CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Kids of all ages soon will be able to take a trip back in time to the medieval era, when dragons were said to walk the land and princesses waited for their knights in shining armor.
Marine Corps libraries on Okinawa are giving kids an opportunity to make the trip by using their imaginations. The libraries on camps Kinser, Courtney and Foster have two summer reading programs scheduled to begin next month: “Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds” for 3- to 11-year olds, and “Joust Read” for those 12 to 17, according to HollyMay Pickel, Camp Foster librarian.
Those who register will be able to earn small prizes for reaching certain levels. When 25 hours of reading is reached, a themed T-shirt is given and the reader is entered in a grand-prize drawing, said Cynthia Shipley, Marine Corps Community Services’ library program manager. She said the prizes have not been determined.
The younger group of readers will have a weekly storytime at the libraries. While preschoolers can attend the running half-hour storytime, school-age kids will have one day a week at the library set aside for a half-hour of stories or poems followed by a half-hour of a craft activity.
Shipley said registration is required for the school-age storytime program, and space is limited.
For smaller kids who aren’t reading yet or need help, Pickel said, time parents spend reading to the child counts toward the reward program.
The program for 12- to 17-year-olds is a little more complex, Pickel said.
“Teens are on a point system, and they’re aiming for 30 points,” Pickel said. They can read books or magazines for points, and also write book reports for more. Pickel said reading a book and writing a report will net participants five points for each activity, while magazines are worth one point.
Many of the older students are assigned reading to do over summer, Pickel said, so the program “is a great way to do stuff for school, have fun, and earn prizes.”
Last year’s summer-reading program had more than 850 participants. Shipley said they expect the number to climb over 1,000 this year.
Preregistration begins June 12 and the reading program kicks off June 19. The last day to register is July 23, and the program ends July 30. Each library will hold a wrap-up party during the first week of August.
For more information on the summer-reading program or storytime activities, contact your nearest library: Camp Foster at DSN 645-7178, Camp Courtney at DSN 622-9280 or Camp Kinser at DSN 637-1039.
