Improv, rockets, music production and, of course, books: KCPL launches summer program
Kansas City Public Library has officially launched its free summer program. Not only is reading the goal, but the library is tapping into its artistic side too.
KCPL is offering the following activities across its 10 buildings:
A Young Actors Workshop. Kids ages 3-17 can learn improv at the Plaza branch.
Art In The Air uses drones, kites and rockets to send artwork flying at the Southeast Branch.
You can Read to a Dog at the Waldo branch, with goals to improve your children’s reading ability and help them with their emotional and social development skills.
Focusing on teens at the Southeast Branch, Kansas City Digital Media Lab’s summer program helps young people produce their own music albums, create cover art and learn how to market their releases.
Comic drawing classes and a community art project
Puppet making and Lego block building
Cosplay and anime
CD scratch art and STEM activities
The library is also hosting Pop in the Park, where they’ll be hosting free activities and providing summer learning resources to families. These events will happen every Tuesday through Friday from now until Aug. 15 and they’ll pop up at four different locations.
Tuesday: Seven Oaks Park, E. 39th St. and Kensington Ave. from 3-6 p.m.
Wednesday: Gillham Park, 41st St. and Gilliham Rd. from 3-6 p.m.
Thursday: Martin Luther King Jr. Square Park, Woodland Ave and Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from 3-6 p.m.
Friday: The Concourse Park, Benton Blvd and St. John Ave. from 3-6 p.m.
Harvesters will provide free meals to children ages 1-18 at each of these events.
SUMMER READING LIST
While these events are exciting, reading is still the center of the program. Once you’ve read five books, you can earn a reward from the library.
A sippy cup for babies and toddlers
Kids and teens will get a creative journal and pens
Pint glasses — or grown-up sippy cups — for the adults
You can log what you’ve read using Beanstack. The books can be official suggested reading picks for your age group, but you can read them in any format. Anything counts, whether that’s digital, physical, audio or graphic novel.
The suggested reading list is found on their website and has categories for each age group: youth ages 0-5, youth ages 6-12, teens and adults.
The program runs from now until Aug. 15 and the entire family can sign up to participate. If you’re interested in seeing the full activity schedule, check out the library’s calendar.
Questions about other things to do around Kansas City this summer? Ask us at kcq@kcstar.com.
