The West Fargo Public Library summer reading program – Summer Boost – returns June 1.  The program incorporates online reading and learning challenges, the Little Red Reading Bus route and special events and activities for all ages. This year’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities.”

All ages can join the Summer Boost online challenge for their age group to track reading hours, record event attendance and earn prizes from local businesses. Summer Boost online challenge registration is open now at https://bit.ly/WFPLBeanstack or the Beanstack mobile app. The challenge runs June 1st through July 31st.

“Summer Boost and the Little Red Reading Bus help kids practice important skills during the summer when they aren’t at school,” Adult Services Manager Kirsten Hengain said. “Our summer programs also encourage reading as a lifelong habit and give teens and adults an opportunity to keep reading and learning too.”

The Little Red Reading Bus will bring books and activities into neighborhood parks from June 6 through August 12. The bus will make eight, one-hour stops each week, where families are invited to read, play and create together with their neighbors in a safe and fun setting. 

The eight weekly stops are: 

• Mondays 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Meadowlark Park (in the new Lost River development in Horace) 
• Mondays 7 – 8 p.m. at Dakota Park (5600 Ninth St W, West Fargo)
• Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Village West Park (4415 Ninth Ave. Circle S, Fargo)
• Tuesdays 7 – 8 p.m. at Tintes Park (161 Sixth Ave. E, West Fargo)
• Wednesdays 9 – 10 a.m. at Goldenwood Park (1330 Fifth St NW, West Fargo)
• Wednesdays 10:30 – 11:30 at Maplewood Park (1504 17^th Ave E, West Fargo)
• Thursdays 9 – 10 a.m. at Rendezvous Park (1055 32^nd Ave W, West Fargo)
• Thursdays 10:30 – 11:30 at Shadow Wood Park (3545 Fourth St E, West Fargo)

In addition to traveling the metro weekly, the Little Red Reading Bus will also visit Harwood and Fargo’s Willow Park neighborhood monthly and take part in community events. Patrons do not need to be signed up for the Summer Boost online challenge to participate in library events or visit the Little Red Reading Bus, but a West Fargo Library card is needed to check out books at any bus stop or event.

The library has planned dozens of programs and events for all ages to take part in. The summer will begin with the Summer Boost Kick-Off Beach Party from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 at the library. Throughout the summer, activities like “Let’s Make Ocean Art” and “Boat Float STEM”  for kids, an escape room and crafting events for teens, and a gardening series for adults will encourage people of all ages to explore their creativity, use science, technology, engineering and math skills, meet new people, engage with new concepts and have fun. 

“Last year, we had nearly 900 readers participate in the challenges and saw over 6000 attendees at our events,” Henagin said. “We anticipate another great year.”

To learn more about Summer Boost, visit https://bit.ly/SummerBoostWFPL 

To learn more about the Little Red Reading Bus, visit https://bit.ly/LittleRedReadingBusWF 

All ages can register for the Summer Boost challenge on Beanstack.