All Ages (Kids, Tweens/Teens, Adults)
Month of June (Starting Monday, June 5): Community Banner (In the Library)
o Design a garden flag and add it to our banner outside the library!
We will have small squares of white fabric cut out and ready to decorate! Use the provided paint pens or puffy paint. Leave your square at the library to dry and we will add it to our banner, which will run along the side of our building on Chicago Avenue throughout the summer. You may make a square every time you visit the library during the month of June. This project can be found on the desk that is right around the corner from the first study room.
Thursday, June 8 @ 10am: Hooping w/Emilymae (Community Gym)
o Make your own weighted hoop and learn hooping techniques!
Emilymae King will instruct us on how to make weighted hula hoops. Supplies are provided, but are first come, first served. We may ask some families to share and only make one hoop. You may bring your own hoop if you prefer. After the hoops are completed, Emilymae will teach hooping techniques. No experience is necessary!
Thursday. June 8 @ 6pm: A Night at the Dr. Kate Museum (923 Second Avenue Woodruff)
o Stop by the museum for an exclusive tour!
The evening will begin with a brief documentary about Dr. Kate and the history of the museum. This will be followed by a tour/viewing of Dr. Kate artifacts and a promotion of this summer Penny Parade. Light refreshments will be provided.
Saturday, June 10 @ 11am: Minute-to-Win-it (Program Room)
o Join us for some minute-to-win-it challenges! Prizes too!
Stop by for the whole two-hour block or pop in at your own convenience. Challenges will be set up as stations. Participate in as few or as many as you wish.
Week of June 12: Downtown Picture Hunt (Downtown Minocqua)
o Hunt for pictures inside participating businesses and win prizes!
Come to the library front desk to pick up your picture hunt sheet. Only one sheet is needed per family as we’d like you to participate together! Stop by the businesses listed during their open hours and try to figure out which picture from the sheet matches each business. Write a business name next to each picture. When you have your sheet completed, bring it back to the library. You will earn two tickets per family member for completion. Tickets can be put into buckets to win raffle baskets, which were graciously donated by the participating businesses. You have one week to complete this challenge.
Thursday, June 15 @ 1pm: Sun, Moon & Stars (Community Gym)
o Rocket balloons, UV bead bracelets, moon phase demonstrations and more!
Learn how rockets work using rocket balloons, hold a moon in your hand and learn about moon phases, and learn about the scale of our Solar System. Make a bracelet that detects UV rays. Inspect a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite as well! This program will be presented by Jim Head of the Northwoods Explorers of Space and Astronomy. The Northwoods Explorers of Space and Astronomy is a group of individuals who are on a mission of discovery in astronomy and space exploration. Check out their website for more information: Northwoods Explorers of Space and Astronomy.
Week of June 19: Makerspace Week (In the Library)
o Make anything you’d like using the supplies on our maker cart!
The maker cart and additional supplies will be available for anyone to make anything they’d like! Leave your completed art with us for display or take it home. This project can be found across from the desk that is right around the corner from the first study room.
Thursday, June 22 @ 1pm: Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament (Program Room)
o Gather a team, test out your puzzle skills, and maybe win a prize!
This event will be first come, first served (as supplies last). The first 8 teams to show up will be able to participate. Teams will consist of at least two adults and as many kids as you’d like. Families are encouraged to participate together! If someone shows up without a team or with only one adult for their team, they may be partnered with other participants. All teams will be given the same 200-piece puzzle. The first three teams to complete the puzzle will win prizes. All participating teams may keep their puzzles, however. We will also have large floor puzzle in the room on one side for younger kids to complete who may not be able to help with the main puzzle.
Saturday, June 24, 12-2pm: Anime Club (TEENS ONLY)
o Join us in the library’s program room for streaming anime favorites! Snacks too!
Week of June 26: World Tour on the Bearskin Trail (Downtown Minocqua)
o Find 10 countries as you walk along the trail!
Test your memory and geography skills and learn new things along the way! There will be a map posted at the Bearskin Trail trail head. 10 countries will be highlighted with their names listed. Take a picture of this map with your phone. As you walk the trail, you will see 10 numbered pictures hiding. The pictures will be activities, food, or cultural events related to the countries highlighted on the map at the trail head. After finding all 10 pictures, you will find a map similar to the one at the trail head, but the names of the countries will flip up to reveal which numbered photo matches each country. You may take pictures of the photos that you find along the trail as you walk.
Thursday, June 29 @ 10am: Miller & Mike (Community Gym)
o Enjoy a show by two hilarious jugglers!
Miller & Mike’s show involves juggling various items, yoyo tricks, clowning, and more! Check out their website for more information: Miller & Mike.
