This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/16/2022 03:43 PMESSEX
The Essex Library Association is throwing a Field Day celebration. The occasion? The end of summer reading.
Intended for children and teenagers of all ages, the End of the Summer Reading Field Day is slated for Friday, Aug. 26, and will be a collaborative event between the Ivoryton Public Library and the Essex Public Library.
According to Librarian Nicole Gaudreau of Children and Teen Services at Essex Public Library, the field day will feature events including a three-legged race and egg toss with prizes for winners as well as face painting and treats like cotton candy.
Gaudreau says that an obstacle course may also be added to the list of games, but most will be common field day games.
Field day was inspired by this year’s summer reading theme, Read Beyond the Beatenm Path. The theme was selected as part of the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge launched by the state Department of Education at the end of May with the goal of encouraging students to read novels dealing with thrills and adventure. Within those themes are stories taking place at summer camps, according to Gaudreau.
As part of the challenge, young readers set goals for the summer, whether that be the number of books they intended to read over the course of a week or a month, or the total amount of minutes that they wanted to spend reading a book each day. After meeting a goal, they would then go to either of the town’s libraries and receive a stamp in booklets made to help them keep track of their goals. Those who have received a stamp for all of their goals will receive an award. Those who began their summer challenge at the library in Essex will win a coupon for a free order of ice cream at Sweet P’s, while those who received their stamps from the Ivoryton Library will be awarded a coupon for ice cream at Scoop’s. Raffle tickets from Toys Ahoy! will be part of the awarding as well, and stamps from either library will be accepted to receive them.
Field Day will take place on Friday, Aug. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at Main Street Park in downton Essex.