Elementary Program Schedule
Scroll to explore our full slate of weekly program series for children ages 5 - 10 years old and their families. These programs are designed for those enrolled in grades Kindergarten - 4th grade. Weekly programs are listed first, followed by one-time events. Advanced registration is required or preferred for most programming.
Clubs and Classes
Summer Reading Challenge
A great way to encourage an early love of literacy and learning in children is lots and lots of summer reading! To help families make reading a weekly habit, our summer reading challenge provides structure and rewards for time spent reading together or individually. Kids can earn small prizes weekly, like stickers, books to keep, and pop-its, as they fill in their summer reading trackers with stickers. Plus, if we reach our community goal of 50,000 minutes read, we'll earn an ice cream party with tacos and cones and our community prize, a Nintendo Switch that can be borrowed from the library. Track online or stop in the library to get a paper reading tracker!
Program runs June 26 - August 23
![Book Buddies5 8-15[1]](https://www.pawlingfreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Book-Buddies5-8-151.jpg "Book Buddies5 8-15[1]")
Reading Buddies
One-on-One reading practice with a teen volunteer!
Wednesdays, 12:00 - 12:20 PM, 12:20 - 12:40 PM, or 12:40 - 1:00 PM
Six week program series, July 8 - August 16
Ages: Children entering grades 1-4 in Fall 2024
This program in offered in English and Spanish. Hablamos español.
Registration required. When you register, please tell us your preferred session time. Register in our calendar.
Fun Adventures in Feelings!
Tuesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Six week program series, July 8 - August 16
Ages: Children entering grades 1-3 in Fall 2024
A kid class where feelings and fun are the stars of the show! Through play and hands-on activities like yoga, art, dance and reading, kids will learn how to understand and manage their feelings with ease. Led by Celinda Gomez, an experienced youth social worker.
Registration required. Register for each date you plan to participate on our calendar. Join for as many or as few of the classes as you are able, but please let us know which dates you plan to attend and which you don't. Caregivers welcome, though not required, to participate.
Make Me an Author Club
Thursdays, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Six week program series, July 8 - August 16
Ages: 6-10 years old
Writer's group is back! In this popular summer program, kids develop their storytelling and writing skills as they brainstorm, write, and illustrate their own picture book. Teen volunteers and library staff help with spelling, writing, and staying on track to complete each part of the project. At the end of the summer, we'll send our final drafts off to be published through Studentreasures Publishing. Fully published books arrive in the fall and we'll host a launch party to celebrate our new authors, during which families will receive a copy of their child's book to keep.
Registration is required for this full six week program. Participants must be able to commit to at least 4 of the 6 weeks in order to participate.
Family Hour: Play-Doh Club
Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 AM
Six week event series, July 8 - August 16
Ages: 2-5 years, including kindergarteners
Welcome to family hour! During this hour long program, we will read a story and sing 1-2 songs. Then, join in for themed play-doh play with tools like cookie cutters, toddler scissors, and rolling pins. Play-doh is awesome for developing early skills kids need for school, like fine motor skills and finger strength.
Caregivers welcome but not required to participate.
Weekly registration is highly suggested. Drop ins will be accommodated whenever space is available, but advanced registration is preferred. Register in advance or day of. Register week by week on our calendar.
Special Events
Captain Thomas’ Treasure: Break In Bag
Pick up begins 07/08 and is ongoing
Ages: Families with children entering grades 2 + up
Ever wanted to do an escape room without having to leave home? Now's your chance! Instead of breaking out, break into these locked loot bags using the provided clues and puzzles. Reveal Captain Thomas' Treasure by solving pirate themed clues. Play as a family or let kids solve the puzzles on their own. Developing readers may need reading assistance to solve these puzzles. Hints will be included, as will small prizes in the loot bag.
Registration required. Once kits are available for pickup, our staff will notify registered patrons. Thank you to our friends at the Oxford Library for creating and sharing this activity.
Beach and Water Slimes
Wednesday, July 10
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Ages: 6-10 years
It's slime time! Join Miss Neena to learn to make two different types of slime, sandy beach slime and slippy water slime. This messy program will give practice following a recipe and directions, while creating some super slimes.
Limited spaces available. Registration required.
Unicorn Day!
Monday, July 15
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Ages: 2-6 years and a caregiver
Welcome to unicorn day, a special day where everything is unicorn and pony themed! At 4:30 PM, we will gather to read a unicorn book and after, kids will be invited to meet a unicorn pony on the library front lawn. While waiting to greet to our magical unicorn friend, say hello to visiting bunny rabbits and enjoy sparkly unicorn slime.
Registration is required for this event, which is made possible thanks to Alys Ponies.
Stuffed Animal Sleepover!