Thursday, June 29, 4pm Beatles Movie Night (TEENS/ADULTS)
o Join us in the library’s program room for a Beatles documentary, popcorn & refreshments. Also, make your own Beatles flair using the library’s new button maker!
Month of July (Starting July 3): Christmas in July (Library Lobby)
o Drop off items for the Lakeland Sharing Foundation’s holiday toy drive!
Stop by the library lobby to view the list of preferred donations, which will include toys and winter gear for kids. The Lakeland Sharing Foundation’s two main projects are the fill-a-backpack campaign in the fall and the holiday toy drive in the winter. Let’s help them get a head start this year! Check out their Facebook page for more information: Lakeland Sharing Foundation.
Thursday, July 6 @ 10am DIY Ugly Sweater Party (Program Room)
o Decorate an ugly Christmas sweater! Bring your own or use one of ours.
We have purchased approximately 35 sweaters of all sizes (women’s, men’s, kid’s and even some baby’s and toddler’s sizes) from Goodwill in Christmas/winter colors. We will have hot glue guns ready and all kinds of Christmas bibs and bobs to attach! The sweaters are first come, first served, so bringing one of your own is a guaranteed way to be able to participate. Every member of your family is welcome to make a sweater, supplies permitting.
Week of July 10: Rock Painting and Hiding (In the Library)
o Paint a rock at the library, then hide it in the community!
We will have a variety of rocks and painting supplies available throughout the week. Paint a rock and take it home to dry OR leave it at the library to dry. Then either hide it somewhere in the Minocqua community yourself OR leave your rock at the library for our staff to hide. We encourage rocks to be hidden outdoors only in the main traffic areas of the town – the downtown shopping area, Torpy Park and the Bearskin Trail. Please also hide rocks only in places that won’t affect grass being mowed. Then, throughout the week, take a walk around and look for rocks! Messages of kindness are encouraged. This project can be found on the desk that is right around the corner from the first study room.
Thursday, July 13 @ 1pm: Storyteller Tracy Chipman (Program Room)
o Listen to stories told by an energetic and engaging storyteller!
In the words of Tracy herself, “Storytelling is an ancient, alive, sacred, co-creative exchange between listener and teller. Storytelling is vast, it is a web, a bridge and a often a lifeline. Storytelling builds trust, creates communion & compassion with ourselves, others, with the more-than-human world. We are made of stories. For better and for worse.” Tracy was highly recommended to Miss Erica by the Children’s Librarian in Rib Lake! We can’t wait to have her in Minocqua for the first time! Check out her website for more information: Tracy Chipman.
Saturday, July 15 @ 11am: Retro Flair! (Program Room)
o Use the library’s button maker to make some fun flair!
We got a new button maker and we can’t wait to use it! Use your own artwork or print images that you want to use. Then be sure to wear your new button around town (including the Penny Parade in Woodruff later in the day on the 15th)!
Week of July 17: Amazing Race (In the Library)
o Complete 8 country activities, get your passport stamped, and earn a prize!
Stop by the front desk to pick up a passport (to be used for your whole family working together). Then find each of the 8 stations located around the library. At each station, there will be a book about a different country with a question about that country. The answer to the question will be available in the book. The page number where the answer is found will serve as the combination to a locked box that will also be at the station. Inside the locked box, there will be a stamper and an ink pad. Stamp all 8 locations on your passport and earn a spin on the prize wheel for each participating member of your family!
Tuesday, July 18 @ 9am: Raven Trail Mushroom Foray w/Anne Small (8420 Woodruff Road)
o Locate mushrooms as we hike the trail, learning as you go!
Meet at the Raven Trail trail head. You will be allowed to take mushrooms home with you. Anne Small from the Northstate Mycological Society will discuss the different types of mushrooms found and their uses. Check out their website for more information: Northstate Mycological Society.
Thursday, July 20 @ 10am: All TURT-gether Now w/the North Lakeland Discovery Center (Program Room)
o Learn all about turtles from Naturalist Licia Johnson! Meet live turtles too!
Licia Johnson will present about different types of turtles in the northwoods, such as where they live, what they eat, etc. She will then show live turtles and maybe show off some of their “tricks” as well! Check out their website for more information: North Lakeland Discovery Center.
Saturday, June 24, 12-2pm: Anime Club (TEENS ONLY)
o Join us in the library’s program room for streaming anime favorites! Snacks too!
Week of July 24: Community Book (In the Library/Kids’ Room)
o Add a page to our book! We’ll add the completed book to our collection!
