SummerQuest

SummerQuest 2021 | Tails and Tales

Starting May 21st!  Register for SummerQuest 2021!

What is Summer Quest (SQ)?

Adams County Public Libraries are a vital part of our community's learning network. The need for free, high-quality programs for children and youth that are both fun and educational is critical.  This is especially true during the summer months, when they are susceptible to what is referred to as the "summer slide". In order to engage the children and youth of Adams County, both physically and mentally, we offer our annual Summer Quest program.

Summer Quest (previously known as Summer Reading) provides children the opportunity to experience everything the library has to offer through leisure reading, virtual programs, and participation in a variety of activities.  Children register for the program and are asked to log the activities they complete. Incentives are offered for the completion of certain activities. 

In addition to library activities, Adams County Libraries partner with Wellspan to provide a physical activity program called GO (Get Outdoors) Adams. Based on the outdoor hobby of letterboxing, GO Adams places 15 "landmarks" - wooden marker posts with a unique etching attached in various local parks. Children and their families are provided with rubbing sheets to record their visit to the various landmarks. The sheets are then returned to the local libraries, and then on to Wellspan, with the chance to win prizes.

 

SummerQuest 2021 Changes


While we continue to navigate through the pandemic, Adams County Libraries are working hard to provide entertaining and enriching activities to keep your family active all summer long! Since we are not able to host in-person events, we’ve adapted a variety of events for live streaming or on-demand viewing, plus some fun downloadable activities.


This page will be updated all summer long, so be sure to check back often for updates!

We hope to see you in person soon, but in the meantime, visit us online and have a safe and fun summer!


Get your Library Card


In order to take full advantage of our programs and services, we encourage every child to have his or her own library card. Sign up for your card online, or stop by your local library to apply. 

 

View our SummerQuest 2021 Newspaper

The SummerQuest 2021 Newspaper is coming soon! Check back to see the full newspaper.

 

Countywide Online Programs

As our libraries have adapted their summer activities and events to online settings, there are a range of places you will find our SummerQuest Activities. Use this guide to help you find the program or activity you’re looking for!

Live Streaming Events

Watch LIVE programs securely through Zoom! Click on the names of the programs below to find an upcoming session.

Note: All live streaming events require Registration through the events calendar.

  • ZooAmerica - Paws, Claws, Scales & Tails | All Ages
    • June 24, 10:00am: Learn about the adaptations animals use for survival in the wild with live animals and a Q&A session with our educators. Program meets PA Academic standards.
  • Ryan the BugMan | All Ages
    • July 1, 10:00am: This all-ages event will focus on insect Tails and Tales. Why do insects have tails? Are they REALLY …tails? Why do some insects NOT have tails? And why does Kevin have a STINGER on his tail? Although the audience can’t pet and hold the Live Bugs, everyone will still get up and close with all of them, including Kevin! Audiences around the World, have enjoyed virtual BugMan programs since 2018. Always keeping insect education fun and exciting, audiences experience the world of Bugs and Insects like never before!
  • Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary | All Ages 
    • ​​​​​​​July 8, 10:00am: Jaws, Claws, Scales, and Tales. Jesse Rothacker and his reptile friends will be investigating some of history’s living legends! Do dragons exist? Can snakes fly? Do geckos have magical powers? These are a few of the animal mysteries we will examine, as we separate facts from folklore. Come laugh and learn through your library with live snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocs! Bring your imagination as we open some books and explore the world!
  • Didgeridoo Down Under | All Ages
    • July 15, 10:00am: Australian Music, Animals & More! The DDU Show is a high-energy, Australia-themed show that combines music, culture, comedy, storytelling and audience movement / participation. The didgeridoo has been played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years, and is known for its otherworldly sound. But DDU is much more than music. It’s interactive, educational, motivational and super fun. You’ll learn about Aussie culture, animals and more, all while moving & grooving to the pulsing rhythms of the didge!
  • Sharks! Baltimore National Aquarium | All Ages
    • ​​​​​​​July 17, 10:00am: Sharks are not the fearsome eating machines portrayed in movies; they’re unique and intelligent animals whose amazing survival adaptations have kept them atop the ocean food chain since prehistoric times. With this engaging virtual presentation, we’ll introduce your students to these fascinating “monsters” while dispelling some of the most common shark myths.
  • Skeeta - Mommy To Clown Virtual Show | All Ages
    • ​​​​​​​July 22, 10:00am: Skeeta appears for her virtual show and with the help of her five children she dressed up for her special appearance! However, she looks kind of funny and the colorful clothes she has on sort of resembles a funny character. With the help of the children they determine what she kind of looks like. Then she completely transforms into “Skeeta” The Mommy Clown by putting on the rest of her costume, makeup, and infamous red nose. Afterwards, there is a suitcase full of surprises! The show ends with a sing-a-long, silly magic trick and story. This show has been designed to help young children conquer their fear of clowns and is ideal for children ages 3-up.
  • Nixon Park | All Ages
    • ​​​​​​​July 29, 10:00am: More details to come! 
  • Talewise -Unicorns | All Ages
    • ​​​​​​​August 5, 10:00am: Join us on a wild adventure about two kids who visit the city zoo and discover all sorts of incredible animals, including a horse who knows in its heart that it’s truly a unicorn! The animals join forces to stand up to the tyrannical Zoo Owner — but do they have what it takes to leave their cages forever? The story segues into science concept segments about life sciences and animals, so you won’t only be entertained — you'll learn something, too!   
  • STEAM Mobile | All Ages
  • Girls Go STEAM Summer Spectacular | Grades K-5 and 6-12
  • Author A. S. King | Ages 8 and above

