(Colorado Springs, Colo.) May 22, 2024 - Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) will be launching its annual summer reading program, 2024 Summer Adventure presented by Children’s Hospital Colorado (Summer Adventure) on Fri., May 31. Every summer, libraries across the nation support literacy and education in their community with summer reading programs like this one and this year, PPLD will celebrate 50 years of summer reading. With the theme, “Go for Gold!” to recognize the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in this, Olympic City USA, PPLD’s Summer Adventure will kick off at all 15 Library locations with special activities throughout the District. And to mark a major milestone of 50 years of summer reading programs, the Library is inviting all ages to participate, welcoming adults for the very first time.
Research has shown that summer reading and educational activities help to prevent “summer slide,” where students lose a portion of the knowledge they worked hard to gain during the school year. Students who participate in summer reading retain more of what they learned and have a stronger start to the following school year. Participating in summer reading programs helps people of all ages develop healthy reading habits that have been shown to positively impact memory, cognition, and emotional health.
Participants will log 30 days of reading and activities in June and July to complete their program and earn prizes. Activity examples include many forms of reading, attending Library programming, crafting, trying a new recipe, and more. With adults participating this year as well, families can spend quality time reading together to complete the program (reading to children counts towards 30 minutes of reading). Reading as a family creates quality time and promotes positive reading habits for children and teens that will support lifelong reading habits. From hiking and fishing to crafting and writing, people of all ages can share exciting experiences with friends and family, creating lasting memories through exploration and creativity.
Anyone ages 0 – 18 participating in this year’s Summer Adventure program will earn a book for registering and can earn another prize when they complete the program. Adults ages 19 and up will receive an entry into the grand prize drawing when they register. Everyone of all ages will also be entered into a grand prize drawing for completing the program from May 31 to July 31.
Throughout the summer, the Library will offer special programming for all ages as part of Summer Adventure. School District 11 will also be at East Library on weekdays throughout the summer offering free lunches for kids and teens and discounted lunches for adults. The program will conclude with parties at East and Fountain libraries, as well as the annual summer concert series at Palmer Lake Library.