Summer Reading Program
Reading is an important life skill and our Summer Reading Program is designed to motivate you to read all summer long. The goal is to encourage reading and reward readers with engagement, prizes and activities!
For children, the Summer Reading Program will help reduce summer learning loss through creativity, discovery and FUN. Check out our assortment of programs, services and challenges to participate in over the summer. There is something for everyone!
Read Beyond the Beaten Path
Journey into the Unknown! This summer, break away from the ordinary and dive into a world of endless possibilities with our Summer Reading Program. Designed for adventurers young and old, our program will take you on a journey through uncharted territories of imagination and knowledge. Join us for a summer of reading excitement and surprises. Register now and start your journey!
Read Beyond the Beaten Path is open to children entering grades 1-7. Each week will be a different theme and run Monday to Thursday. If registering for a full week doesn't work in your summer schedule, we have some single-day programs over the summer. These will run July 2-4, August 6-8 and August 19-21.
To ensure that each child gets the most out of their experience, we have split the participants into age-specific groups. This allows us to accommodate more children and design age-appropriate activities that match the abilities and interests of each group. As a result, every child will enjoy an enriching and fun experience, with activities suited to their age.
Entering Grades 1-3 (1-2:30pm) | Entering Grades 4-7 (3-4:30pm)
Pre-registration is required for each week by using the Events Calendar.
This week is single day programs and requires pre-registration for each individual day.
July 2 - Dinosaurs
July 3 - Harry Potter
July 4 - Trapped in a Video Game
Pre-registration is required for each day by using the Events Calendar.
This is a weeklong program and requires one registration for the entire week.
Literature knows no boundaries: Explore every corner of the earth!
July 8 – Snake Island
July 9 – Shark Island
July 10 – Volcano Island
July 11 – Isolated Islands (Non-Contact Tribes)
Cost: $5.00/week
Pre-registration is required for the week by using the Events Calendar.
This is a weeklong program and requires one registration for the entire week.
Book your literary expedition: Where every page has a new horizon!
July 15 – Tallest Mountains
July 16 – Strange Mountains
July 17 – Mountain Explorers
July 18 – Famous Mountains
Cost: $5.00/week
Pre-registration is required for the week by using the Events Calendar.
This is a weeklong program and requires one registration for the entire week.
Reading waves of wonder: Explore Ocean depths through literature!
July 22 – Lost Ocean Treasures
July 23 – Mysterious Ocean Depths
July 24 – Deep Sea Creatures
July 25 – Deep Sea Diver Stories
Cost: $5.00/week
Pre-registration is required for the week by using the Events Calendar.
This is a weeklong program and requires one registration for the entire week.
Discover the world through words: Your passport to adventure!
July 29 – Desert Animals
July 30 - Dangerous Temperatures
July 31 – Sandy Mountains
August 1 – Sahara Sandstorms
Cost: $5.00/week
Pre-registration is required for the week by using the Events Calendar.
This week is single day programs and requires pre-registration for each individual day.
August 6 – Fantasyland
August 7 – Create your own Comic
August 8 – Craftopia
Pre-registration is required for each day by using the Events Calendar.
This is a weeklong program and requires one registration for the entire week.
Reading uncharted territories: Let books take you new places!
August 12 – Undiscovered Amazon Cities
August 13 – Lost Amazonian Tribes
August 14 – Treasures of the Amazon
August 15 – Animals of the Amazon
Cost: $5.00/week
Pre-registration is required for the week by using the Events Calendar.
This week is single day programs and requires pre-registration for each individual day.
August 19 – Space Adventure
August 20 – Time Travel/Futuristic Day
Pre-registration is required for each day by using the Events Calendar.
Check out some of the fun we have had at the Summer Reading Program. SRP2024 Photos
Story in the Park
Looking for a fun and engaging way to spend time with your little ones this summer? Our Story in the Park program is the perfect blend of storytelling, outdoor adventure, and creative crafts!
Each week, we gather in the park to enjoy a delightful story, participate in exciting outdoor activities, and a fun craft to take home. Sign up now and enjoy the fun! Story in the Park is open to families and will run on Monday mornings from 10-10:45am. Each session will have a different theme with a story, take-home craft and more! Pre-registration is required.
