It was a Summer of Superheroes at the Chelsea District Library

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Patty Roberts for the information in this story and Burrill Strong for the photos.)

The Chelsea District Library’s Summer Reading/Summer Learning Program came to a close on Wednesday, July 29, and it was a hot and sunny success.

Volunteers from the library’s Youth Service Group, Chelsea FIRST Robotics and Ann Arbor’s ProQuest helped kids do a variety of activities on the library lawn, from karaoke and a squirt gun obstacle course to robotics and crafts. When things got too hot outside, kids went into the McKune Room for a special Demo Derby Slot Car race, courtesy of Miniature Motorways of Livonia.

Teens had a special finale on July 30 at Zap Zone of Ann Arbor, with 25 teens enjoying pizza, arcade games and an epic game of laser tag.

This summer almost 1,200 children participated in the Reading Game, with 42 percent of them completing 20 hours of reading in June and July. Over 19,600 books/hours were read by preschool/elementary aged children, 2020 hours were read by middle school students, and 1,241 hours were read by high school students.

Chelsea has a lot of great readers.

Thanks to our sponsors, including Rick Taylor of Charles Reinhart Real Estate, Chelsea Masons Olive Lodge #156, the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea, and the Friends of the Chelsea District Library, each child who completed summer reading received a free book and several prizes. All children had the opportunity to attend several special events throughout the summer, such as the American Astronaut Planetarium, the Lords of the Sky Birds of Prey Show, Baffling Bill’s Magic Show, Learn to Code with Scratch, and Parent and Child Yoga, also due to the generosity of our sponsors.

Adults also had a chance to get rewarded for reading and other library-related activities like checking out ebooks and digital magazines and visiting our Facebook page. More than 250 participated, with 49 percent reaching their completion prize goal. In addition to getting credit for reading, participants also attended library programs and community events, explored the Historic Newspaper Database on StoriesofChelsea.org, and watched the latest Chelsea History Documentaries: Local Landmarks.

In conjunction with the theme, Be a Tourist in Your Hometown, players were encouraged to experience true Chelsea activities, like tour Jiffy Mix, attend a Monitors or Merries Vintage Base Ball game, and visit the Farmers’ Market. Gift certificates to local businesses, like The Common Grill, Thompson’s Pizzeria, and Gigi’s Flowers, were awarded as Grand Prizes.

Thank you’s go to the area businesses that donated Grand Prizes: Chelsea Lanes, Chelsea Treehouse and Collected Treasures Farm. Summer Reading participants also received items from local businesses: Pandya Dental, Wendy’s, McDonalds, Cottage Inn, Zap Zone, Jungle Java, Arctic Coliseum, and Chelsea Bakery.

If you missed out on this year’s fun, be sure to join us next year.