JUST FOR KIDS
OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES 2022 SUMMER READING ACTIVITY GUIDE
With 15 public libraries to enjoy in Polk County, there are a variety of activities, giveaways and contests offered all summer long. These summer programs are free and for all ages. For more information and to locate the library or participating community center nearest to you, check out the Oceans of Possibilities 2022 Summer Reading Activity Guide at https://mypclc.org/custom/web/content/PCLCSummerReadingGuide2022edited606.pdf.
AUBURNDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY
100 W. Bridgers Ave., Auburndale.
863-965-5548
www.auburndalefl.com/library/
STORYTIME BOXES: ages 2 to 5, books, fingerplays and crafts. One-week checkout, must have an adult library card.
S.T.E.A.M. BOXES: ages 5 to 13, hands-on learning with gadgets, instruments and more, two-week checkout, youth and adult card.
PAWS FOR READING: 4 to 5 p.m. Mondays. Free. Come read to Sophie, the therapy dog.
BARTOW PUBLIC LIBRARY
2150 S. Broadway Ave., Bartow.
863-534-0131
www.cityofbartow.net/departments-services/library
BOOK BABIES: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, ages 18 months to 2 years. Free. Nursery rhymes, fingerplays, songs, bubbles.
STORY TIME: 10 to 10:45 a.m., Wednesdays, ages 3-5. Free. Stories, songs, fingerplays and a film.
STORY TIME: 3 to 4 p.m.., Tuesdays,, ages 6-8. Free. Stories, songs, fingerplays and a film.
PUPPETRY WORKSHOP SEA CREATURE PUPPET SHOW: 3 to 4:30 p.m., Thursdays, ages 9-12. Free. Learn about different kinds of puppets and puppeteers, and make a different kind of puppet each week, ending with a puppet show you put on for your friends and family. Preregistration is suggested.
FAMILY FILM AND POPCORN: 2 to 4 p.m. Fridays through July 29, ages
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC: 10 a.m. to noon, July 9, ages 6 and older. Bring a picnic lunch, a towel or blanket to sit on, and your favorite teddy bear. Prizes will be awarded to the prettiest, most handsome, funniest, and oldest or most loved bears.
PAINTING WITH THE COLORS OF THE OCEAN: 2 to 4 p.m., July 13, teens. Free. Step-by-step instructions and supplies provided. Beginners welcome.
FORT MEADE PUBLIC LIBRARY
75 East Broadway St., Fort Meade
863-285-8287
https://www.cityoffortmeade.com/departments/library.php
TAKE AND MAKE A CRAFT: all day pick up, Tuesdays, kindergarten through 12th grade. Free.
BOOK BRIDGE BUS: 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, children up to age 18 chose one free book every visit. Polk County School Board program.
POKEMON GO MEET-UP: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14, drop in, all ages. Free. Bring your own device.
ANIMAL CROSS MEET-UP: 10 a.m. to noon, July 28, drop in, all ages. Free. Bring your own device.
HAINES CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
111 N. Sixth St., Haines City.
863-421-3633.
https://hainescity.com/171/Library
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, ages 2-5. Free. Stories, singing, a puppet show and a craft. Limited space available - first come first served.
BILINGUAL STORYTIME: 11 a.m. every other Saturday. Storytime in English and Spanish for ages 2-5. Free. Stories and a craft. Limited space available - first come first served.
AMONG US: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, middle school and high school. Free. Group play. Several devices available or bring your own device.
MARIO KART: 4 to 5:30 p.m. every other Tuesday, elementary and middle school. Free. Group play. All supplies provided. Eight players at a time.
MINECRAFT: 4 to 5:30 p.m. July 6, every other Tuesday, elementary and middle school. Free. Group play; seven players at a time.
ELEMENTARY TAKE-HOME CRAFT DAY: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 1, 8, ages 5-12. Free. Drop in to pick up a take-home ocean-themed craft bag to create together at home. New craft available every Friday through July 22..While supplies last.
ANIMAL CROSSING FISHING TOURNAMENT: 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, middle school and high school. Free. Bring your Nintendo Switch with the Animal Crossing game on it. One Animal Crossing game available for a Switch owner to play and one system with game available. First come, first served.
SUMMER TEEN GAME NIGHT: 3 to 5 p.m. July 7, ages 13-18. Free. Snacks provided. Board games, Nintendo Switch, and Dungeons & Dragons.
LAKE ALFRED PUBLIC LIBRARY
245 N. Seminole Ave., Lake Alfred.
863-291-5378
https://www.mylakealfred.com/calendar.aspx?CID=33&showPastEvents=false
HONEYBEE STORY TIME: 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, ages up to 4. Free. Must be accompanied by an adult.
AFTERNOON CRAFT: 4 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, ages 5 and up. Free. Must be accompanied by an adult.
