CRESWELL — Read. Renew. Repeat.
That’s the theme for Creswell Library’s Summer Reading Program, and last week, it sure did leave a splash.
Over 100 children gathered at Holt Park last Wednesday to chill out with an eco-friendly water gun fight. There were also activities for different age groups, too, from more gentle water games to sensory activities.
Organized by Lindsey Quigley-Johnson, youth and community services librarian, the event is part of a weekly summer series for children up to 5th grade. The events occur at rotating venues, from Creswell Middle School Gym, Holt Park, and the Creswell Community Center. Activities range from performances like magician Louie Foxx, to events centered around arthropods and oceans, to stomp rockets, and do-it-yourself ice cream, which the children partook in this week.
This is the first time hosting a water fight, said Nick Caum, library director.
“We wanted to participate in water activities without creating extra waste,” Caum said. “We bought a bunch of dehydrated sponges that we cut up and bunched together with rubber bands to make ‘water bombs.’ They’re reusable, and do not leave little bits of plastic everywhere, all over the park.” Around 10-15 library volunteers did the cutting and the bunching.
The Library partnered with the City of Creswell, and Michelle Amberg, city manager, brought watermelon slices for the kids. The rinds were donated to feed Romeo the cow, a resident of Welcome Home Animal Sanctuary and the newly-appointed World’s Tallest Steer by the Guinness Book of World Records. The remaining watermelons were donated to the Creswell Food Pantry located at the Cobalt Activity Center.
The next Summer Reading Program event on Wednesday, Aug. 14, will be all about reptiles from 10:30-11:30 am. At the Creswell Community Center. Guests will have a chance to interact with and have hands-on experiences with snakes, lizards, tortoises and more.
Accounting for wildfire season, Caum said that events will be canceled or moved inside if the air quality index is 150 or higher, and folks can sign up for the Kids & Families e-mail for any scheduling changes.
