By LYNN STONE
Kitsap Regional Library, Poulsbo branch

POULSBO — Every once in a while, it is good to stretch a little and try something new.

This year, Kitsap Regional Library will try something new on June 2 when its Summer of Learning program officially starts.

Traditionally, public library summer reading programs have helped prevent summer learning loss for students in elementary to high school. Kitsap Regional Library has taken the whole idea of summer reading one step farther with our new Summer of Learning program.

Summer of Learning is the new title for the program that we used to call “Summer Reading.” Do not worry, the fabulous basics are still there, in place and intact: Read (or be read to) for 10 hours and get a free paperback book and a free ticket to the Kitsap County Fair & Stampede.

The additional fun/educational experience comes in the form of activities that participants can choose to do once they have read their 10 hours. Completing one activity from each of the three categories listed on the reading tracker (activities for kids include attending a library program or event, visiting a local park or museum, and telling their librarian about a great book that they read this summer) will allow the participant to be entered in a raffle for a new tablet.

Teen “Step 2” activities include saying hello to their local librarian, visiting a local park or museum, and uploading a photo (one inspired by a favorite summer read) to Instagram.

As always, a delightful array of free programs has been planned for Summer of Learning, so feel free to whip the library calendar out if/when your children complain of boredom. We are especially excited about some new performers this year.

Johnny Bregar is a critically acclaimed Northwest children’s musician. Singer Eric Haines combines comedy and music in one act.  Dr. Dave’s Reptile Safari is sure to be a hit (reptiles are always a crowd pleaser — especially when they urinate on the library carpet during the performance).  Please see the library’s “programs and events” section at www.krl.org for a full listing of Summer of Learning programs.

A new addition to the teen Summer of Learning component (ages 12-18) includes a series of four, day-long field trips to Seattle. We will take up to 40 teens (10 teens from four different regions of the county) on each trip.  Trips include:

nHugo House Writing Center and a tour of Seattle Public’s Central Library on June 26.

nSAM and Frye museums on July 10.

nMOHAI Museum and a KEXP radio station tour on July 24.

nThe last trip, on July 31, will feature the Uwajimaya bookstore and the Wing Luke Museum.

Ferry and museum tickets will be paid for.  Participants need only bring money for food and souvenirs. Please contact us at poulsboteen@krl.org to register for any of the field trips. A permission slip that has been signed by a guardian is also a must.

If you are an adult who is reading this article, are you starting to feel just a little jealous of the teens and children? Don’t feel jealous, I have good news:  The Adult Reference librarians are very interested in starting an adult Summer Reading/Summer of Learning program. This program should be in place by next summer.

Finally, a big shout out to Kitsap County Fair & Stampede for the tickets that they donate every year. The Kitsap Regional Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library groups should also be thanked. The foundation and the Friends provide the funds that are used to buy all of the many thousands of paperback books that we give away to Summer of Learning participants.

Thank you. We could not do it without you. You rock!

— Lynn Stone is a teen librarian at Kitsap Regional Library’s beautiful Poulsbo Branch. When she isn’t at the library she can be found at home helping raise her three beautiful little boys with her husband. Contact her at lstone@krl.org.