The late days of summer and early fall are a great time to be outdoors before winter arrives. The Get Outside Book Club encourages families with young children to connect with nature and literature by pairing outdoor activities with storytimes. This partnership between the Dayton Metro Library and Five Rivers MetroParks is geared toward preschoolers and their parents or caregivers, but all are welcome.
The program runs September 1-October 31. Families can register at their local Dayton Metro Library and receive a journal to keep track of their adventures. They’ll record their books and activities and earn bug stickers as they go. Once they’ve read six books on any nature-related topic and complete six outdoor activities, they earn a Bug Collecting Kit and the book Spiders by Nic Bishop (while supplies last).
“It’s especially fun for young children to read about an activity, then go do the activity themselves,” said Dorri Hegyi, Children’s Librarian at the Miamisburg Branch Library and coordinator of the Get Outside Book Club. “The outdoor activity and book can spark great conversations between parent and child.”
Special programs take place at area MetroParks where Children’s Librarians will lead storytimes, then parks staff conduct nature activities. Other programs feature MetroParks speakers with animal guests at the Library.
“This partnership between the Dayton Metro Library and Five Rivers MetroParks encourages both a love of books and a love of nature in young children,” said Hegyi. “It feeds their natural curiosity and channels their energy into fun, shared experiences with their adult caregivers.”
GET OUTSIDE BOOK CLUB PROGRAMS:
Registration is recommended for these programs by visiting: http://www.metroparks.org or calling Five Rivers MetroParks at (937) 275-7275.
Leave It to Beavers Storytime at Wegerzyn Gardens
Wednesday, 9/2, 11:00-11:30 a.m. Come to an outdoor storytime at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Read stories and talk about how beavers use their teeth and tails in the wild. Then take a walk to look for signs of beavers.
Animals from Five Rivers MetroParks
at WEST CARROLLTON BRANCH LIBRARY, 300 E. Central Avenue
Thursday, 9/3, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Meet wild animal guests including a turtle and snake and hear their stories during this presentation. Find out how we can help our wild friends and enjoy playing outside ourselves. Preschoolers.
Animal Homes
at BROOKVILLE BRANCH LIBRARY, 425 Rona Parkway Dr.
Tuesday, 9/8, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Meet wild animal guests including a turtle and snake and hear their stories during this presentation by Five Rivers MetroParks staff. Find out how we can help our wild friends and enjoy playing outside ourselves. Ages 3-5.
Spider Storytime at Possum Creek
Thursday, 9/10, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Meet at the Possum Creek reservable area for a Spider Storytime. After the story, we’ll go on a spider hunt led by MetroPark naturalists.
Outside Owl Encounter at Hills and Dales MetroPark
Friday, 9/18, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Meet at the Paw Paw shelter for stories and songs, then take a walk with a MetroPark naturalist to explore the changes that happen at dusk and look for owls along the way.
All About Wild Animals
at HUBER HEIGHTS BRANCH LIBRARY, 6160 Chambersburg Road
Tuesday, 9/22 4:30-5:30 p.m. A MetroParks naturalist will teach us all about the animals around us.
Get Outside Book Club at Riverscape
Wednesday, 9/23, 11:00 a.m.-noon. Learn about what kinds of animals can be found in the middle of a city. Nature may be closer than you think! Meet at Riverscape Park near the big canopy.
Snakes and Turtles from Five Rivers MetroParks
at FT. MCKINLEY BRANCH LIBRARY, 3735 Salem Avenue, Dayton
Saturday, 9/26, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Meet wild animal guests including a turtle and snake and hear their stories during this presentation by Five Rivers MetroParks staff. Find out how we can help our wild friends and enjoy playing outside ourselves.
Pondology at Taylorsville MetroPark
Monday, 9/28, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Ponds are fun places to explore! Listen to stories, then explore with a naturalist and see what you can find. Meet at Taylorsville Dam at the Hilltop shelter.
Get Outside Read at Englewood MetroPark
Tuesday, 10/6, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Meet in Patty’s shelter at the Englewood MetroPark and listen to stories about shelters, animals and walks, then explore with a naturalist.
Ohio Animals with Five Rivers MetroParks
at WILMINGTON-STROOP BRANCH LIBRARY, 3980 Wilmington Pike, Kettering
Thursday, 10/8, 3:30 p.m. Meet wild animal guests including a turtle and snake and hear their stories during this presentation by Five Rivers MetroParks staff. Find out how we can help our wild friends and enjoy playing outside ourselves.
Get Outside Book Club at Sugarcreek MetroPark
Monday, 10/12, 3:30 p.m. Come to Sugarcreek MetroPark and explore outer space with stories and space facts from a MetroPark naturalist.
Bird Storytime at Eastwood MetroPark
Monday, 10/19, 1:00 p.m. Join us at Eastwood Park for a special storytime all about birds! We’ll read stories and sing songs about our feathered friends, and MetroPark Naturalists will teach us all about birds and their habitats.
Trees Are The Bee’s Knees at Cox Arboretum
Monday, 10/26, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Meet in the Edible Garden at Cox Arboretum to share stories, then go on an adventure led by a MetroPark naturalist.
For more information on these or any Library programs, visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call (937) 463-BOOK.
