Join the challenge at the Sumter County Library
This summer, children from early readers to teens can join the Sumter County Library to challenge themselves to read, build a “rigamajig,” learn how to fold colorful origami, watch movies and a whole lot more.
The summer reading program begins June 3 and runs through July 25. Patrons can register for one of the three challenges for different age groups online at Sumtercountylibrary. beanstack.org or by visiting one of the library’s Sumter locations. The challenges are based on age early readers 0-4, children 5-11 and teens 12-18. Prizes will be awarded to readers. The Wesmark branch is at 180 W. Wesmark Blvd., and the main branch is at 111 N. Harvin St.
After you register, visit the library to pick up book tote bags, a reading log and a bookmark, and set a goal to read 20 minutes a day for 30 days. Children can record the time they spend reading on Beanstack or a reading log. Visit any Sumter County Library location before July 25 at 6 p.m. and let the library know you have completed your challenge to claim your prize and be entered to win a grand prize. There will be magnetic trains, an exploration kit, a backpack and escape room tickets available.
Family Movies will be held every Wednesday from June to July at the main library branch, at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. except the last Wednesdays of each month. Two all-month events you can participate in are Craft a Tent in June, where you can create a small tent to start your adventure in the library
or pick up supplies to craft at home, and Scavenger Hunt in July to find all 12 objects hidden in the children’s area and take home a craft as a prize.
Peformances will be held in June and July. In June, the South Carolina Aquarium presents its 2024 Summer Outreach Program about exploring our natural world and the animals that live in it, for all ages, on June 6 at the main library at 10:30 a.m. and at the Wesmark branch at 3 p.m.
Registration is required for this event. TaleWise Science Heroes: Adventure of the Lost Treasure 2024 Summer Program is an interactive story with hands on science demonstrations for all ages on June 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the main library. In July, join the library for Roper Mountain Science Center Builder Workshop: The Great Coaster Challenge. Work together as theme park engineers to build a prototype roller coaster. Teams will have a chance to demonstrate their roller coaster prototypes and evaluate them as a group. This program is for ages 7 and up on July 12 at the main library, 10:30 and 11:45 a.m., and at the Wesmark branch at 2:30 and 3:45 p.m. Registration is required for these events.
Games and crafts will be held at several branches through the summer with registration required. Pick up a schedule from your closest branch to see dates and times. Events include family game time, creating fireflies, building a picture frame for Father’s Day, building wooden machines with a Rigamajig
building kit, yarn art and more.
Storytime and Craft will be held at the Wesmark branch on June 14 and June 28 at 10:30 a.m. Listen to stories, sing and make a craft to take home. This program is open to children up to 6 years. Build and Grow with Lowe’s will be on July 2 and July 9 at 10:30 a.m. for ages 6 and up. Build a tool box or garden cart planer with kits provided by Lowe’s.
There will also be several standalone activities happening throughout the summer at the Wesmark branch, including origami, kite flying, painting and more on June 18 at 3:30 p.m. (origami) and June 20, July 16, July 18 and July 22 at 10:30 a.m. (kite flying, painting, yarn art and Bingo 4 Books, respectively.)
Teen Clubs are kicking off this summer and will continue year round so teens 12 to 18 can meet other teens with similar interests. Clubs include the Teen Game Club on June 13 and July 11 at 3 p.m. and the Teen Art Club on June 20 and July 18 at the main branch at 3 p.m.
Several other activities are also going on throughout the summer. Find out what’s going on at your branch by stopping by for a monthly summer schedule or calling your closest branch. The main branch can be reached at (803) 773-7273, the Wesmark branch at (803) 469-8110 and the South Sumter branch at (803) 7757132.
Creative adventures at the Harvin Clarendon County Library
Harvin Clarendon County Library wants children who are out of school for the summer to think creatively about what it means to have an adventure, and there will be plenty of activities and a reading challenge for families to enjoy. The signup date for reading logs is coming up quickly.
The Clarendon library’s summer reading program’s theme this year is adventure, and the library wants teens to branch out with their reading, offering a suggested list. The library offers a prize if teens read all topics on the reading list and log them, starting June 1. To participate, readers can preregister on Beanstack online or sign up at the library starting June 1 at 215 N. Brooks St., Manning. Readers can access ebooks and audiobooks with the library’s apps, Hoopla and Libby, free with their library card. June 1 is the summer reading kickoff, and the program runs through July 31.
The library is hosting Adventures in Art every Monday starting in June through July 15 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Summer Adventure Storytime most Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. with a different topic each week. There will be no Wednesday program June 19 and July 3, and the Wednesday, June 26, program Science Heroes will start at 11 a.m. The Summer Adventure Program will be each Thursday at 1 p.m. starting June 4 through June 18, except July 4 when the library is closed. July 20’s special program is with Riverbanks Zoo at 1 p.m. Along with the reading challenge and weekly events, the library will offer a wide variety of fun, educational events starting in June, also with the adventure theme – Fun Friday and Adventure Tuesday. Young kids to teens can learn about everything from stopping a wound from bleeding during a weeklong summer camp to creating their ultimate road trip and painting colorful postcards.
June 3-7, Monday-Friday
Summer camp
One full week of Adventure Prep – from changing a tire to staunching a wound – learn skills for your future adventures. This camp will be held each weekday from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration for this camp is required.
Tuesday, June 11, and Tuesday, July 9
Silver Screen with Teens
Join the adults for road trip movies and adventures from the 1980s, 2 to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 14
Intro to Tabletop RPGs
Role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons have been around for a while, but the world of RPGs is much larger than just D&D. Learn about these games 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 18
Ultimate Adventure - Vision Board Craft a vision board or book with your ultimate road trip from 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 21
Adventure – Map Making Flex your art skills and learn to draw awesome maps of fantastical places from 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday, June 28
Adventure – Weird Science
Play an RPG that lets you discover alien botany and draw or make some strange plants from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2
Watercolor postcards Paint postcards from places you want to visit, 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday, July 12
Adventure – Character Build and Illustration
Use the Player’s Handbook and character sheets to build your own D&D character and backstory. Then illustrate your new character from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, July 16
Adventure Photography
Learn to take the best photos on your phone from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration for this class is required.
Friday, July 19
ZAPZ Wild West Educational Adventure Learn about the Wild West and play some laser tag from 2 to 6 p.m. Registration for this event is required.
Friday, July 26
Game Day Dive into an interactive adventure. Join the library for a full day of tabletop RPG play, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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