Elementary Program Schedule
Scroll to explore our full slate of weekly program series for children ages 5 - 10 years old and their families. These programs are for kids entering grades Kindergarten - 5th grade in fall 2025. Advanced registration is required or preferred for most programming.
Spring classes end June 7. Registration for summer opens June 6! Thanks for your patience as our classes go on a break in June so we have time to move into our new children's room and prepare for summer programs.
Clubs and Classes
Summer Reading Challenge
June 20 - August 22
Sign up at https://pawlinglibraryny10.readsquared.com/
or pick up a paper log at the front desk
Let stories and books add shade and brightness to your summer. It’s time for our Color Our World Summer Reading Challenge! Keep track of time children spend reading with a grown up or independently exploring books to earn free books to keep and fun prizes. Plus, help us earn our community summer reading prizes, an Ice Cream Party, and a NY State Empire Parks Pass you can borrow to hike and explore across the state.
Readers of all ages can show off their hard work by earning prizes. Every reader earns raffle tickets for our big prizes, like gift cards, LEGO kits, event tickets, and more. Kids also receive small prizes to keep them going through the summer.
New this year! Join a team in the battle for the Best Reader crown. This year, it’s the Blue Vortex versus Fire Storm versus the Lemon Legends. Which team will read the most and be crowned top team during a color explosion at our end of summer party?
Color Our World Camp
Monday 07/07 - Friday 07/11
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ages: 6-10 years old
This five day camp program invites kids to experience the magic of libraries for an extended period of time. Campers will enjoy both free and guided outdoor play time, art, science, and books, curated by our programming team.
Highlights of camp 2025:
- It’s not arts and crafts, it’s arts and CRASH! We’re building a wrecking ball that we can use to make art prints.
- Build with our outdoor blocks and enjoy parachute games or play outdoor games with friends.
-On Friday, campers will enjoy a visit from Wild and Bright Reptile programs, where they will meet some awesome animals.
Please send children with a water bottle, a snack, and with sunscreen pre-applied. Registration is required. This is a drop-off program.
Battle of the Books
Mondays, July 7 - September 1,
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Ages: Grades 4-8
Get ready for the 2025 Battles! Battle of the Books is a Hudson Valley wide reading based competition for incoming and current middle school students. Discover genres and authors you might not on seek out on your own and practice good sportsmanship in this friendly competition. Participants receive copies of the books which they are expected to read during the spring and summer. The teams will compete with other area library teams in trivia battles, based on the books. To learn more or get involved, email team coordinator, Maureen McGrath.
Book Buddies
Wednesdays, July 14 - August 22
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Library Annex
Ages: Incoming Kindergarteners - 4th graders
Practice developing reading skills with a teen buddy, who will help make reading low-stress and fun. Participants and their buddies will meet once a week to read a book together--you can bring one from home or choose one of the library's books. After reading practice, kids and their buddies will complete a fun activity together. This might include coloring, LEGO, games, or puzzles. Those that are starting to read on their own can read to the teen, they can take turns or, for pre-readers, the teen will read to the child.
Registration required. Join for one or as many classes as you are able.
Make Me an Author Club
Thursdays, July 10 - August 22
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Library Annex
Ages: rising 1st - 5th graders
Back for our fourth summer--it's our kid's summer writing club! Each participating child will work with teen volunteers and library staff to write, edit, and illustrate their own short picture book, which the library will publish through Studentreasures Publishing. In September, kids will receive a hardcover copy of their book and the chance to show it off at our Book Launch party.
This program is currently full. Thank you for your interest.
Imagination in Motion with Celinda
Fridays, July 14 - August 22
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Courtyard and Library Annex
Ages: Incoming Kindergarteners - 4th graders
We're so excited to have our courtyard back to play in! Join Miss Celinda for a story and connecting play-based activity on Friday mornings. When weather allows, we'll play outside, with activities like obstacle courses, our big blocks, or parachute play. No matter what, kids will be on their feet and moving as they connect stories to movements and games.
Registration required. Join for one or as many classes as you are able.
Special Events
Adventure of the Missing Color:
Science Heroes
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Ages: 5-10, caregivers welcome but not required. Join Science Heroes on a mission to turn science into an adventure as we kick off summer reading together! While you're here, pick up your summer reading log.Through hands-on experiments and fun, interactive stories, Science Heroes get kids excited about the science that’s all around us as we celebrate the scientists who color our world with art! During this program, Science Heroes will present six different short stories and experiments.
To be held in the main library. Registration required.
