Great River Regional Library’s Summer Reading Program kicked off on Monday and continues through August 12. The program provides a fun way to keep students of all ages sharp over the long summer months.
Kids and teens in the program will receive credit for time spent reading—or being read to, in the case of the little ones—and have the opportunity to earn prizes.
The theme of this year’s program, Reading By Design, takes an interdisciplinary approach to literacy. It celebrates not only the ingenuity of authors, but also artists, builders, inventors, architects, and other creators who strive to strengthen the world we live in.
In keeping with the theme, the library is offering a diverse set of programs and events for kids ages 0-18. From LEGO building and STEM activities to special guest artists and a hands-on wildlife exhibit, the goal of this year’s Summer Reading Program is to show how much fun learning can be… all year long!
To find out more about the summer events, visit griver.org/events or stop by your local library. (Nearest locations are in St. Michael, Monticello, Elk River, and Buffalo)
Last week our community celebrated its annual Albertville Friendly City Days, an event that my family has come to look forward to each year. My husband will frequently take the week off from work so that we have plenty of time to take part in all the festivities. This year was the same, though the way we spent our time looked a little different.
This was my view for most of AFCD this year:
My garage was turned into a multi-family rummage sale for the week, which gave us the opportunity to meet so many people from the community—including lots of moms and moms-to-be!—during the three days we were open. Thank you to those who came by and lessened the piles of baby and kid things in my house, haha! 😀 We learned some lessons by hosting a sale during Albertville Days, such as… Wednesday is by far the best day for buying and selling, but Saturday is a great chance to grab some half-priced garage sale goodies. We also learned that it’s ridiculous to try to have a sale in high winds. Oh, my. Sorry to any of my neighbors who found our baby clothes in their yards!
A highlight of our week was HealthSource’s Kids Day, which took place Friday morning and through lunchtime. The entire parking lot outside their location was set up with vendor tents, tables, and lawn games while they served up hot dogs, cotton candy, face painting, chair massages, and more. My daughter loved the bounce house and the life-sized Kerplunk game, and she got to create a little art with the help a super sweet staff member from Tree of Life Wellness Center. We even got to meet Cinderella! 😉 Thank you to HealthSource and the other event sponsors for being so generous and providing a fun daytime activity for families!
On Friday night we hit up the carnival for some yummy fair food and to ride a few rides. My timid daughter conquered her fear of the Ferris Wheel, and we all had a great time walking the midway at dusk. Some family came into town to join us for the carnival as well as a bonfire and a viewing of the fireworks show from our driveway.
We pushed the kids (and ourselves!) a little too hard early in the week, so by Saturday we were all pooped out and had to miss the awesome family activities and Sunday’s parade. Hopefully you were able to get out and enjoy the festivities and didn’t blow away or get rain-soaked in the process. 😉
What did your family enjoy most about Albertville Friendly City Days?
Let us know in the comments!
This summer Otsego Parks & Recreation is offering a series of four “Adventure Camps,” which are day camps designed to get kids active and having fun with others in their community.
The camps are offered for kids ages 6–10, and there’s a little something for everyone—from Superheroes Camp to Detective Camp! The events take place one morning each, from 9 a.m to noon, and the cost is $25 for one camp or $90 for all four.
Check out the schedule below for more info, and register at otsego.recdesk.com.
(Click on “Programs & Registration”)
(This is a sponsored post. Please see full disclosure below.)
Today the Minnesota Children’s Museum is celebrating it’s Grand Opening—or grand re-opening, as the case may be. We had the opportunity to get a sneak peek of the newly re-imagined Children’s Museum last Friday and were thrilled by how different and awesome it is!
I went with my daughter, a fellow STMA-area mom friend, and her two kids aged 7 and 5. We were expecting a few new exhibits and some add-ons, but what we found instead was a completely new museum. Most of the existing exhibits had been replaced by brand new ones, and the few things that were brought back were in different locations and with a new look.
Camp Arbor is a series of FREE, fun, and educational summer activities for children ages 3-10, taking place on Tuesday mornings at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove.
Here are some of the highlights for July:
July 11 – Dance Party with Kidsdance! Don’t forget the kids’ dancing shoes! Kidsdance is an interactive DJ that plays the hits and gets kids on their feet!
July 18 – Our Feathered Friends: The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota will be on-site with live eagles, owls, hawks and falcons. This activity will entertain and educate.
July 25 – Carnival Games: Kids will “step right up” and test their skills with fun games! by Just Jump
Click to view the full Camp Arbor schedule
All Camp Arbor events are held Tuesday mornings from 10:30 to 11:15 in “Arbor Park,” a.k.a. the area next to the fountain. (Located in the center of the shopping mall, just outside of Bath & Body Works)
Tips for visiting: Arrive early to get a good spot! The nearest restrooms are located west of the fountain area—go past H&M and turn left; they are alongside Victoria’s Secret. There is also an awesome nursing area in there! Some great nearby options for lunch are Potbelly (just around the corner) or Chick-fil-A (super kid-friendly, with a play area).
Camp Arbor
The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes
12225 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove (map)
Website: shoppesatarborlakes.com/events