Creepy, Crawly Critters

            Are you afraid of spiders, snakes, or other reptiles and insects? If so, you should have come to the Calhoun County Library last week and you might have learned to love them!

The Critter Keeper visited the library on Thursday, July 20, 2023. Both the 10:30 AM program and the 1:30 PM program were at maximum capacity. Ranging from a tortoise named Michelle to a 15-year-old 8-foot albino Burmese python named Julius Squeezer, the Critter Keeper presented an educational, entertaining program for both kids and adults.  Everyone enjoyed it! There may have been a few instances where the audience jumped out of their seats, but they were short-lived and worth every bit of excitement. The amount of joy this program brought to all the children, adults, volunteers, and staff members on hand is immeasurable. Some of our lucky guests even got to hold a tarantula and eight of our audience members formed a human cradle to hold all eight feet of Julius Squeezer!

Not only were we able to see some cool animals that aren’t typical pets, but we were learning life lessons the whole time, too! Learning new words like arthropod, fluorescent, and Uromastyx, the children did not even realize they were learning about respecting animals and each other. Critter Keeper emphasized having an “attitude of gratitude.”

Don’t forget that the Critter Keeper gave everyone homework to do! While we know that we have to treat animals with respect so they don’t hurt us or themselves, we have to respect the people around us, too. Parents might upset us, but we have to remember that they are acting in our best interest. So, make sure to do your homework and give your parents and the adults in your life a big hug and tell them that you appreciate them. Just like animals, we need love.

Thanks to everyone for coming out and enjoying this program with us. We love having the Critter Keeper here and we know that everyone in Calhoun County does too!

This project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.

Three Summer Reading Program Events

            The Summer Reading Program has been a blast at the Calhoun County Library this year with educational, fun-filled performances.

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, Porkchop Productions visited the library to perform the play Imperfect Strangers: The Ant & The Grasshopper. During this play, personalities collided when a hard-working ant and a lazy grasshopper found themselves in a living situation that was too close for comfort! This new, reimagined adaptation taught the important lessons that hard work pays off...and teamwork makes the dream work! Everyone enjoyed the performance which was engaging and hilariously funny!

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, origami master and storyteller, Yasu Ishida came to the library. Yasu taught everyone about traditional Japanese theatre and music and then everyone got the chance to make origami animals. Yasu integrated magic and storytelling as he guided us to the enchanted land of Japan. Origami animals were a huge hit! Folding paper according to Yasu’s instructions allowed us to create origami in the shape of dogs, frogs, and foxes. We even have some of them hanging in the children’s section of the library now! Come and take a look at our origami mobile!

On Thursday, July 12, 2023, Tim Sonefelt put on a magic show through storytelling. All about friendship and being kind, Tim’s program incorporated books featuring honesty, loyalty, and friendship with others who might be different from us. Before the show was over, a special guest came out. Larry the Duck made an appearance and created many laughs just being silly. Tim amused the crowd with his talent as a ventriloquist. Through magic, stories, book talks, and a puppet, Tim Sonefelt had everyone smiling!

All three of these shows were absolutely wonderful, educational, and entertaining and everyone attending had a great time. Kids took part in collective crafts where children worked together to make a finished craft such as handprint leaves on our trees in the forest or origami animals for our origami mobile in the children’s section. After each show, every child went home with a free book and a snack.

Don’t forget to document your time reading in the Beanstack app to be entered to win prizes that will be announced at the Summer Reading Program finale next week on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 10:30 AM. We have special guests, the Ukaloonies, coming to our summer reading finale to play and sing with us! There is still time to enter and pick up your milestone prizes too!

This project is made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the South Carolina State Library.

Successful Science Camp

            STEM Science Camp at the Calhoun County Library in June was a huge success that allowed 30 students to express themselves through experiments and hypotheses.

            Monday, June 19, 2023, through Friday, June 23, 2023, the Calhoun County Library held a free STEM Science Camp for children aged 6 – 12. The camp was led by chemist Doctor Lesa Rice-Jackson. Treating the classroom like a true chemistry lab with safety goggles and gloves, our scientists set out to experiment!

            On day one we learned about how certain materials such as bluing agent, kosher salt, and others can be combined to create homemade crystals. Each student got to choose a combination of materials to create two of their very own crystals.

            On day two and three, we tested acids and bases with PH testing strips. Using cabbage water as our testing solution, we added it to cups filled with coffee grounds, crushed vitamin C tablets, vinegar, soda, and other materials found at home. Once the cabbage water was added, we got to see how they reacted to each other. Some of the cups we tested turned hot pink, light pink, and even some yellowy orange.

            On day four, we mixed oil and water together to see if they would combine. Low and behold, they don’t! Our students were amazed to find out that oil will float on top of the water instead of mixing together or sinking to the bottom.

            On day five, our final day of STEM Science Camp, it was time to reveal how their crystals were growing and, of course, time for awards. We had three special awards this year: the best crystal, the best journal, and the best helper. In addition to those awards, every student who completed STEM Science Camp received a certification and a coupon for a free meal at Chick-fil-A. Thank you to Chick-fil-A for providing our scientists with a meal as a reward for all their hard work.

            Thank you to every student, parent, volunteer, staff member, and Doctor Lesa Rice-Jackson for all your help during STEM Science Camp. We hope that everyone had a wonderful time and learned a bunch about bases, acids, and crystals. We look forward to putting this on next year!