“Adventure Begins at Your Library!” To celebrate the joy of reading and bestow the spirit of adventure on your summer, the Yonkers Public Library has eight weekly themes to help you get the most out of your summer reading journey.
This week, June 23 to June 30, is “Exploring Yonkers & Beyond: Neighborhoods, Museums & More.”
Yonkers!
There’s plenty of adventures to be found in our hometown! Check out Mayor Spano’s Summer Film and Concert Series, where you can watch movies and see live music for free at different venues around the city. Spend time exploring the city’s parks and art and museum exhibits. Take an adventure through time and learn a little history at the Sherwood House or the Philipse Manor Hall.
If you’re looking for an adventure on the water, check out the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club. The club offers a yearly membership for paddlers of all experience levels.
Maybe you’re looking to learn more about the environment and want to give back to your community. Check out Groundwork Hudson Valley, which works to create sustainable environmental change in urban neighborhoods through equitable community-based partnerships with a focus on youth leadership and economic opportunity. Check out their Science Barge on the Hudson River which is free to the public on weekends!
Museums!
Museums are a great way to beat the summer heat and learn something new close to home!
Explore the wide variety of museums in our area with the Museum Pass Program. With your Yonkers library card, you can reserve passes online for museums like the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, the Hudson River Museum, or the Greenburgh Nature Center.
Each branch of the Yonkers Public Library has different branches available for patrons to use. Each museum pass offers different benefits, so be sure to read the details of each pass carefully. Reserve your pass in advance online and pick it up in person on the day of your reservation.
Your Own Backyard!
Sometimes adventure awaits us in our very own backyards or in our surrounding neighborhood. Check out our Library of Things and borrow items like bird watching backpacks and a tabletop telescope.
Learn about native plants and bird species in your neighborhood and take a walk to see if you can find them. Adventure can exist in the small wonders you sometimes miss when you aren’t looking! Maybe bring some gloves and a garbage bag on your walk to clean up any garbage you come across. Taking care of our environment is a community effort and critical to ensuring that nature can thrive.
Don’t worry if you haven't signed up for Summer Reading. There’s still plenty of time! Download the Beanstack app or go to the Beanstack website on your desktop or laptop to create an account for you and your family.
Participants can log books on Beanstack from June 1 to August 15 on Beanstack. For every book that you log, your name will be entered into a drawing for different prizes (i.e. Amazon gift card, prize baskets, and more). Each library branch will host its own drawing.
Not sure how to get started logging books? Check out this helpful video to get started!
Check out the recommended reading lists Yonkers Public Schools Grades K-12 on the YPL website.
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she is currently pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.