Read, Renew, Repeat at St. Helens Summer Library Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 30, 2024

St. Helens, Ore. - The St. Helens Public Library invites you to read, renew, and repeat during the 2024 Summer Library Challenge for youth, teens, and adults. The program will run from June 17 to August 11, 2024, and includes activities for children, teens, and adults. You do not need a library card to participate in the program or attend events.

The 2024 Summer Library Challenge theme “Read, Renew, Repeat” focuses on conservation and emphasizes protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. The program also encourages reading as a restorative method of self-improvement and self-preservation.

The St. Helens Public Library is offering programs in three different categories: a youth Summer Library Challenge for ages birth to 11, a teen program for ages 12 to 17, and an adult program for ages 18 and older.

Youth Ages Birth – 11

Parents and caregivers should register their youth on Beanstack at https://sthelens.beanstack.com/reader365 or in-person at the St. Helens Public Library. Once registered, pick up a free drawstring pack, book, bookmark, and a reading log in the Library.

You can earn badges by logging the minutes you read. Each time you visit the Library and have earned a badge(s), visit the circulation desk for one spin of the prize wheel to win a prize.

In addition to a reading log and prizes, the Library is hosting family storytimes every Thursday at 11 a.m. and programs throughout the summer. See the schedule below for more details.

Teens Ages 12-17

Register on Beanstack at https://sthelens.beanstack.com/reader365 or in-person at the St. Helens Public Library. Once registered, pick up a free tote bag, book, bookmark, and a reading log in the Library.

Log the minutes you read to earn badges for a chance to win weekly drawings for $5 Dutch Bros coffee cards. Four grand prizes at the end of the program include a pair of Beats ear buds, a $100 Powell’s Bookstore gift card, a $100 Blick Art Materials gift card, and a $100 Pantheon Comics and Games gift card.  

In addition to the weekly drawings and grand prizes, teens can participate in programs hosted by performers and Library staff. See the schedule below for additional details.

Adults Ages 18 and Older

Register on Beanstack at https://sthelens.beanstack.com/reader365 or in-person at the St. Helens Public Library. Paper copies of bingo sheets, book review templates, and reading logs are available at the Library.

Once registered, complete three tasks each week, submit book reviews, or log reading time to be entered into a weekly drawing for a chance to win $20 gift cards to local restaurants. Participants who complete one challenge earn a tote bag and can also earn books from the Library’s prize cart. Programs will also be offered throughout the summer. See the schedule below for additional details.

Participants have the chance to win one of two grand prizes at the end of the program: a “Night Out in St. Helens” which includes a $50 gift card to a local restaurant and tickets to the Columbia Theatre or “Afternoon Fun” which includes two one-hour kayak rentals from Next Adventure and a $40 gift card to a local restaurant.

Summer Library Challenge Programs

You do not have to have a library card or be participating in the Summer Library Challenge to attend the following programs. Some programs require pre-registration and include specific age ranges. Pre-registration is available through the Library’s website event calendar once individual events are published to the calendar: https://www.sthelensoregon.gov/library. Please read the descriptions carefully.

Family Storytime, Every Thursday, 11 a.m. (no program July 4) Join us for a story or two, singing, dancing, and a craft. Best for ages two to five.

LEGO® Free Play, Third Tuesdays of each month, 4 p.m. Soooo many LEGO®s! Bring your creativity and play with more than 1,000 LEGO®s. All ages.

Rock Painting – Snake (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, June 11, 5:15 p.m. Help us create art for the courtyard! We are going to make a rock snake to live in our garden beds and we need you to help us paint rocks for her body. For adults only. Registration is required.

Book Club, Tuesday, June 18, 7:15 p.m. Book pick: “Snowblind” by Ragnar Jónasson. Join us as we discuss “Snowblind.” Ari Thor accepts his first job as a police officer in the northern most village in Iceland where no one locks their doors and crime is unheard of ... until a woman is murdered. Ari works to solve this murder while navigating complications with his fiancée and fighting his feelings of claustrophobia. For adults only.

T-shirt Tote Bags (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, June 25, 5:15 p.m. Bring your favorite old t-shirts and learn how to turn them into fun and stylish tote bags! No sewing required. For adults only. Registration is required.

Community Helpers Vehicle Petting Zoo, Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join your St. Helens Police Department, City of St. Helens Public Works crew, Columbia River PUD, Hudson Garbage Service, and others to learn about the safety and maintenance of our city (and maybe even sit in a big vehicle)! For all ages.

