all members of their party. To provide for adequate social distancing, the Library may need to limit the number of in-person attendees at each indoor program. The Library will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions and the Library Board will review these requirements on a monthly basis.
