Families 

Ocean Fiesta

Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms
Saturday, July 7      10 – 11 am

Families with children ages 3-6. Celebrate summer and our Extreme Deep exhibit with bilingual stories, music and more.

Please Register

Under the Sea Preschool Dance Party

Main Library - Outdoor Stage
Saturday, July 14      10 – 10:45 am

Ages 2-6. Drop by for this sea-themed dance party where there will be music, movement and interactive fun!

Art Buffet

Main Library - Meadows Community Room C
Thursday, July 12      7 – 8 pm

Grades 5-8. Use our materials to put together a greeting card, a collage, a terrifying monster from the deep or other creative masterpieces. Materials provided.

Dive into Reading at Lords Park Zoo

325 Hiawatha Dr., Elgin
Thursdays  11:30 am – 12:30 pm
July 12, 26 & August 9

Families. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on and listen to stories about bison, cows, pigs and other animals! Stay for a craft. In the event of bad weather, storytime will move indoors to the cowshed located at the Lords Park Zoo.

Kids Explore: Pirate School!
Thursday, July 19      5 – 6 pm

Grades 1-5. Get curious with us and explore a new topic every week. Come learn about real pirates! Tune into gailborden.info/live to follow along at home!

Beyond Ribbit

Rakow Branch 
Tuesday, July 31      6:30 – 7:30 pm

All Ages. Did you know Illinois wetlands are home to several species of frogs - some even live here in the Rakow Branch pond! Families are invited to come learn about frogs, imitate the many different calls in the evening frog chorus, and listen to hear what kinds of frogs call our pond home. 

Please Register

Pond Ecology

Rakow Branch 
Saturday, August 4      10 – 11:30 am

Grades 1-5. From large wading birds to the smallest macroinvertebrates, young ecologists will investigate who's living in the Rakow Branch pond using nets for scooping and tools to sort through the vegetation in the search of the unique small critters hidden in each scoop. Wear clothes that can get messy and a hat to protect from midday sun. Come ready to learn and have fun!

Please Register

 Adults 

A Closer Look at the Extreme Deep

Main Library - Elgin Room 
Friday, July 13      1 pm

Meet Dr. Laurence Anderson, a former research associate at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He will give a presentation about life at the bottom of the ocean then lead a tour of the Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss exhibit in the Lobby, providing fascinating insights into marine ecosystems at the bottom of the ocean based on his extensive research. Dr. Anderson received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from Princeton University.