Cameron Public Library ends summer reading with ice cream party
With more than 1,000 participants in activities related to the Cameron Public Library Summer Reading, librarians kept their promise and treated young program participants to ice cream and games.
With the school year beginning next week, the Cameron Public Library wrapped up its space-based 2019 program highlighting the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, among other out of this world lessons.
“It’s exciting. We had such a great turnout for the whole eight weeks of the program,” Jo Ellen Pratt, library director, said. “We had kids in the program participate at least 1,000 times ... That’s why we’re having an ice cream party tonight. Every time they checked out books or came to an event, they go a ticket. We counted them and the kids were here at least 1,000 times specifically for summer reading programs.”
Pratt credited much of the success of this year’s program to CPL Children’s Program Coordinator Jennifer Ensign, who spearheaded many of the weekly programs including constructing a makeshift planetarium, coordinating a movie in the park night featuring the film ‘Hidden Figures’ and a variety of other activities.
“Jennifer, who is our children’s program coordinator made a phenomenal impact,” Pratt said. “She made decorations of all of the planets in the back. She created a star lab, where the kids got to go in and it was lit from the outside so it looked like there were stars all around. We made moon sand ... The kids just drank it all up and learned every aspect of the program.”
Pratt said summer reading programs are important because they keep kids mentally sharp during the summer while also giving them a guilt-free exploration of the subjects that interest them.
“From everything I’ve read [summer reading programs] help kids in all areas of eduction if they keep utilizing their brain and reading. They’re keeping up on their vocabulary and it’s keeping them sharp. It’s the best time to read because there is no pressure. You’re just reading for fun,” Pratt said.