On-Demand Videos

  • Premiering on Youth Services at Adams County Library Facebook
  • Available to watch & download online

Online Activities & Challenges

Virtual Teen Program

Click Here to Sign Up

 

 

Key Dates

  • May 21: Early online registration begins on Beanstack
  • June 7: Begin recording minutes
  • July 1: GO Adams! Hikes Open: Begin logging hikes on Beanstack
  • August 14: Last day to log reading minutes in Beanstack
    • Logged minutes after this date will not count toward prizes or virtual badges
  • August 30: Last day to log GO Adams parks online and earn entries into the grand prize drawing

Track Your Minutes

To win any of our big prizes, be sure to log your minutes. You can download a printable tracking sheet (2021 printable sheet coming soon) or log your minutes in our digital tracking service, Beanstack. (Mobile App also available for Apple and Android)

Need help using Beanstack? View our Beanstack Tips and Tricks page for helpful tutorials.


Minutes can be counted for any of the following activities:

  • Reading/listening to a book, eBook, or audio book
  • Attending library programs and events*
  • Completing Activities on Beanstack*
  • Taking on one of the Go Adams! walks*

*All of these activities count as 20 minutes each!

 

Prizes

This year's prizes will be unveiled soon!

 

Go Adams! Starts July !!

GO Adams! 2020 will begin on July 1, and end on August 30, 2020. The ‘GO and Find Your Story’ Activity Challenge will be available on Beanstack during this time.

GO Adams officially starts on Wednesday, July 1st and runs through Sunday, August 30th. You will have until Saturday, September 5th to enter your info into Beanstack. We will still issue rubbing sheets, but we will not be collecting them this year. You will earn credit for hikes by entering 4-digit codes, which are on the posts, into Beanstack through your local library. By doing this, we can eliminate people from touching the post (unless you choose to do the rubbing), but you will not turn that sheet in.  

Given that the libraries are still not open for full utilization, books and rubbing sheets will be available at all six library locations beginning July 1st. 

  • One book per family, as in years past
  • One rubbing sheet for each child, as in past years
  • Registration for the ACLS Summer Quest program is required for participation, as in years past
  • GO Adams materials materials will be available during our Library to Go hours
  • Signs will alert participants about the above rules
  • A sign-up sheet will also be there asking for participant name, age, and phone number.

Additionally, the website www.goadams.org will go live as of midnight Tuesday, June 30 (or first thing Wednesday, July 1, morning). You can always download hikes and clues from there.

We will continue to provide updates on park accessibility and materials as we move forward.

Gear up folks - the hiking is about to start. So, enjoy your hikes, adhere to the safety guidelines, and above all else, be safe and have fun.