It is available for kids between the ages of 6-12. Although, the library is pretty lenient, “we also have some kids as young as three years,” says Celina Foreman, library assistant at the Children’s Center.
She says that so far the program has been “good. We have a lot of kids every day. Most of them really enjoy what they’re doing. They get to do hands-on activities. Also, they enjoy the presenters; they are very motivating.”
Every Friday a special guest comes in to do a presentation. Some presenters include Hardt Eye clinic who gave the kids eye exams, Seventh Day Adventist Dental clinic who discussed oral hygiene and provided the children with toothbrushes and floss, and the Department of Public Health who came to discuss Kung-Flu with the kids.
Today the Division of Fish and Wildlife will educate the children on the brown tree snake. They will even be bringing in a live one for the kids to see.
In an interview yesterday, Mercedes Ada of the Humanities Council discusses their part in the program.
“We really want to support the library summer program,” she says.
“We have the ‘humanities-mini camp’ every Thursday. It’s meant to introduce the kids to humanities disciplines like art, geography, archaeology, history and literature. We talk about culture and identity. We want the kids to be able to make relations between the past and present.”
She explains that this is the Council’s first year to participate in the program and adds, “We hope to do this every year.”
She also tells Variety that the children made their very own models of latte houses the other day.
With yesterday’s emphasis being on literature, the youngsters worked on writing their very own books.
“It’s been great and exciting,” says Ada in regards to the program.
“The council is really big on supporting the library. We’re happy to see that it has so many programs going on; they even offer Chamorro language classes. The library is really going to good use.”
She goes on to say that she is also delighted by the good age range and mix of kids that make up the program’s attendees.
Tess Ada, a mother who was present yesterday shares her feelings about the program.
“I have three kids here today and this year is their first time to attend the summer program,” she says. “They really like it because they’ve been learning a lot. My son is only four years old and he’s always excited to come. He likes that he can mingle and that they have nice activities for kids.”
Another mother, Amy Guanlao, who has two children in the program says, “It’s really good for the kids, they love to come. They are the ones in the morning saying, ‘Mommy let’s go, we’re going to be late.’ Especially when they know there’s going to be a speaker they like, they get really excited.”
The mothers tell Variety that the children have been learning about things like reading and the local culture. Their children also very much enjoyed the presentations from SDA Dental Clinic and Hardt Eye Clinic.
The program also offers a Movie Night every Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Read Aloud and crafts every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and cultural events also on Saturdays from 2 to 3 p.m.
All events take place at Joeten- Kiyu Public Library’s Children Center located in Susupe. The programs will commence on Saturday, July 30.