July 8 - Island Treasures
July 15 - Mountain Discovery
July 22 - Under the Sea
July 29 - Desert Explorers
August 12 - Rio in the Rainforest
August 19 - Wish Upon a Star
Pre-registration is required for each week by using the Events Calendar. The deadline to register is the Thursday before each session.
Science Quest
Get ready for an adventure like no other with Science Quest! This summer, we're introducing a new summer program that combines outdoor fun with hands-on science experiments for curious minds.
Perfect for younger children and their parents, Science Quest offers an engaging and educational outdoor experience that will ignite a passion for discovery. Sign up today and embark on a journey of exploration, learning, and unforgettable memories! Science Quest is open to families and will run on four Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45am. Each session will have a different theme with a story, science experiment and more! Pre-registration is required.
July 10 - Learn About Lava
July 24 - Marshmallow Mountains
August 7 - Dino Dig
August 21 - Fingerprinting (featuring a guest presenter from the RCMP)
Pre-registration is required for each week by using the Events Calendar. The deadline to register is the Thursday before each session.
Travelling Tales
This summer we will be visiting some parks or playgrounds around town to share stories, games and activities!
Travelling Tales is open to families and will run on three Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45am. Each session will have a different theme and pre-registration is required.
July 17 - Slithering with Snakes (Bevan's Park & Nature Area - Meet at playground: 900-20 St)
July 31 - Swinging with Monkeys (3rd Avenue Tot Lot: 421-3 Ave
August 14 - Splashing with Sharks (Wallace Park - Meet at the Lion's Shelter: 1300-10A St)
Pre-registration is required for each week by using the Events Calendar. The deadline to register is the Thursday before each session.
Take Away Crafts
Enjoy these simple crafts at home, at grandma's house or while camping.
Take Away Craft Kits will provide engaging crafts/activities that younger children can complete together with their parent/caregiver. The craft kits will excite children’s imaginations and encourage creativity.
While the Take Away Crafts tend to be geared towards pre-school and early elementary ages, any age may register.
This program requires registration and the kits can be picked up for children to be able to create the craft at home. Any kits not picked up by the end of the week will placed out on a first come, first pick up basis to anyone registered or not.
July 15-19
July 29-August 2
August 12-16
August 26-30
Pre-registration is required by using the Events Calendar. The deadline to register is the Thursday before each session.
Friday 15
Help Wainwright win the most readerly community throughout the summer. Read for 15 minutes on Fridays and report it.
On Fridays in July and August, we work together as a community to get the highest number of people reading for 15 minutes at some point during the day. This can include reading anything—a magazine, a book, some educational material, even Facebook! As long as it’s reading, it counts. Fill out the webform below to report how many people in your home or office participated and help us earn the title of Most Readerly Community within Northern Lights Library System!
Read for 15 minutes on:
Friday, July 5
Friday, July 12
Friday, July 19
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 2
Friday, August 9
Friday, August 16
Friday, August 30
For everyone submitting that they read for 15 minutes, their name will go into a Northern Lights Library System wide draw for a box of local Alberta made snacks.
Zippy's Adventures
Introducing Zippy's Adventures! Meet our friendly Martian cutout, Zippy, your new companion for family fun and exploration. Borrow Zippy, take him along on your adventures, snap some photos, and share the joy with us! Whether you're exploring local parks, embarking on road trips, or enjoying backyard picnics, Zippy is ready to be a part of your cherished memories. Join the adventure today and let Zippy add a touch of Martian magic to your family moments!
Reading Logs
Summer is all about relaxing and doing things you enjoy. Join the Summer Reading Program and read your way to a chance to win some great prizes. Summer offers the perfect opportunity to discover hidden gems and venture into unknown territories.
The more you read; the more times your name goes into the draw.
Open to all ages!
Read Beyond the Beaten Path!
Step off the beaten path and dive into a summer filled with unexpected adventures and captivating tales. Our Summer Reading Program invites readers of all ages to explore a world of stories waiting to be discovered. The program runs throughout the months of July and August and is open to all ages. Pick up a reading log at the library or download here. Record the number of minutes you read on each day of the calendar and total up at the end of the month.