Sleepover Celebration:
Friday, July 19
5:30 - 6:15 PM
Stuffed Animal Pick-up starts: Saturday, July 20, anytime after 10:00 AM
Ages: All ages and a caregiver
Best for ages 3-8 years old
It's time for a library sleepover! Kids, their stuffed animal friends, and caregivers are invited to our special evening sleepover celebration, featuring bedtime stories, songs, and games. Wear your pajamas and bring a stuffed animal or toy from home you feel comfortable leaving overnight, as the real silliness begins once kids tuck their toys into bed and head home. On Saturday morning, kids return to pick up their toys and a personalized photo book, showing all the amazing things that happened during the stuffed animals' party at the library, as photographed by our Volunteens.
Don't feel comfortable leaving your stuffy at the library? You can still join in for the fun at the Friday storytime. And while we encourage kids to bring their own stuffy, we will also have borrowing stuffed animals on hand for anyone who needs one.
Registration required.
Family Field Trip: Ridge Ranch
Monday, July 22
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Age range: Families with children ages 5-10 years old. Sibilings welcome, as space is available.
OFF SITE Location:
Ridge Ranch
276 Quaker Rd, Patterson, NY 12563
This summer, the library wants to make taking trips with your kids as easy and fun as possible! For this Family Field Trip, we'll visit Ridge Ranch, a working ranch just down the road in Patterson! Families should be prepared to walk as we tour the ranch and meet a variety of farm animals, including mini cows, goats, and mini donkeys. We'll learn how the ranch takes care of it's animals and animal husbandry.
For this event, please arrive early or on time. This is a working farm, busy caring for it's animals, and it will be difficult to join the tour group after the tour has started.
Registration is required. Priority registration will be given to Pawling and Holmes residents, starting June 12. Registration for non-resident patrons, if space remains available, will start on June 26. Registration in the event includes all entrance fees and program fees for the special field trip activities, as well as a small snack provided to each participant. Transportation is not provided.
Family Field Trip: Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum
9:45 AM - 11:30 AM
OFF SITE Location:
75 North Water Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
This summer, the library wants to make taking trips with your kids as easy and fun as possible! For this Family Field Trip, we'll visit the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum in Poughkeepsie. The MHDM is a children's museum with exhibits for ages 0-9 years old, including the recently renovated second floor, featuring the Science, Revealed! exhibit, which is great for elementary aged kids. Participants in our group will also be invited to participate in a special program called "Bubbles!" all about sensory exploration and observational science.
Registration is required. Priority registration will be given to Pawling and Holmes residents, starting June 12. Registration for non-resident patrons, if space remains available, will start on June 26. Registration in the event includes all entrance fees and program fees for the special field trip activities, as well as a small snack provided to each participant. Transportation is not provided.
Puffabird Rescue: Break In Bag
This is a take-home kit activity
Age range: Grades 2 and up, families
Ever wanted to do an escape room without having to leave home? Now's your chance! Instead of breaking out, break into these locked loot bags using the provided clues and puzzles. Help free the elusive puffabird from the bag poachers have it trapped in! Play as a family or let kids solve the puzzles on their own. Developing readers may need reading assistance to solve these puzzles. Hints will be included, as will small prizes in the loot bag.
Registration required. Once kits are available for pickup, our staff will notify registered patrons.
Thank you to Sarah Pearson at the Minerva Public Library for creating and sharing this activity.
Faerie Wing Pendants: Craft Workshop
Thursday, August 15: Sculpting
Thursday, August 22: Painting
6:30-8:00 pm Ages: Age 7 & up. Parental supervision is requested and grown-ups can create, too!
Faeries are very secretive, and can blend perfectly into their surroundings. Their wings, which look exactly like leaves, keep them well hidden. We’ll be making leaf imprints in air-drying clay to replicate the delicate wings of these mystical beings. This program is with Donald Partelow, library programmer and artist.
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NOTE: Not only can you wear your artwork as pendants, you use them as ornaments.
Family Hour: Mechanical Sweepers
5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
Ages 5-9, caregivers welcome!
Kids can work on their own or with a caregiver/family member to engineer their own mechanical sweeper, featuring products from Kiwi Crate. Follow along with the instructions, building while learning all about whales and mechanics. Then, participants will test their creations and see if they can beat the library record of number of LEGO swept up in 1 minute. Each participating child will leave with their own newly designed sweeper, a related learning comic, and supplies to continue the fun at home.
Registration is required. Spots are limited.
End of Summer Party with Tacos and Cones
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Ages: All ages and a caregiver
All summer reading challenge participants are invited to join us to celebrate all the readers in our community. In addition to ice cream from our friends at Tacos and Cones, we'll have games, crafts, and other activities for all ages to enjoy. The computers will be available for after-hours play and our Nintendo Switch will be on and ready for Mario Kart action.
Our final raffle for summer reading prizes will also be held at this event. Winners do not need to be present to win. Don't miss the crowning of a new Mayor of Ice Cream Town, the award for the youth in our community who logs the most time spent reading in summer 2024, and gets first dibs on ice cream at the party.
Registration preferred, though not required. This program is for those who have participated in summer reading and their families.