Just because students aren’t in the classroom this summer, doesn’t mean they can’t still learn and have fun. All St. Lucie County branch libraries will host a variety of free, interactive, educational programs this summer to help students avoid the summer slide.
Children and family activities for June:
- Summer Reading Blastoff on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 10:30 AM at the Morningside Branch. Kickoff summer reading at the library with fun-filled activities for kids of all ages.
- Adventures in Fairytales Kickoff Party on Saturday, June 1st at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch. Join us in creating fairy wands, enchanted hats and fire-breathing dragon masks.
- Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, June 1st from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Lewis Branch. Drop into the library to see if you find all the pictures.
- Summer Reading Kickoff Challenge on Monday, June 3rd at 10:30 AM at the Havert L. Fenn, 2000 Virginia Ave. in Fort Pierce. Enjoy a free, interactive performance by Reactory Factory with games, music dancing and more as DJ Dan and Dr. Reacto teach the science of sound, geology, dinosaur bones and a whole lot more.
- LEGO Fun at the Library. Enjoy building and creating with LEGO bricks in the library. Best suited for elementary-age students.
- Tuesday, June 4th at 10:30 AM at the Lewis Branch
- Friday, June 7th at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch
- Tuesday, June 18th at 10:30 AM at the Lewis Branch
- Friday, June 21st at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch
- Animal Adventures in Your Backyard Staff from the Oxbow Eco Center will introduce us to St. Lucie's backyard wildlife. Compare local native, exotic and invasive plants and animals and learn how they behave in ecosystems.
- Wednesday, June 5th at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch
- Friday, June 7th at 10:30 AM at the Morningside Branch
- Wednesday, June 12th at 10:30 AM at the Hurston Branch
- Friday, June 14th at 10:30 AM at the Kilmer Branch
- Movie Matinee: “Trolls Band Together” at the Lewis Library on Thursday, June 6th at 10:30 AM. The third installment of the Trolls-movie franchise, Branch mobilizes his family for the rescue of his kidnapped brother, Floyd. This animated feature is rated PG with a running time of 92 minutes.
- Kickoff Party on Friday, June 7th at 10:30 AM at the Kilmer Branch. Come out to the library to make bubbles, play with sidewalk chalk, enjoy music and much more.
- S.T.E.A.M. Power! on Tuesday, June 11th and June 25th at 10:30 AM at the Lewis Branch. Explore the world of science, technology, engineering, art and math in fun ways. Learn about weather, rainbows, color, motion and more. Best suited grades K-5.
- Father’s Day Craft on Tuesday, June 11th at 2:00 PM at the Kilmer Branch. Not sure what to get your dad this Father’s Day? Come make a fun craft to give to dad on his day.
- Virtual Reality Adventures on Wednesday, June 12th at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch. Fly into space, dive underwater or ride a rollercoaster while immersing yourself in a 3-D world. Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Movie Matinee: “Migration” on Thursday, June 13th at 10:30 AM at the Lewis Branch. This animated feature follows the story of a family of ducks dreaming of the perfect getaway vacation, traveling from New England, through New York to Jamaica. The film is rated PG with a running time of 82 minutes.
- Movie Matinee: “Secret Life of Pets 2” on Thursday, June 13th at 2:00 PM at the Kilmer Branch. Continuing the story of Max and his pet friends, this animated feature details their secret lives after their owners leave them for work or school each day. The film is rated PG with a running time of 86 minutes.
- Take a Rainforest Journey on Friday, June 14th at 2:00 PM at the Morningside Branch. Staff from the Hobe Sound Nature Center will take us on a tropical rainforest adventure to learn about the wonders of these vanishing habitats. Included is a special "Rainforest Rap,” a showcase of rainforest product confiscations, and a meet and greet with a member of our animal teaching team.
- Movie Matinee: “Elemental” on Saturday, June 15th at 3:00 PM at the Hurston Branch. This animated film follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire, water, earth and air all live together. The film is rated PG with a running time of 97 minutes.
- Rock Painting on Tuesday, June 18th at 2:00 PM at the Kilmer Branch. Come on out and decorate your very own rock to hide or just display it for all to see. All supplies provided. Best suited kindergarten through 5th grade.
- Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Hurston Branch. Celebrate Juneteenth with this drop-in event to make bracelets, buttons and other crafts, while supplies last.
- Ocean Adventures on Wednesday, June 19th at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch. Take a plunge into a sea of crafts with the Lakewood Park Crew, where we swim with sharks and paddle with sea turtles.
- Movie Matinee: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” on Thursday, June 20th at 10:30 AM at the Lewis Branch. Based on the Super Mario video games, the animated film follows Mario on his adventures with his friends. This movie is rated PG with a running time of 92 minutes.
- Camping Storytime with Ms. Joell’s Facepainting on Friday, June 21st at 10:30 AM at the Morningside Branch. Join us for a special storytime, face painting, fun and more.
- Mad Science of Palm Beach: Fire & Ice Show. Get ready to be thrilled with impressive science experiments. This show includes foggy, dry ice storms and demonstrates how giant beach balls can float in the air. Guests will be amazed by sizzling, shivering scissors and special bubbly showers.
- Friday, June 21st at 10:30 AM at the Lewis Branch
- Friday, June 21 at 2:00 PM at the Kilmer Branch
- Manatee 101 on Tuesday, June 25th at 10:30 AM at the Kilmer Branch. The Manatee Center presents everything you could possibly want to know about manatees. This fun and interactive program will allow kids and families to learn all about the manatees and the ways in which we all can help keep them thriving in Florida.
