Children's Events

Join us Tuesday July 23 from 6-7:30 PM at a FREE program to welcome Joan Calder, award winning author and avid butterfly gardener. Joan’s program will delight family members of all ages as she encourages us all to create habitat for butterflies in our gardens. Following the presentation, a naturalist-led walk to Heckrodt’s butterfly gardens and prairie will emphasize butterflies and their habitat.

This program is a collaboration of Heckrodt Wetland Reserve and Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter. Wild Ones Bring Back the Monarchs partnership encourages everyone to plant nectar and host plants to help dwindling Monarch populations find needed habitat.

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is located at 1305 Plank Rd., Menasha, WI. Find more information heckrodtwetland.org or call (920) 720-9349

RED, WHITE & BLUE CRAFTS FOR KIDS @ THE NEENAH PUBLIC LIBRARY

Feeling crafty? Get creative for Independence Day by making rockets, fireworks, and noise makers from everyday objects on Tuesday, July 2, at 1:30 p.m., at the Neenah Public Library. This free program is for school-age children; no registration required.

This program is part of the summer family education & entertainment series for “Dig into Reading,” Neenah Public Library’s summer library program.

Summer Library programming is made possible by the Friends of the Neenah Public Library and the Neenah Library Trust Fund. For more information about this and other “Dig into Reading” activities, call (920) 886-6335, email [email protected] or check the Neenah Library web site: neenahlibrary.org.

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Children who are looking to create a gift for dad or another special man in their lives are invited to make their own keepsake handprint card all daylong. Additionally, visitors will have the opportunity to meet, pet and learn all about snakes from members of the Fox Valley HERP Club from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Lastly, Wild Thing from the book, “Where the Wild Things Are,” by Maurice Sendak, will make an appearance at 4:00 p.m. for a read-aloud story and craft making session with visitors.

BOOK BUNCH: A SUMMER BOOK CLUB FOR AGES 8 – 11

Neenah Library’s “Book Bunch” book group for kids 8 – 11 years old will hold its first summer meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26. Read for fun, then expand appreciation for the book with discussion and a related activity, like a scavenger hunt, trivia game or craft.

The featured book for June is Lawn Boy, by children’s author Gary Paulsen. In this story, things get out of hand for a twelve-year-old boy when a neighbor convinces him to expand his summer lawn mowing business.

Please call 886-6335 with questions or to register. Copies of the book are available at the youth desk. Kids can read the book alone or as enjoy as a family read-aloud.

This program is free and open to all children ages 8 – 11. Book Bunch is made possible by the Friends of the Neenah Public Library and by the Neenah Public Library Trust Fund.

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The new activities center on “Water and Air Everywhere!” experiments is designed to give children and their families’ simple hands-on ways to explore science, using materials that often can be found at home. The experiments include: using balloons to amplify sound and learn about compressed air; proving that warm air needs more room than cold air; bending straws with the human eye; making a penny disappear using water based optical illusions; moving water from one cup to another, using capillary action and no hands; watch how invisible sound waves travel through water and can make a big splash; show that air pressure can hold water in mid-air; and answer the question, “Does air take up space?”

Costumed character, Wild Thing, from "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak will join visitors for interactive readings and special craft opportunities throughout the week of June 11-16. Children are welcome to take pictures with Wild Thing as a personal memento of their visit. All activities are included in the cost of museum admission.

ROCKIN’ READERS: A SUMMER READING GROUP FOR AGES 6 – 8

Freshly minted readers need momentum to avoid the summer slide – a loss of reading skills gained during the school year. The Neenah Public Library will offer a beginner’s book group – “Rockin’ Readers” – as part of our summer library program, “Dig into Reading,” to help keep reading a part of every child’s summer activities. This weekly read-aloud program for ages 6 – 8 will include silly stories, legends and lore, and book-based activities – something different every week. The group will meet on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m., starting June 13 and ending July 25. Participants should plan to stay about 30 minutes at each session, and can sign up for one week or all six. Registration is required – by phone, email or in person at the Youth Desk, beginning June 1.

Summer library programming is made possible by the Friends of the Neenah Public Library and the Neenah Public Library Trust Fund. For more information about this or other “Dig into Reading” activities, call (920) 886-6335, or email [email protected]. Details are also available at the Neenah Library web site: neenahlibrary.org.

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Have you ever seen a Luna moth before? Illuminate your understanding of these incredible creatures of the night during this informative and entertaining program led by Education Coordinator, Rachel Anderson.
$3 for Garden members, $5 for general public. Registration is appreciated.

Discover the butterflies in your backyard in this fun and unforgettable program led by our Education Coordinator, Rachel Anderson. $3 for Garden members, $5 for general public. Registration is appreciated.

Join us as beekeeper Jim Nelson discusses the fascinating life of bees and their importance for us and the environment. $3 Garden Members, $5 general public. Registration appreciated.