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Children's
Summer Reading
Events & Programs
Summer Reading Challenge
June 7- August 1
Read books, attend programs, and win prizes! This summer everyone who completes their summer reading challenge will earn a prize!​
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June events open at 12am on May 27.
July events open at 12am on June 16.
August events open at 12am on July 14.​
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This year we're encouraging all participants to log their reading progress through Beanstack, our online platform. However, if you prefer the traditional paper version, download and print the PDF below!
Repeating Events
Community Scavenger Hunt
Tuesday, July 1 to Thursday, July 31 | All ages
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Get ready to explore! Grab a scavenger hunt sheet at the Mars Area Public Library and start your journey around Mars, Valencia, and beyond! Each location on the list will display a poster showing the cover of a book. Just write down the correct title and author at each site, then return your completed list to the library for a prize!
Completion prize: One-time library fine forgiveness
Grand prize: One year of fine forgiveness ($100 value)
Kids Yoga in the Park
Select Tuesdays at 10:30am | Ages 1-6 with caregiver
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Breathe, move, rest! Yoga, with age-appropriate poses, will be held outdoor in the beautiful fresh air. Helping kids focus on breathing, relaxation, and meditation, this is a wonderful way for children to stretch their bodies and calm their minds. Bring your own yoga mat or blanket.​​​
Located at Adams Township Park at the Rotary Pavilion, except for June 10, which will be held at the Old School House next to the Rotary Pavilion.
LEGO Club
Thursdays, June 5 and July 3 at 4pm | Ages 3-11
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Come join us for a one hour, drop in, free play LEGO building session. Children will have the opportunity to use our many bins of LEGOS to build their own creations. Creations can be on display in the Children's are for one month, until the next LEGO Club meeting. An optional monthly LEGO challenge will be available.
Storywalk Week at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy
Monday, June 9 to Sunday, June 15 and Monday, July 21 to Sunday, July 27 | All ages
​Combine physical activity and literacy while enjoying a stroll down the walking trail at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy in Valencia. Stop along the trail to read pages aloud from a children's picture book that has been turned into sign posts! Registration required.
Click here for directions.
Book Buddies: Weekly Home Projects
Mondays, from June 9 to July 28 | All ages
​Stop by the Children's Area any week to pick up an instruction sheet that combines a book with a craft focused on the color of the week. Craft makes use of items found around the house, and completed crafts can be brought in to be displayed in the Children's Area over the summer! No registration required.
Color Me Crafty Hour
Wednesdays, from June 11 to July 30 at 2pm | All ages
​A drop in craft time focusing on the color of the week! No registration required.
June
Drawn to Cartooning with Joe Wos
Friday, June 6 at 11am | All ages
​Join Pittsburgh Cartoonist Joe Wos for a lively hour of creativity and fun! Joe will kick things off with a 20-minute live cartooning performance, followed by a 40-minute hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to draw their own cartoon character. Along the way, students will pick up fun educational facts and artistic terms.
Tie-Dye Kickoff
Saturday, June 7 at 10am | All ages
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Although the library building will be closed, that won't stop us from celebrating the Mars New Year and the start of the Summer Reading Program with a tie-dye palooza event in the library parking lot! Select a bandana or small drawstring bag (while supplies last) or bring your own cotton t-shirt to tie-dye using our outer space colors!
Summer Storytime
Friday, June 13 at 10am | All ages (geared toward Early Elementary)
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Kick off the lazy days of summer with a summertime themed storytime. PA State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba returns as our special guest reader, sharing all the feels, colors, and 'imagination runs free' time for kids.
How Money Works
Tuesday, June 17 at 6pm | Ages 11+
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Help your child get an early jump on financial literacy for a lifetime of potential financial success with best-selling author and keynote speaker, Marta Sauret Greca. Begin building enhanced confidence in sound money making decisions early on! Topics include the basics of budgeting, saving vs spending, credit, investing, and giving back.
Color Our World Magic Show
Saturday, June 21 at 11am | All ages
Combining a little magic and a lot of imagination, this magic show will be a good time for everyone! Magician Steve returns again this year, bringing some of his friends along who will help motivate and inspire kids to read more, use their imagination, and be creative. So get ready to create a magical and colorful world!
Egg Drop Experiment
Tuesday, June 24 at 10:30am | Ages 10+
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Form a group of two to three partners to construct an egg-protection device. All teams receive identical materials and then let the creative construction begin. Once complete, all teams receive an egg and we head outdoors to begin testing, starting with a two-foot drop and working our way higher and higher. Last egg standing wins!
Firehouse Storytime
Thursday, June 26 at 10:30am | All ages
Visit the Adam Area Fire District firehouse, meet some real-life firefighter heroes and hear some fire engine stories as part of this fun, interactive, and educational storytime!
Click here for directions.
Happy Teeth Storytime
Monday, June 30 at 10:30am | Ages 3-5
Smile and say "Cheeeessee!" Enjoy a storytime (and songs) all about teeth! We'll also talk a little about dental hygiene- how best to care for your teeth and keep them healthy and bright! Brought to you by Kampas Orthodontists.
July
Learn about Local Wildlife
Friday, July 11 at 11am | All ages
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Come out to the Middlesex Township Community Park Pavilion to meet some bird and reptile education ambassadors and learn all about wildlife rehabilitation and our local ecosystems from our friends at Wildbird Recovery at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy!
Click here for directions
Escape Room: Paul Revere's Ride
Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12 at 10am | Ages 12-18
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Take on the challenge of this Revolutionary War themed escape room. Based around Paul Revere's historical midnight ride and the events leading up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, sift through the clues to unlock a box belonging to Samuel Adams and the American rebels before the British regulars arrive. Decipher encoded messages, piece together clues, and race against the clock!
Mars RR Storytime
Wednesday, July 16 at 10:30am (rain date of Thursday, July 24) | All ages
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All Aboard for a train-themed storytime with stories, songs, crafts, hands-on exhibits and train rides! The Mars Shortline RR Campus has been opened exclusively for Mars Library families, thanks to the generous support of the Mars Area History and Landmarks Society.
Click here for directions.
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Paper Plane Aviation Workshop
Wednesday July 23 at 1pm | Ages 10+
​Discover the principles of aviation at the Middlesex Township Community Park when we try out a variety of paper plane designs and test them for accuracy, distance, and air-time with our airplane performance tracker! All materials provided.
Click here for directions.
Children's Clothing Swap
Friday, July 25 to Saturday, July 26 | All ages
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Donate your children's clothes to the library between June 10 and July 21, then come back and find something new! You don't have to donate to participate! Leftover clothes will be donated to Inspired Hearts and Hands.
Stuffie Storytime and Overnight
Tuesday, July 29 at 5:30pm (Stuffie pick-up Wednesday, July 30 from 12-7pm) | All ages
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Bring your favorite stuffie for a special evening storytime. Stuffies will then spend the night in the library! What special adventures will these stuffies have when nobody is around?
August
Foam Party Finale
Friday, August 1 at 4pm | All ages
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Join us as we celebrate the end of the Summer Reading Program at the Adams Township Community Park Rotary Pavilion with snacks, activities, and a Foam Party for some good "clean" fun! Bring towels and wear comfortable clothing that can get wet!
Click here for directions.
