By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library’s Children’s Place is inviting youngsters to dive into reading this summer.
To help inaugurate this year’s theme Oceans of Possibilities, the library will call on the services of Phoebe, a 50-foot fin whale constructed of plastic by Laural Kirchner, education outreach coordinator at WBGU-PBS.
Inflated with a large fan, the whale is big enough to accommodate a couple dozen kids inside. Could be just the spot for story time, Maria Simon, children’s service director, said. But what story? Just think of all the water-themed possibilities.
Phoebe made a trial run last week to get introduced to some of the volunteens who help keep the summer reading running.
“We just wanted something exciting for the kids to get them excited about reading and bring them to the library to sign up for the summer reading program,” Kirchner said. The reading programs help fill the educational gap in the summer.
The PBS station paid for the materials used to make the life size whale. At 50-foot Phoebe is not quite full grown. A fin whale can be 80-feet long. Still she takes up a lot of real estate in the library.
The whale will be back at the Bowling Green library Friday morning for the launch of “Oceans of Possibilities” summer reading program.
The whale will also visit the Walbridge branch of the district library. Kirchner said the station will also bring it to Fostoria. “We want to go to other area libraries, too.”
Simon said the whale helps show that there’s something new and exciting afloat at the library this summer.
Oceans of Possibilities is the national theme for summer reading, “but we do it better,” Simon quipped.
The last two summers the summer reading program had to work within pandemic protocols. Programs were offered outside at Wooster Green, just a block away from the library.
“We have really figured out people like to be outside,” she said.
And that means activities not just at Wooster Green, but at area parks, including a trip to the city pool.
Central to this are the volunteens. “They help us with programs like this helping, setting things up. They help us prepare crafts and keep things lively. They’re going to help us have more fun.”
That’s just why Emily Myers, a 13-year-old BG Middle School student, signed up. “I like helping out, and this seemed like something fun to do in the summer.”
She and the other volunteens were helping to add some marks to the whale’s exterior.
Simon said about 50 youngsters have signed up, but there’s room for more, Simon said.
The reading program continues until mid-August.
These are some activities for children and families scheduled.
• Stories and hands-on wetland exploration experience on Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at Wintergarden Park with library and BG Parks & Recreation staff. Families will learn about the variety of critters that depend on wetlands and why this habitat is so important. Meet at the Rotary Nature Center in Wintergarden Park. Registration is required. (See below)
• “All About Lake Erie” with the Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory Learn all about Lake Erie, the life that lives in it, and some important issues it faces including harmful algal blooms will be on Friday, June 10 at 10:30 a.m. in Meeting Room A & B at the Bowling Green Library. Guest speaker Tory Gabriel from OSU’s Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory will discuss Lake Erie’s importance and answer questions. Kids will also be able to practice casting fishing rods in the Children’s Place Courtyard as part of this program.
Registration is required. (See below)
• Boat Race Challenge on Saturday, June 11 from 2- 4 p.m. at the Bowling Green Library Children’s Place. Build a miniature boat out of recyclable materials and test its speed and seaworthiness on the special outdoor rain gutter racetrack. WCDPL librarians will have plenty of books to help you build the best boat possible. No registration is required.
• Learn how scientists at Bowling Green State University care for sharks and other aquatic wildlife, and what they learning from them on Tuesday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. in Meeting Room A & B at the Bowling Green Library. During this program, families will meet Dr. Matthew Partin, Teaching Professor and Marine Lab Curator, along with Dr. Kevin Neves, Marine Biologist from the BGSU Department of Biological Sciences. You’ll learn how they got interested in studying the ocean as kids, and the work they do at BGSU to help our waterways. Registration required. (See below)
• Learn more about the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and how they keep our waterways safe on Friday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. in the library’s Meeting Room A & B. The program will cover boat, water, and life preserver safety with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Registration is required. (See below)
• Wood County Soil and Water Conservation District personnel will present Where Does Your Water Shed? Friday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m. in Meeting Room A & B. Registration is required. (See below)
• Local artist, author, and illustrator Lindsay Moore will present a Watercolor Workshop Wednesday, June 29 at 1 p.m. in Meeting Room A & B at the Bowling Green Library. Learn the basics of watercolor with children’s book author and illustrator Lindsay Moore, and celebrate the upcoming release of her new book, “Yoshi and the Ocean.” Registration required. (See below).
To register for any of these activities, call (419) 352-8253, email woodkids@wcdpl.org, or register online at wcdpl.org.
