On Thursday, June 27 at 1 p.m., children from kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to attend a ‘MapQuest Adventure’ program at Steele Memorial Library, where they will learn how to read a map and use a compass. This is one of several programs offered for kids in June and July, as part of the library’s adventure-related summer learning series. Programs are also being offered for teens and adults. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)
As part of Steele Memorial Library’s summer adventure programming, families are invited to a ‘Garden Adventure’ to be held at the George Allen Fulghum Community Garden, at the corner of Southerland and Pollock streets, on Tuesday, June 18 at 9 a.m. There will be stories, songs, and crafts. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)
During Steele Memorial Library’s Summer Adventure Series, adults and teens will get a chance to step out of their culinary comfort zone by trying snacks from different countries: South Korea, South Africa, Mexico, and Japan. Teens will get to sample snacks on Tuesday, June 25 at 5 p.m.; adults will do the same on Wednesday, July 24 at 3 p.m. Call 919-299-8105, ext. 5351 to preregister. ‘Adventure snacking’ is just one of several adventure-related activities offered by the library this summer. (Steele Memorial Library|Courtesy photo)
In addition to the adventure-related offerings in its Summer Learning Program during June and July, Steele Memorial Library will continue to host its regular programs, including cardio-drumming classes, led by Paige Newcomb, left, on the first, third, and fourth Thursdays of each month at 3 p.m. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)
Throughout the summer, children’s story times, led here by Dr. Lauren Saeger, left, and Tabitha Dingess, will continue to be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Children ages 0-5 and their parents or caregivers are invited to attend. (Steele Memorial Library|Courtesy photo)
When you think of adventure, you may envision running with the bulls in Pamplona or scaling Mount Kilimanjaro — and you may decide, no way, not me! Not everyone is cut out for dodging bulls or climbing mountains. But the truth is, adventures, like people, come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes adventure presents itself in the form of learning something new or simply doing something out-of-the-ordinary. For those looking for fun, safe adventures — but without that pesky risk of injury or death! — you need look no further than Steele Memorial Library, with its June and July “Adventure begins at your library” summer series. Not only are the library’s adventures a tad tamer than, say, bungee jumping or whitewater rafting, but they’re also free. And, there’s something for all ages.
Adult Summer Learning Programs will take place on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. and will kick off on June 19 with “Adventures in Herb Gardening,” presented by Jessica Strickland, an extension agent with the Wayne County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension. Paige Newcomb, the library’s head of adult programming, describes Strickland as a wonderful speaker who does gardening programs for the library about once a quarter. Everyone is encouraged to make thyme in their schedules to attend this event!
Next up, on June 26, Newcomb will enlist the help of fellow librarian and scrapbooker extraordinaire Lil Keener to lead a program in “Adventures in Scrapbooking.” Folks are invited to bring in photos or mementoes from any adventure they’ve had, be it daredevilish or low-key (a day spent fishing at the beach counts!), and the library will provide all the additional materials needed to create one scrapbook page. This experience will be enough to introduce the tips and tricks of scrapbooking, so participants can decide if it’s a hobby they want to pursue on their own.
After taking a break during the week of July 4th, adult programming will resume on July 10 with “Adventures in the Everglades,” a 45-minute, National Geographic virtual tour of this 1.5 million-acre National Park in Florida. This will be a chance to get a close-up look at Everglades critters — ducks and geese, otters and rabbits, alligators and crocodiles — without having to get your feet wet (or your arm chewed off). The video, Newcomb promises, “is super cool, super crisp,” and, she adds, “You feel like you’re there.”
July 17th’s adventure is “Paint by Numbers” and, for many, this will be a return to a favorite childhood pastime. The library will provide everything needed to complete a work of art, and participants will, of course, be allowed to take their completed canvases home (paints and brushes will stay at the library for future projects).
