SummerQuest at Bosler Memorial Library
|
|
|
|
.png)
WHAT IS SUMMERQUEST?
SummerQuest, or Summer Learning, is an opportunity to engage kids, teens, and adults during the summer months through reading, programming, exploration, and more. At any age and any stage, reading is an essential part of a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life.
During the summer months children lose up to two months of learning from the previous school year. Continued reading and learning experiences during the summer is the most effective way for children to avoid suffering from what researchers call the "summer slide." It is critical that children continue the learning process throughout the year. Bosler's SummerQuest not only offers an exciting reading challenge, but interactive and engaging programs for kids and teens. These include storytimes for different ages, science camps, sensory exploration, and art classes. We are also thrilled to host special performers throughout the summer! More information about these programs can be found in our 2026 SummerQuest Program Guide.
NOT JUST FOR KIDS, adults are also encouraged to participate in Bosler's SummerQuest. Our Carlisle Institute for Lifelong Learning continues during the summer months as part of our SummerQuest. We have multi-session courses on financial literacy, heart health, writing, and more. Adults also have their own special reading challenge where they can win exciting prizes.
Please take a moment to look at the list of our SummerQuest sponsors at the bottom of this page. Without them this program would not be possible.
SUMMER READING CHALLENGE
We have three separate reading challenges for Kids (birth to 12 years), Teens (13 through 17), and Adults (18+)! Each challenge comes with their own set of prizes and special activities to complete. They all share one thing...READING! Read books, picture books, graphic novels, magazines, comics, or even the news. Listening to audiobooks also counts! Each time you read, keep track of the minutes you spend reading and log those minutes into your Summer Reading Account (separate from your library card account). As your minutes of reading accumulate, you will earn badges which come with rewards. These rewards are different for each age group participating in the challenge (more information below). For parents, remember that reading to or with your child also counts, not just for your child, but for you as well! Time shared reading together and to one another is as valuable as reading alone.
PLUS...in addition to logging your reading, you can also log activities! Activities will earn additional badges. These activities are different for each challenge and will be listed on your Summer Reading Account under "Activity Badges." Completing these activities also earn you badges that come with special rewards. View the activities you can complete here!
Badge Rewards:
Kids (ages birth through 12 years)
Each time you read, log the number of minutes you read into your account. As you log your reading you will earn badges. For every 100 minutes you read (up to 1,000 minutes) you will earn a badge that has a reward of 5 Bosler Coins! These coins can be used in THREE DIFFERENT WAYS!
1. Beginning on Monday, June 8 you can SPEND your coins to get prizes from our Five and Dime Cart. You can find this cart in our Youth Services Department anytime the Library is open.
2. You can also SAVE your coins and wait for our Summer Reading Prize Store to open on Monday, August 17! You can view our prize catalog in advance to see what prizes will be available for you to choose from. The prize store will be available in our Youth Services Department anytime the Library is open between August 17 and August 30. No coins can be redeemed for prizes after August 30.
3. New this year, you can also DONATE your coins by dropping them in our special donation jar, located in the Youth Services Department. Each coin you donate will be worth $0.25 that an anonymous donor will donate to Project Share. Our donor has committed to donating up to $500! Our donation jar will be available starting Monday, August 17.
Want to read more than 1,000 minutes? GREAT! This year, for every 100 minutes you read beyond 1,000 minutes (up to 1,000 additional minutes) you will earn one entry into a random drawing for prize baskets (up to 10 entries total). 15 prize baskets will be awarded at the end of Summer Reading.
Breakdown of Reading Minutes for Kids
0 minutes to 1,000 minutes: 5 coins for every 100 minutes read
1,000 minutes to 2,000 minutes: 1 prize drawing entry for every 100 minutes read
Teens (ages 13 through 17 years)
Each time you read, log the number of minutes you read into your account. As you log your reading you will earn badges. Every reading badge you earn will award you with raffle tickets! These raffle tickets can be used to enter basket drawings that will take place at the end of summer!
We will also hold weekly gift card drawings each week on Friday for all teens participating in Summer Reading. You must log at least one reading session (even one minute) during the week to qualify for that week’s drawing.
Adults (ages 18+ years)
Each badge earned will come with a set number of Raffle Tickets! Completing activities (except GO Cumberland) will also earn tickets. These raffle tickets can be used to enter the prize drawings of your choice. We will have a variety of prize drawings throughout the Summer. Prizes include gift certificates to area businesses, family adventure passes, and much more! A full list of drawings will be available soon!
Note: Adults and Teens may win in more than one of the drawings. Being a winner in one of the drawings does not disqualify adults and teens for winning in another drawing.
The Summer Reading Challenge begins June 1 and the last day to log reading is Sunday, August 16.
PROGRAM REGISTRATION
Many of our programs require registration. Registration for Youth and Teen programs open on the third Monday of the month prior to the program month at 9:00 am. Registration for all adult programs will open at 9:00 am on May 18. Use the links below to register for programs.
To register, please visit our Event Calendar and click on the program you wish to register for.
GO CUMBERLAND
Go Cumberland is a partnership between the Cumberland County Library System and WellSpan Health. All ages can participate in this healthy initiative. Using a guidebook or directions off the GO Cumberland website, participants will follow a series of directions on specific trails in Cumberland County. These directions will lead you to a post with a rubbing plate on it. The plate will contain a code that can be entered into your Beanstack Account under the activities section. After completing four hikes you will earn an entry into a special raffle drawing, another entry is earned after completing 10 hikes, and a third entry if you complete all 15 hikes.
SUMMERQUEST SPONSORS
Bosler's 2026 SummerQuest is made possible through our primary sponsor: The Jerry and Ellen Hair Foundation. Additional support is provided by F&M Trust. Support for the SummerQuest was also provided by UGI Utilities, Inc., PPL, Avalon, Garman Builders, and Weis Markets, Inc., through the Cumberland County Library System Foundation.