LAKE WALES PUBLIC LIBRARY
290 Cypress Garden Lane, Lake Wales.
863-678-4004
www.cityoflakewales.com/Library
WIGGLES AND GIGGLES: 11 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays, walkers through age 4 and their caregivers. Free. Books, fingerplays, action songs and rhymes.
ANIME CLUB: 1 to 2 p.m. Saturdays, ages 13-18.
LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
Larry R. Jackson Branch
eLibrary South Lakeland
1700 N. Florida Ave., Lakeland.
863-834-4288
http://www.lakelandgov.net/departments/library/
STORYTIME WITH MR. CHARLES: 10 a.m. June 29, July 13, 27, main library.
BEAKERS & BOOKS: 3:30 p.m. July 7, ages 7-12. Larry R. Jackson Branch. Free. No registration required. A picture book science club where kids read a story and conduct science experiments. July 7, Cephalopods & Jet Propulsion; July 21, Undersea Volcanos.
TECH-KNOW MONDAYS: 3:30 p.m. July 11, ages 6 to 12, Larry R. Jackson Branch. Free. No registration required. Build, play, and create with circuits. June 13, Augmented Reality Tropical Fish; July 11, Light-Up Lantern Fish.
BEAKERS & BOOKS: 10 a.m. July 5, 7, 11, 19, 21, ages 7-12. eLibrary South Lakeland. Free. No registration required. A picture book science club where kids read a story and conduct science experiments. July 5, Cephalopods & Jet Propulsion; July 19, Undersea Volcanos.
TECH-TUESDAYS: 10 a.m. July 12, ages 6 to 12, eLibrary South Lakeland. Free. No registration required. Build, play, and create with circuits. July 12, Light-Up Lantern Fish.
SPOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER: Kids Sewing Camp, 2 to 3:30 p.m. July 11-14, four-class series, eLibrary South Lakeland. Free for ages 9-12. Kids will learn how to use a sewing machine, basic stitches and hand-sewing skills as they make fun projects to take home. Registration opens 2 p.m. July 4. Registration is for all four classes in the camp, but seating is limited to six participants. Register at https://lakelandpl.libcal.com/event/9169025.
MEDULLA RESOURCE CENTER
1049 Parker Road, Lakeland.
BUSY BEE SPORTS EXPLORERS: 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, ages 3 to 6, must be accompanied by adult. Free. Limited to 15. Presented by Polk County Parks & Recreation. Contact cherryalston@polk-county.net. https://www.facebook.com/events/591830545194199/.
MULBERRY PUBLIC LIBRARY
905 Fifth St. NE, Mulberry.
MULBERRY CIVIC CENTER
901 Fifth St. NE, Mulberry.
863-425-3246
www.mulberrylibrary.com/
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, ages up to 5. Civic Center. Free. Stories and songs.
READING DETECTIVES: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. July 12,grades three through five. Civic Center. Free. Review “Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea."
POKEMON CLUB: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. July 4, 18, first and third Mondays, ages 7 to 14, Pavilion. Free. Trade cards and battle.
GAME ON! TEENS AND TWEENS: 1:30 p.m. Tweens; 2:30 p.m. Teens, July 28, fourth Thursdays, Free. Civic Center. Puzzles, board games and video games.
BOOK AND A CRAFT: 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday, grades first through fifth. Free. Civic Center. Highlight a picture book and create a craft to go along with the story. “How to Catch a Mermaid.”
GAME ON! KIDS: 10 to 11 a.m. July 26, every fourth Tuesday, grades 1-5. Free. Civic Center. Puzzles and board games.
OVERBOOKED: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. July 14, Grades 6-8. Civic Center. Free. Book club. Reviewing "“Malamand."
TWISTED TALES: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. July 21, grades 9-12. Civic Center. Free. High School Book Club. Reviewing "The Raft."
CREATE & CRUNCH: 1:30 p.m. high school, 2:30 p.m. middle school, July 7, first Thursdays. Civic Center. Free. Make crafts inspired by books. Theme: Ocean/Aquariums.
PENCIL EXPRESSION: 10 a.m. July 19, elementary school; 1:30 p.m. July 21; 10 a.m. June 21, elementary school; 2:30 p.m. July 14, high school. Civic Center. Free. Writing Club. Snacks provided.
FAMILY DROP-IN CRAFT: all day, July 2, all ages, Teen Room. Free. Family-friendly crafts. Making fishbowls.
WINTER HAVEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
325 Ave. A NW, Winter Haven.
863-291-5880
www.mywinterhaven.com/library/
SUMMER STORY TIME: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, ages 5 and younger. Free. Stories, songs, fingerplays and puppet shows. Registration required.
LEGO CLUB: 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, ages 6 to 12. Free. Lego blocks. Creations displayed the following week.
TEEN BOOK CLUB: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 14, ages 13-17. Free.
Send kids' activities to features@theledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: KIDS' CALENDAR