Upcycled Crocheted Dish Scrubbers (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, July 2, 5:15 p.m. Have you ever wondered if you could turn your mesh produce bags into something useful instead of throwing them away? Well, you can! Come learn how to turn them into crocheted scrubbers for your dishes. For adults only. Registration required.

Lucky Rooster Farm Petting Zoo, Saturday, July 6, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Join the Sturdivant family and their farm animals! Say hello and feed friendly animals like lambs, goats, and chickens. For all ages.

Magazine Bowls (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, July 9, 5:15 p.m. This week we will be making small decorative bowls using folded pages from magazines. For adults only. Registration required.

Make Your own SLIME!, Wednesday, July 10, 3:30 p.m. Make slippery, squishy slime and learn the scientific principles that make it work. Everyone will take home two types of slime. For ages 6 – 10 only. Registration required. 

Teen Anime Club, Thursday, July 11, 4 p.m. Be sure to bring your favorite manga to share and discuss. We’ll also spend time watching one or two anime and looking at other anime that we’d like to watch at future meetings. For ages 13-18.

Book Club, Tuesday, July 16, 7:15 p.m. Book pick: “Buddha in the Attic” by Julie Otsuka. Join us as we discuss “Buddha in the Attic.” Using an unusual first-person plural point of view, this book shares the stories of Japanese "picture brides" who come to America seeking a bright future. It explores “... identity and loyalty, and what it means to be an American in uncertain times" (back cover). For adults only.

Red Yarn, Monday, July 22, 4 p.m. Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) weaves folksongs and puppetry into high-energy, interactive shows for family audiences. With traditional and original songs blending folk, rockabilly, country and blues, Red Yarn will have audiences singing, dancing, stomping, and clapping through the landscapes of American folklore, introducing his handmade puppet critter friends along the way. For all ages.

Crocheted Rug (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, July 23, 5:15 p.m. We’re turning your old sheets into beautiful rugs! Come learn how to crochet a rug from beginning (creating your "yarn”) to end (a small throw rug!) For adults only. Registration required.

Mobiles from Recycled Materials!, Wednesday, July 24, 3 p.m. Make and decorate a beautiful mobile using recycled things like CDs, sticks, and egg cartons. For ages 6 – 10 only. Registration required.

DIY Dryer Balls from Old Socks and Sweaters (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, July 30, 5:15 p.m. If you’ve ever wondered what to do with wool sweaters or socks that are stained or past the point of repair, we have an idea. Unravel them and use the wool to make dryer balls! For adults only. Registration required.

Teen Anime Club, Thursday, August 1, 4 p.m. Be sure to bring your favorite manga to share and discuss. We’ll also spend time watching one or two anime and looking at other anime that we’d like to watch at future meetings. For ages 13-18.

The Reptile Man (TWO shows!), Saturday, August 3, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Reptile Man was bitten in 1970 (not literally!) with an extreme curiosity concerning the natural world and its seemingly infinite colors, patterns, and abilities in the reptile world. It inspired him to want to share his knowledge with the world. Established in 1991, the Reptile Man uses exotic reptiles from around the world as educational ambassadors. First-come, first-served. Ages 5 and up.

Making Herbal Tea (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, August 6, 5:15 p.m. Local herbalist Charlotte Hart will be talking about the different properties of a variety of herbs and about making herbal tea at home. Participants will then get to create their own blends! For adults only. Registration required.

Under the Sea with Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Thursday, August 8, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Dive into an ocean of hands-on science fun while exploring Oregon’s underwater environments. Join us to discover beautiful kelp forests and rugged, rocky reefs with activities that will inspire you to protect this amazing world under the waves. For ages 5 and up.

Garden Art (Adults and Crafts), Tuesday, August 13, 5:15 p.m. We’re making this an annual tradition! Help us create art for the courtyard! We will have several canvas stations in the courtyard for you to work on. Participants can spend a bit of time painting, adding to, and modifying each canvas as we work together to create collaborative art pieces to display. For adults only. Registration required.

End of Summer Party, Thursday, August 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come and celebrate the end of the Summer Library Challenge with games, dancing, and snacks! For all ages but designed for birth to 12 years old.

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For further information regarding the Summer Library Challenge, please contact St. Helens Public Library Director Suzanne Bishop at sbishop@sthelensoregon.gov.