When the Newbern Library presents its Summer Reading Festival on this Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, one of the highlights will be the Betabox Learning Lab trailer which will be open both days for students to participate in a variety of fun and educational handson STEM activities.
Betabox is a North Carolina company that has partnered with the University of West Alabama to bring this mobile learning experience to a 10-county west Alabama rural region to give work skills training and education to adults for work readiness related to cutting edge technology and innovative jobs. For students K- 12, Betabox lets young people participate in exciting and fun activities inside the mobile classroom that arouse their interest and curiosity. These STEM activities – such as robotics and drones – can boost both student interest and self-confidence in technology and science. Having the Betabox Learning Lab in Newbern is a special opportunity for summer reading program students to explore this new kind of learning experience.
In addition to the Betabox activities, the Festival will feature on Friday the McWane Science Center” s presentation “Oceans Alive,” face painting and craft activities with the Rural Studio students, and the registration time for the Summer Reading Program with the explanation of the prizes that will be awarded at a special ending event on Saturday, July 30. Friday’s program begins at 9:45am and runs until 1:00pm.
On Saturday, the fun begins at 9:30am and will include a hands-on craft project and presentation by a NASA person about space exploration, a program by the Hale County Extension Service with food, a special book reading and craft project, multiple art tables, face painting, casting lessons with rods and reels, a variety of door prizes, and a market in the library’s shaded courtyard featuring baked goods, local artists selling their creations, a kids’ craft table, new library T-shirts for sale, plus an extensive used book sale. A hotdog lunch will be served to all who attend on Saturday, with the festivities ending at 2:00pm.
The Newbern Library invites everyone to join the free activities of the Summer Reading Festival on both Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, when there will be “Oceans of Possibilities” for fun and adventures and a chance to sign up for the 6-week Summer Reading Program marathon with its exciting reading award prizes.