The adult summer programming will close with “Worldwide Snack Adventure” on July 24. “We’re going to be sampling different candies and snacks from South Korea, South Africa, Mexico and Japan,” says Newcomb. Some of the candies, she notes, are comparable to what we have here in the U.S., and it will be up to participants to decide which snacks they want to try and which they’d rather pass on.
Because of the need to purchase materials or food, all adult programs (with the exception of the Everglades adventure) require preregistration by calling 919- 299-8105, ext. 5351.
Adventure programs for teens will take place on Tuesdays at 5 p.m., starting June 18 with “Cryptid Corner.” According to librarian Brendan Hooker, who is in charge of teen programming, “We’re going to talk about all the weird creatures and monsters people believe in around the world.” You’ve probably heard of Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster, but are there others that have eluded you? This will be the time and place to find out!
On June 25, teens will venture “Across the Snack Sea” in a program like the one described above for adults, where they’ll have a chance to try snacks from South Korea, South Africa, Mexico, and Japan.
There will be no program the week of July 4, but “A Classic Tale of Adventure” is scheduled for July 9, with a showing of the original Indiana Jones movie. With snacks provided, teens will be invited to relax and chill while watching 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. “Then if they want to, we can talk about the history of film and how it was an iconic movie and all that stuff,” says Hooker.
“Wilderness Survival Guide,” slotted for July 16, is kind of like a puzzle, explains Hooker, saying, “The gist of it is, I will present a scenario that the teens find themselves in and they will have a list of things, and they will kind of have to list them by priority of what is the most important in this situation to what is the least important in this situation.” Adding an extra layer of interest to the activity is the fact that the items the teens will be choosing from are all made by real organizations that are in the business of teaching people about wilderness survival.
On July 23, a “Summer Learned Party” will be hosted for the teens. At this point, Hooker will be basically delivering this message to the teens: “You did it. You learned over the summer. Come enjoy yourself. Play some games. Socialize with people. Enjoy some food. Have a nice time before summer’s over.”
Hooker says it is always his goal to make summer learning programs interesting and engaging. “If you come with the intention of having a good time, you will,” he promises. “And you can always trust that I’m going to do something to make it fun.”
To preregister for the “Across the Snack Sea” program, call 919- 299-8105, ext. 5351. None of the other teen programs require preregistration.
The library’s younger patrons will also be treated to a series of summer adventure programs, according to Dr. Lauren Saeger, branch manager and head of children’s services. Programs for kids from kindergarten through 5th grade (along with their parents or other caregivers) will be held on Thursdays at 1 p.m.
Kicking off the kids’ programs will be “Adventurous Animals” on June 20, when staff from Johnston County’s Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center will bring animals to the library for a fun meet and greet.
On June 27, children will learn to how to read a map and use a compass during the “MapQuest Adventure” program, and they will be treated to a magic show by Dana Hill on July 11. On July 18, everyone’s favorite bear, Smokey, will be on hand to teach about fire safety, and a Summer Learning Finale — complete with music, crafts and games — is planned for July 25.
While the programs listed above are age-specific, the library is also sponsoring summer events open to families and those of all ages: On Tuesday, June 18 at 9 a.m., all are invited to a “Garden Adventure” at the George Allen Fulghum Community Garden, at the corner of Southerland and Pollock streets, for a morning of stories, songs and crafts. And at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays from June 18 – July 23, Summer Learning at the Cliffs is open to everyone at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. (Tuesday events will be canceled if it rains.)
In addition to its summer events, the library will continue to offer its regular programming, including (but not limited to): children’s story times on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. for ages 0 to 5; adult book club on the second Thursday of each month at 3 p.m., and cardio drumming exercise class for adults on the first, third, and fourth Thursdays at 3 p.m.
Finally, in advance of Juneteenth (which is on June 19), the library will be hosting Carrie Kornegay, president of the Mount Olive Chapter of Carver Alumni and Friends Association, on June 13 at 6 p.m. for a presentation on the history of Carver High School.
For more information about any library program, call 919-299-8105. Steele Memorial Library is located at 119 W. Main Street.