- Adventures in Anime on Wednesday, June 26th at 2:00 PM at the Lakewood Park Branch. Transform into a ninja. Design a headband, create a Pokémon and learn to sketch your own manga.
- S.T.E.A.M. Power! on Wednesday, June 26th at 2:00 PM at the Hurston Branch. Make a robot hand from paper, straws and string with this hands-on learning activity. Best suited for grades 2 and higher.
- Movie Matinee: “Rango” on Thursday, June 27th at 2:00 PM at the Kilmer Branch. Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff. This animated feature is rated PG with a running time of 107 minutes.
- Bird Safari: an Avian Adventure on Friday, June 28th at 10:30 AM at the Morningside Branch. Go on a bird safari with St. Lucie County 4-H. See if you can find all the bird-themed pictures hidden throughout the children’s department. Stop by, grab a card and give it a try to earn a prize. This avian adventure highlights the wonders of our feathery friends including bird adaptations and identification.
- Hobe Sound Nature Center on Friday, June 28th at 2:00 PM at the Kilmer Branch. Learn about Florida’s native alligators, including insight into their ecology and natural history, with a special emphasis on the important role they play in the environment and the various threats they face. This program includes our live alligator ambassadors.
Tweens & Teens
- Magic the Gathering on Tuesday, June 4th and June 25th at 2:30 PM at the Lewis Branch. Learn to play Magic the Gathering through our guided program. Build your own deck or bring your own and play against others.
- STAR WARS Origami on Wednesday, June 5th at 2:00 PM at the Hurston Branch. A paper-folding adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
- Dungeons & Dragons on Thursday, June 6th and June 20th at 2:30 PM at the Lewis Branch. Players gather for adventures across fantastical worlds. Best suited for ages 11 – 18.
- Teen Video Tournament on Thursday, June 13th and June 27th at 2:30 PM at the Lewis Branch. Nintendo Switch, who will be victorious? Best suited for ages 11 – 18.
- Anime Multimedia Club on Thursday, June 13th at 2:30 PM. Morningside Branch. Second Annual Anime Trivia contest. Compete in teams to see who wins as anime guru. Best suited for grades 6-12.
- Teen/Tween Crafternoon on Thursday, June 27th at 2:30 PM at the Morningside Branch. Make your own watermelon squishies.
Weekly Programs
- Family Storytime at 10:30 AM
- Mondays at the Pruitt Campus
- Tuesdays at the Lakewood Park Branch
- Wednesdays at the Kilmer and Morningside Branches
- Thursdays at the Hurston Branch
- Pre-school Storybook Craft at 10:30 AM - Listen to stories and stay to create a fun craft
- Thursdays at the Lakewood Park Branch
- Fridays at the Hurston Branch
- Music & Motion for Kids - Stop by for action songs, movement, singing, instruments and more for ages 6 and under (with caregiver)
- Wednesdays - two sessions: 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM at the Lewis Branch
- Fridays at 10:30 AM the Lakewood Park
- Saturdays at 10:30 AM at the Morningside Branch
- Storytime Jam at 10:30 AM. Clap, dance and listen to stories. For ages 3-5.
- Tuesdays at the Lakewood Park Branch
- Wednesdays at Kilmer Branch
- Thursdays at the Hurston Branch
- Fridays at the Lewis Branch
- Grad-n-Go Adventures in STEAM Kits - beginning June 3rd, come in each week and get your activity. Six weeks, six different projects. Best suited for ages 5 - 10. All materials supplied.
Summer Reading Challenge
Parents and guardians are reminded to encourage their students to join St. Lucie County Library System’s Summer Reading Challenge running June 1st through August 3rd. With this year’s theme: “Adventure Begins at the Library,” participants are encouraged to track their reading adventure using the online tool, Beanstack for a chance to win prizes.
Students can enter by reading the recommended daily time for each division. Suggested times for pre-K is 10 minutes; grades kindergarten through 5th grade is 15 minutes; middle school and up is 20 minutes. At 15 days completed, participants get a book, a pass to a local attraction, plus one entry for the grand prize of their choice. At 30 days completed, participants get a pass to a local attraction, plus one additional entry for the grand prize. This summer features different categories/age groups for students to win a drone with a camera, telescope, art supplies and more.
Google and Apple users can install the "Beanstack Tracker" on their phone or tablet and search "St. Lucie" to sign up to track their reading digitally, earning virtual badges for each hour read.
Participants can bring their reading logs to any St. Lucie County Branch Library to get a free book, passes and drop off their entry form for a chance to win a grand prize. For those who can’t get to the library, entries can be emailed to greshamg@stlucieco.org.
St. Lucie County’s Summer Reading Challenge is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the St. Lucie County Children Services Council, St. Lucie Reads and St. Lucie County Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department.
All of these events are free. St. Lucie County libraries are located at:
- Lakewood Park Branch, 7605 Santa Barbara Drive, Fort Pierce / 772-462-6870
- Morningside Branch, 2410 SE Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-337-5632
- Port St. Lucie Branch, 180 SW Prima Vista Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-871-5450
- Paula A. Lewis Branch, 2950 SW Rosser Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-871-5470
- Susan B. Kilmer Branch, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce / 772-462-1615
- Zora Neale Hurston Branch, 3008 Avenue D, Fort Pierce / 772-462-2154
- Indian River State College's Pruitt Campus, 500 NW California Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-336-6380
For more information call the St. Lucie County Library staff at 772-462-6873 or visit www.stlucielibrary.org.