From Vader to Othello:
A Midsummer’s Party
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Ages: All ages and a caregiver Drop in anytime for a special party with crafts, games, and a family friendly story time of the whimsical Shakespearean tale, A Midsummer Night's Dream. We are especially excited for our "make your own fairy wings" project and a fairy themed scavenger hunt.
No registration required. Drop ins welcome. This program is in partnership with the Pawling Shakespeare Club to commemorate the life of James Earl Jones.
Wild and Bright Reptile Programs
Friday, July 11
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Ages 5 and up, caregivers required
Join reptile educator Maureen of Wild & Bright for an exciting and engaging animal program!
Wild & Bright programs feature live, up-close reptile experiences and promote nature conservation by celebrating these often misunderstood creatures. We invite curious folks, animal lovers, and even the brave souls looking to face their fears of reptiles!
Registration required. Note: Participants in the Color Our World Summer camp do not need to register for this event separately.
Stories to Color Our World with Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk
Friday, July 18
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Age range: Grades K-8
Jonathan Kruk, the Hudson Valley's master storyteller, will take school-aged kids on a lively tour in tales around the world. They'll get to know the culture, the values, and the animals in faraway lands.
- They'll gallop with Mexico's Seven-Colored Pony
- Meet the courageous Boy Who Drew Cats from Japan
- Step into the enchantment of Latvia's Magical Wonderful Bul Bul Bird
- There are adventure tales from Ghana, Greece, and a story skit revealing the creation of the Hudson River.
Jonathan Kruk is best known for solo shows of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," yet he is at his best enchanting and educating children in schools and libraries. He has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show, the BBC, and the Travel Channel. Jonathan has eight award-winning recordings, two local lore books, and a fairy tale.
Registration required.
Super Hero Emblem Making Workshop
with Donald Partelow
Friday, July 23
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Library Annex
Age range: Mixed Audience, adults, teens, and youth ages 8+
Batman has one of the most recognized superhero emblems: a bat that appears on his batsuit. At this craft workshop, you’ll be designing your own superhero emblem that will be printed on a t-shirt. All our patrons are our heroes.
Please join us and have yourself a super time!
Note: Each participant must supply their own white cotton t-shirt.
Caregivers required. Registration required.
Nutty Science THE ICE AGE SHOW
Friday, August 1
TWO SHOWS, DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS
PREK-Grade 2: 2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
Grades 3-8: 3:05 PM - 3:45 PM
Best for children 4 years and up.
OFFSITE EVENT: These shows are to be held at Pawling Recreation's Lathrop Center at Lakeside Park,
2 Lakeside Dr. Pawling, NY 12564.
Join us for am amazing science show with Nutty Scientists Hudson Valley, known for delighting children with engaging scientific experiments. The kids will help our scientist presenter overcome incredible challenges within the secret forest of Merlin the Wizard with experiments. They will learn about the amazing properties of CO2 and dry ice as we learn about sublimation, chemical reactions, pressure, density, weight, and osmosis.
Registration required. Please register for the show time that best fits the ages of the children in your family. The 2:10 PM show will cater to children ages 4-8 years old.
This is a collaboration with Pawling Recreation Summer Camp. Campers do not need to sign up through the library.
Paint and Squish
Friday, August 8
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Library Annex
Age range: Grades K-4
Do you love Squishmallows or stuffed animals? We do too! At this event, kids will be invited to adopt a new little Squishmallow friend and paint a portrait of it. At the end of the night, take both home. Kids are also welcome to bring a favorite Squishmallow or stuffed animal from home to paint a portrait of. Please dress for mess, though smocks will also be provided.
Caregivers welcome, though not required to participate.
End of Summer Ice Creamsplosion
Friday, August 22
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM, drop in or stay the whole time!
Main Library, Annex, and Courtyard
Age range: All ages and a caregiver
This program is for participants of our Summer Reading Challenge
What's better than books? Books AND ice cream AND prizes! To close out of Color our World Summer Reading Challenge, we're hosting an ice cream party for all participants in our 2025 Summer Reading Challenge. Toys, video games, and lawn games will be available for families to enjoy while we celebrate with ice cream, donated by Stewarts.
At 6:00 PM, we will pull raffle tickets for our big summer prizes for all ages, including gift cards to local businesses, LEGO and science kits, and more. Plus, we will reveal which team won the battle for most minutes read this summer and name the Mayor of Ice Cream Town, our top youth reader of the summer, during the event.
Register for a reminder email/text or drop in. Please contribute to our summer reading challenge if you plan to attend.
Thank you to all our community supporters for supporting literacy growth in our community.