We’d like kids, teens and adults to all participate in our community book project! Miss Erica will provide templates with a writing prompt and a place to color or sketch a picture to go along with your writing, as well as markers and colored pencils. The writing prompt will be the question: “What is your favorite thing about Minocqua?” We will put all the template sheets together and turn it into a book, which will be available to check out from our library once it is complete. This project can be found on the desk that is right around the corner from the first study room.
Wednesday, July 26 @ 1pm: Musician Christian Strutz (Program Room)
o Enjoy acoustic guitar and singing by a local musician!
In Christian’s own words: “Christian Strutz is a young singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He writes, produces, and performs a variety of different types of indie, alt rock, and pop songs. His rich vocal tone and music arrangements set him apart in the music industry. Fans love his heart-felt lyrics and original melodies found throughout his recordings and during live concerts.” Check out his website for more information: Christian Strutz.
Thursday, July 27, 4pm: Beatles Trivia (TEENS/ADULTS)
o Test your Beatles knowledge with friends at the library! Prizes and snacks too!
Friday, July 28 @ 5pm: Picnic, Games & Community Dance (Arbor Vitae Fireman’s Park and Community Building)
o Picnic and yard games! Community dance to follow!
The first portion of the evening (5:00 – 7:00 pm), will include treats (TBD) and yard games (also TBD) at the Arbor Vitae Fireman’s Park. Kids are invited to play on the playground as well. Kids, bring your completed reading logs to earn your fourth and final prize – a free book from our book cart! You do not need to be present at the event to receive your prize book. The book cart will be available at the library front desk throughout the month of August as well. You may not collect your book prior to the this event, however. Our goal is for kids (and adults) to read throughout the summer, not all in one sitting.
The second portion of the eventing (7:00 – 9:00 pm) will be a community dance at the Arbor Vitae Community Building. Enjoy classic dance songs, such as the macarena, limbo, electric slide and more, under the disco ball! A photo booth will also be available. Have a good time together as a family!
Ongoing Events
Wednesdays @ 10am: StoryTime (Kids) (June 7-July 26) (Program Room)
o July 26 Special StoryTime at Minocqua Winter Park (7588 Squirrel Hill Road)
o Stories, finger plays, flannel boards and more for ages 0-4 and their caregivers.
StoryTime will meet every week in the program room, but we may take a brief walk to the new farmer’s market grounds (on the other side of the police station) if the weather is nice. We will decide together as a group when we meet at 10:00 am.
Every Thursday @ 10am: Wiggle, Giggle & Shake (Kids) (All Summer) (Program Room)
o June 8, July 13, and August 10 will be at 70W Park (10295 Hwy 70 W)
o Children ages 0-4 and their caregivers are invited to sing, dance and play!
Wiggle, Giggle & Shake is run by staff from the Children’s Wisconsin offices in Rhinelander. They offer many other programs for kids of all ages. Check out their website for more information: Children’s Wisconsin Northwoods Offices. They have many of their events posted on their Facebook page as well: Children’s Wisconsin – Northwoods Offices.
Every Friday @ 8am: Tai Chi in the Park (All Ages) (June 23 – July 28) (Torpy Park)
o Join fellow community members in learning this gentle, graceful form of exercise and experience its many health benefits.
Tai Chi will be led by Tori Cihla (Rhinelander) and all ages are welcome to join in the fun this year! No registrations required, just stop by! Tori is an ACE certified personal trainer since 1999, and specializes in women over 40. Check out her website for more information: TLC Fitness.
Select Saturdays @ 10am: Lego Club (Kids) (June 17; July 1 & 29; August 26) (Program Room)
o Free build or participate in a Lego-building challenge!
Lego Club is run by library volunteer Kara Fleming and has had a huge following over the school year. We are offering it this summer due to its popularity, but on a limited basis. We appreciate Kara and her willingness to run this well-loved program! Stop by all build “all together” with your whole family!
Story Paths at Minocqua Winter Park (Families) (All Summer) (7588 Squirrel Hill Road)
o Head out to Minocqua Winter Park during daylight hours to read a story while you walk through the woods. Two stories are available (Tot Trot Loop and Bunny Trail).
We are lucky to have a partnership with the Minocqua Winter Park staff, who very graciously display our books along their trails all year long so that we are able to offer Story Paths to our community. This summer, the Tot Trot Loop will feature “Let Nature Be Your Teacher” by Chandra Ziegler, a local author who gave a presentation at Minocqua Winter Park recently. The Bunny Trail will feature “Swimmy” by Leo Lionni, a book that fits in great with the “All Together Now” theme. Minocqua Winter Park is open all summer long from sun up to sun down and the trails can be reached by foot. Check out Minocqua Winter Park’s website for more information about their facility and trails: Minocqua Winter Park.