The more you read; the more times your name goes into the draw.
Age 5 and under | Ages 6-9 | Ages 10-16 | Ages 17 and up
Using the calendar, record the amount of time you read each day to enter for prizes.
60 minutes = 1 entry
Read, Record, Reward!
Main Prize Draws: There will be several draws for each age group to be made after September 5, 2024.
Early Bird Prizes: Show us your progress to be entered into the early bird draws. Early bird prize draws will be made on July 13, July 27, August 10 and August 24.
Most Consistent Reader: Everyone who reads for a minimum of 15 minutes per day 25 times during one or both months will be eligible.
Family Prize: Family with the highest average of minutes (total minutes read divided by number of people in household including parents & children). This is a great way to encourage everyone in your family to participate. Don't forget about mom and dad.
NLLS Draws: As a bonus, we will send your name to NLLS for their prize draws as well.
The reading logs need to be submitted by September 5, 2024.
Chalk Art Contest
Get ready to unleash your creativity with our Chalk Art Contest! Whether you're a kid, adult, or family, grab some chalk, decorate your sidewalk, snap a photo, and enter to win fabulous prizes. Deadline for submission: July 28, 2024.
Swag Swap
Are you ready to get creative and share some fun? Our Swag Swap Program is here, and we want YOU to be a part of it!
This is your chance to craft small, unique items and swap them with fellow creatives within Northern Lights Library System. Think zipper pulls, bookmarks, buttons, keychains, bracelets, and more – the possibilities are endless!
Here’s how it works:
- Create: Craft your own small swag items. Let your creativity run wild!
- Drop Off: Place your items in a sandwich bag and drop off at the library by July 31, 2024. (Max of 3 items per person)
- Swap: We’ll swap your items with other participants' creations, so everyone gets something special in return.
Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking for a fun new project, our Swag Swap Program is a fantastic way to share your creativity, connect with others, and collect some cool new items. Plus, it’s a great way to see the amazing talent in our library community!
Deadline to drop off: July 31, 2024
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to create, share, and swap! We can’t wait to see what you create!
Design and Create Contest
Enter to win prizes by colouring or drawing! Contest hosted by the libraries in Irma, Edgerton, Chauvin and Wainwright. Thank you B V Brilz Professional Corp (Dr. Brilz), Shelena Ask Professional Corp (Eyes in Town), and MJW Oilfield Services (Mike Wildeboer) for the generous donations towards prizes.
Book Cover or Book Character Contest
Design a Book Cover or a Book Character and submit it to your local library for a chance to win some great prizes.
Four Age Categories: Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-16 | Ages 17 and up
Drawing Contest Rules:
- Must live within the MD of Wainwright, Town of Wainwright or the villages of Chauvin, Edgerton and Irma.
- Limit of one entry per person.
- Drawings must include either a book image or a book character and should be on white paper no bigger than 8.5 x 11". A Book Cover Template is available at your local library if you desire.
- Please record who you drew on the back.
- Include your name, phone number and name of local library on the back.
Deadline for all entries: August 7, 2024
Colouring Contest
Children ages 1-6 can enter the colouring contest. Colouring pages are available at your local library or you can download one here.
Cat Colouring Page | Dinosauar Colouring Page
Deadline for all entries: August 7, 2024
Thank you to our Sponsors
The Design & Create Contest is a partnership between Phyllis Craig Legacy Library, Edgerton Public Library, Chauvin Municipal Library and Wainwright Public Library.
Thank you for the generous donations towards prizes.
- B V Brilz Professional Corp (Dr. Brilz)
- Shelena Ask Professional Corp (Eyes in Town)
- MJW Oilfield Services (Mike Wildeboer)
Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers over the summer to help out with our Summer Reading Program. Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, connect with people, make a difference and gain work experience.
If you are entering grades 8-12, fill out an application today!
Benefits & Advantages to a Summer Reading Program
Encouraging summer reading is a fantastic way to keep your child's mind active over the summer, promoting a positive summer activity that can be done virtually anywhere at any time.