The Provo City Library adds variety to parents daily Barbie playing, Hot Wheel racing, running through the sprinklers with their kids, by offering summer programs to entertain children.
Canopy Capers is a summer program that allows children 12 and under to have fun and learn at the same time. The program has grown into such a success they continue to bring it back each year.
Professional storytellers entertain the kids by having puppet shows, singing songs, dancing and of course telling stories. Donna Cardon, the program director for the children’s area, said their average for each show is 250 kids and parents. Typically, the program takes place outside under a canopy where parents sit with their children and eat lunch while watching a performance. The performers do not merely stand up there, they get the audience involved.
Aria Fluckiger, graduated last year from BYU in early childhood education, has brought her son, four-year-old Mark, to Canopy Capers for over a year and a half.
“I like that (the performers) do things very interactive,” Fluckiger said. “It’s good for the development of kids.”
While this program is family friendly, a lot of the learning is most beneficial towards preschool-aged children. According to Cardon, through these programs it’s the only preschool education many of the children receive. They teach early literacy principles that helps prepare the children to enter kindergarten.
Cardon has been a part of Canopy Capers for a quite awhile, even before she started working there.
“I brought my kids and my daycare kids here,” Cardon said. “I’ve been connected with this for a long time.”
There are other children’s activities at the library during the summer, including a make-and-take craft time right before Canopy Capers. Oftentimes the library staff coordinates the craft with the theme of the show for that day.
Carla Morris, the head of the Children’s Department, said there are a lot of activities during the summer geared towards all ages. “Summertime is the time to come to the library,” Morris said.
There is a calender on the library website that list all the activities offered. Canopy Capers is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00-12:30.
Even though Provo is a college town with thousands who may not have children, students can participate by volunteering. The process to volunteer is fairly simple. Just go to the Provo City Library website and fill out an application. Once that is turned in, it takes a few weeks to get cleared to volunteer. For further information about volunteering or the activities visit www.provolibrary.com.
