by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington Public Library plans to keep everyone fit and healthy this summer with a fitness and nutrition theme for the summer reading program. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the many activities and programs planned.

The kickoff for “On Your Mark, Get Set….READ!” will be held Monday, June 6, and children can make their race car or runner to race around the track for the reading race with Miss Sheila. Depending on how many books each child reads or is read to them, they can move their character around the race track.

Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., beginning June 7 and running through July 26, elementary aged children can enjoy many activities with topics such as healthy eating, yoga, ninjas and races.

Wednesdays at 10 a.m., preschool aged children can enjoy learning All About You, Move It, Let’s Play and music activities.

Family programs will be held every Thursday at 10 a.m. On June 9, Exploration Place is scheduled to present the Science of Sports. Each week will have a different theme, such as Circus of Motion, when Magician Flying Debris, also known as Richard Holmgren, will present a program. Holmgren is a comedy superstar who juggles and performs magic tricks.

Vargas hopes that programs will also be presented by the go-cart track, martial arts and yoga from the Wellington Recreation Center, dance from Michelle’s Encore Dance Studio, gymnastics from Simply Elite School of Dance, the Wellington Heat, and healthy eating by Mike Castaneda.

On Fridays, free movie matinees will be held at 2 p.m., including free drinks and popcorn. The library had to obtain a license to be able to show movies.

Children’s Librarian Lisa Vargas will incorporate numerous Learn and Groove activities into the programs, and life sized board games will also be played.

Young adults can set their own pace by reading and earning prizes. Each participant will receive a pedometer to keep track of their daily steps, or can use a smart phone app. Teens will participate in a scavenger hunt, Amazing Reading Race and the Summer Madness Reading Challenge.

Children who participant will be asked to keep reading logs to earn t-shirts and numerous prizes throughout the summer. Each participant will also receive a free book upon completion of the program.

A Teen Lock-In will be held on National Teen Lock-In Day, July 29. With a theme of “Game On,” teens will spend the night at the library and enjoy food and lots of fun activities. You must pre-register for this free event.

The adult summer reading program has a theme of “Exercise Your Mind,” and several workshops, presentations and activities are planned. Book reviews and prize drawings will be held.

A Walk This Way fitness challenge will keep everyone moving as they keep track of how far they walk daily through the month of June. A historic site had to be chosen, and participants must walk the equivalent of the distance to that site. The Belleview Schoolhouse was chosen, and is approximately 23 miles from the library. When logs are turned in, participants will receive a prize for walking the required total distance.

To kick off the adult program, a gummy bookworm guessing contest will be held during registration. The person who guesses closest to the amount of “book” worms in the jar will receive a prize.

“Get your Juices Going!” is a class that will discuss gardening and nutrition with Elizabeth Gatz, K-State , Sumner County Extension Agent. A demonstration in juicing fresh vegetables & fruits,  by Shirley Hensley, from the Wellington Public Library will be held Thursday, June 9 from 2-4 p.m. with samples given.

The WorkForce Center will instruct particants on different aspects of social media on June 29 from 2-4 p.m. They will bring ten laptops and pre-registration is required.

Wellington Police Officer Matt Nelson will teach participants a basic self defense class on June 30 from 6-8 p.m. He will go over, basic striking, pressure points & self defense tools, such as, pepper spray & stun guns.  He will also, explain, the law, when it comes to defending yourself.

Judy Nusbaum, a personal trainer and instructor from the Wellington Recreation Center, will teach those in attendance some low impact exercises, stretches, yoga and end with meditation on July 12th at 4 p.m.

On July 21st, Laura Hartley of the Kansas Humanities Council will present the program “Throw Like A Girl” about pioneer female athletes from Kansas, such as the first woman in the United States to compete in a shooting competition, and the first female to reach the finals of NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick.

Other activities for adults include writing healthy eating habits, book reviews, prize drawings, and keeping track of books read with reading logs. All programs and presentations will be held in the library meeting room.

Registration for both the adult and children and young adults program begins May 16, either by filling out a form at the library, or visiting their website at www.wellingtonpubliclibrary.org. The program is completely free and open to the public.Anyone interested in volunteering for the program can visit the library and talk to Lisa Vargas.

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