Children in Estevan have been traveling the globe this summer, without ever leaving the city. Through the Estevan Public Library’s TD Summer Reading Program, kids aged 5 to 12 have been diving into stories, crafts, and cultural experiences designed to spark imagination and build literacy.
“This is just a kids’ outdoor story time,” said Katie Ostrander, Summer Reading Program Coordinator. “We go to parks around Estevan and do story time with a craft afterwards that relates to the story.”
On a recent Friday at Rusty Duce Park, children made butterfly crafts after listening to a themed story, part of a weekly rotation of summer-themed activities. “Sometimes we do crafts, sometimes puppets, it depends on the story,” Ostrander added.
The seven-week program blends reading with STEM activities, games, and crafts. “We encourage reading with prize incentives,” Ostrander explained. “Kids record their reading minutes in a log, and those minutes earn them entries into weekly and end-of-summer prize draws.” Grand prizes include a bike for older children and a telescope science kit for younger ones.
But the program goes far beyond prizes. “When you're teaching literacy, you're teaching kids how to think while they're reading,” Ostrander said. She described how even simple activities like puppet-making become learning opportunities. “We had them plan out a story with a beginning, middle, and end for their puppet show. It’s about understanding what makes a story a story.”
Cultural Literacy Takes Center Stage
One of the standout features this year is the cultural theme: “Around the World,” sponsored by TD Bank. Each week, children explore a different continent through stories, crafts, and interactive experiences.
“We’ve done Asia, Africa, and next week is Australia,” Ostrander shared. “For Asia, we made panda crafts and did yoga. For Africa, the kids learned about the djembe drum, made their own drums, and played rhythms together.”
Ostrander emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity. “We’re exposing kids to different cultures in a respectful way. It’s about increasing awareness and appreciation.”
The program also fosters media and social literacy. “Kids talk about the shows they watch and their interests,” Ostrander said. “So we’re building connections and encouraging discussions that span different areas of literacy.”
With its blend of education, creativity, and community engagement, the Estevan Public Library’s summer reading program is more than just a way to pass the time, it’s a passport to learning. “It gets kids outside, reading, and thinking,” Ostrander said. “And it’s a lot of fun.”
The Estevan Public Library’s TD Summer Reading Program has transformed local parks into hubs of creativity, learning, and cultural exploration. With themed crafts, engaging stories, and continent-hopping activities, children are not only building literacy skills but also gaining a deeper appreciation for global cultures. As the program wraps up its final week, it leaves behind a summer full of memories, meaningful connections, and a renewed love for reading.