YOUTH PROGRAMS

Here at Bushnell-Sage Library we understand children. They are naturally curious and learn through a variety of methods. We offer an array of opportunities to play, read, and become the successful learners they need to be, all in a playful, relaxing environment. Come hang out with us, or join one of our ongoing programs designed to pique their interest. Please review our child policy and contact us with any questions.

YOUTH ART SHOW SERIES

Every December we hold our Youth Art Show. Our library Art Wall is adorned with all your incredible artworks. Our patrons delight in your art and we look forward to the show every year. To fill the wall with amazing art, we run a series of art programs through the month of November. Artwork created in these programs is held at the library and then displayed in the show. Artworks are returned to the artists when the show ends at the end of December.

You can check out this year’s line up of art programs and sign up below. Most of these programs are suitable for ages 5 and up. Younger participants are welcome, though they will likely require assistance from a parent or guardian. None of these programs are ideal for children under 2 and our art studio space will not be set up to be a necessarily safe environment for children still exploring the world–especially with their mouths.

Please note that children under 6 must have a parent or guardian accompany them for the duration of the program, and children under 12 must have a parent or guardian on library premises while they are in the program.

Youth Art Show Series: Comic-Style Onomatopoeia Collage

Wednesday, November 6, 2024  3:30 - 4:30 PM

BANG! CRASH! BOOM! The sounds of comics in three dimensions! We’ll create 3-D collages using ONOMATOPOEIA! Not sure what that is? You’ll find out! We’ll discover words, sounds, and explore pop art and comic-style illustration to create fun and lively collages.

Youth Art Show Series: Pop Art Fruit Paintings

Wednesday, November 13, 2024  3:30 - 5:00 PM

We’ll explore some of the hallmarks of pop art–vivid color, repetition, playful techniques–to create painting on canvas. Our subjects? Fruits! We’ll use simple fruit images to create four images on one canvas.

Youth Art Show Series: Printed Patterns

Wednesday, November 20, 2024  3:30 - 5:00 PM

An introduction to printing and pattern! We’ll use foam sheets to create our own printing blocks. Then we’ll use printing ink to roll and press our blocks and create simple repeats.

Youth Art Show Series: Mixed Media Sculptures

Wednesday, November 27, 2024  2:00 - 4:00 PM

Do you like gluing things together? Me too. You’re going to love this. Mixed media sculptures can be ANYTHING! Use any of the materials provided to create anything you can dream up! Most participants of this program will benefit from some adult assistance, and since I am but one human being, I encourage parents and guardians to accompany their child and create something together.

YOUTH ART SHOW: CALL FOR ART

If you can’t make it to one of our art programs this month and you would like to show a piece in our December Youth Art Show, please fill out and return the application form below. Anyone ages 0 to 18 is welcome to submit a piece of art. Please do not bring the artwork with your application. I will reach out once I have reviewed the application to let you know when to drop off artwork.

We ask that any works for display be framed, or finished in some way to allow for easy hanging on our art wall. I am happy to recommend places to get cheap frames (thrift store, Sheffield Transfer Station Swap Shop, or I sometimes have a little stash here at the library). As long as your artwork can be hung on a wall, we can hang it on our Art Wall.

YOUTH ART DONATION MATCH

The Youth Art Match is a fundraising vehicle managed by the Friends of the Bushnell-Sage Library. A very generous donor has offered to match, dollar for dollar, any donations made specifically to Youth Art programs through the Friends. A Youth Art Match fund has been set up to facilitate such donations.

The support of the Friends has been integral to building the foundation to run the types of programs I dream up here at the library. From providing new tables and storage for the art room, to funding materials and supplies for programs, the Friends have made a lot of our youth programs possible. The Friends support Summer Reading every year, and help to fund outside programs like Wicked Fun Games Escape Room and The Whalemobile.

You can use the button below to donate to the Youth Art Match. Please specify “YOUTH ART MATCH” under Additional Information.

1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN®

It’s official! The Bushnell-Sage Library has launched
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten®!

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten® is a reading program designed to expose young children to as many books as possible while they are squishy, squishy little sponges. It sounds like a lot of books, and it is, but it goes quick! One bedtime story per night will have you wrapping up in just over 3 years. Re-reads count! Books a relative or a teacher reads to you child? Also counts! This is a fun way to track progress and stay motivated to keep sharing books with your child.

Sign up in person at the library!

ONGOING PROGRAMS

EARLY LITERACY PLAY HOUR

LEGO CONSTRUCTION ZONE

LEGO® Construction Zone!  THURSDAYS from 3:30-4:30 PM.

This session of LEGO® Construction Zone will run from OCTOBER 3 - NOVEMBER 21

Due to the popularity of this program, and our limited LEGO resources, if your child is signed up and does not attend for three consecutive weeks, they will be removed from the sign-up and their build will be disassembled. You can sign them up again at any time, space permitting.

LEGO® Construction Zone is for grades K-8
Kids under 12 must have a parent or guardian on library premises. Kids under 6 must have a parent or guardian stay with them for the duration of the program.

Please do not bring LEGO® bricks from home.

READ TO A DOG with Canine Link Therapy Dogs

In partnership with Canine Link Therapy Dogs, Bushnell-Sage Library is excited to offer Read to a Dog!

This program offers readers an opportunity to practice their reading skills with a totally non-judgemental listener.

New dates added!

Do you know a youth artist that would like to show their work in our space? Download the application below. Drop it off at the library, or email it to our Children’s Program Coordinator, Stefanie, at sdangelo@cwmars.org
Our space is open to all levels of artistic ability. Scribbles on newspaper? It’s art! Crayon drawings? Art! Fingerpainting? Definitely art.
For more information, download our info brochure.

SOUTH BERKSHIRE KIDS

Monthly StoryWalk®

The SEPTEMBER StoryWalk® is Pete the Cat Crayons Rock by Kimberly and James Dean!

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson

Bushnell-Sage Library StoryWalk® is provided by South Berkshire Kids!

Stop inside after you check out the story to grab some crayons, while supplies last. Crayon freebies provided by South Berkshire Kids.

EDUCATIONAL FUN ONLINE

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS