2021 Reading Record CSLP Teen
Additional Content, Teens
March 12, 2021 10.16 MB 1222 downloads

Interactive Movie - Finding Nemo
60 Mins+, Adults, Children, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Game/Activity, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3537 downloads

Most older children and teens are familiar with Finding Nemo, but playing along with the movie is a new twist! Everyone gets an interactive script and a bag filled with props and snacks. Before you start the movie, practice the bonus actions as a group warm-up. This is a fun multigenerational program. Be sure to ask for help with cleanup after the screening.

Terrific Tardigrades
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Adults, Multigenerational, Game/Activity, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3747 downloads

What are tardigrades? They are microscopic water bears! This program requires some prep but is a fun multigenerational event. Read a book about tardigrades, such as My Tiny Pet by Jessie Hartland, share photos and facts, or show brief YouTube videos. Then let participants cycle though the stations you have set up

The Animal Sketchbook Project
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Game/Activity, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2210 downloads

Calling all artists and doodlers to a summer-long sketchbook swap! Here is how it works: Participants check out a sketchbook for two–three weeks and fill it with animals (however many pages they want and in any style). At the end of the loan period, they return it for another sketchbook (if desired) and continue. The only rule is that the sketches must be of animals (or animal- like—insects, monsters, and magical creatures are great!). The end result is a playful cross-section of art and animal observations from your community. At the end of the summer, you might create a slideshow of some favorite drawings and host a meet-and-greet for participants. If you have space, consider shelving the series. Inspired by the Sketchbook Project of the Brooklyn Art Library.

Animal Heroes Movie Fundraiser
Adults, 60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Game/Activity, Outreach, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3146 downloads

Help your local animal shelter or Humane Society and entertain families at the same time! Contact the shelter to see what types of items they need. Then screen a fun movie that features pets or animal heroes; encourage patrons to donate one item from the shelter’s list of needs. Remember the book display related to the movie, animal heroes, and/or shelter pets.

Animal Zines
Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Craft, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2228 downloads

Zines are back! Many teens will already be familiar with the eight-page mini zines made out of a single sheet of printer paper, but anyone from children to adults can have fun making larger zines too. Let teens peruse some age-appropriate zine samples, then give them some topic ideas. Zines can be as simple or complex as participants want to make them. If your library (or another local library) has a zine collection, be sure to tell teens about it.

Break It Remake It
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1833 downloads

Older children take apart their old toys and put them back together again! Asking participants to bring their old toys from home will minimize costs, but be prepared with extras on hand for those who do not bring any. Give out name tags for both participants and the monstrosities they create. For younger children or quicker programs, dissemble toys beforehand.

DIY Plush Sloths
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1740 downloads

Everybody needs a pocket sloth! Using felt sheets and a simple hand sewing technique—the whip stitch—teens make adorable plush sloths. Add snaps or Velcro to the arms to hang the sloths from any nearby “branch.” See Printables for template suggestion.

Air-Dry Animal Magnets
60 Mins+, Chapter 6 Amazing Creatures, Children, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1942 downloads

Teens make mini animals out of clay, then turn them into magnets, pins, or earrings! This program is easily adapted to any animal theme. The clay does not take long to dry for small pieces, but make it a two-part program if you will be using paintable clay (paint animals and add backings during the second session).

Pet Expo
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Outside Presenter, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3219 downloads

Pet expo day at the library! This great family program is for anyone who has ever wanted a pet. Invite local rescue organizations to bring adoptable pets and local experts to give pet care tips. You could also modify this program
to focus on the care of unusual pets (such as reptiles or birds), and ask patrons to bring in their unusual pets for show and tell. For an expo-style event, guest organizations set up information tables for participants to peruse
at their leisure; they could also give short presentations. You can tailor the program to focus on adoption tips, pet health and nutrition, pet first aid, and/or pet training.

Backyard Animal Farming
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Outside Presenter, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3206 downloads

A guest speaker teaches participants how to care for backyard animals such as chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, or bees. If possible, they bring live creatures for demonstration. Check with local regulations (zoning, animal welfare, public health, and nuisance laws) to confirm what types of backyard animals are allowed within your municipality or county. Remember the book display on small animal farming and/or homesteading!

Endangered Species Bookends
45 - 90 Mins, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Craft, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1851 downloads

Teens choose from endangered animal figurines to create bookends to take home (or leave for the library’s teen shelves). Include quick facts and/or videos about endangered animals, and remember the endangered species book display!

Endangered Species Stop Motion Animation
60 Mins+, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Game/Activity, STEAM, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2196 downloads

In this two-part program, teens create simple stop motion videos about endangered animals. Ask them to advocate for their animals through their videos, such as by showing habitat destruction and how to help; alternatively, adapt this program for any animal theme. In the first part, show stop motion animation clips and discuss basic storyboarding. Teens choose and/or create their animals and backgrounds, and plan their shot lists (see Printables). In the second part of the program, teens learn how to use Stop Motion Studio (a free app) and begin production. Screen everyone’s videos at the end of the program.

No Animals Here - Vegan Cookbook Club
60 Mins+, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Game/Activity, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2031 downloads

When teens decide to stop eating animal products and go vegan, they usually have to learn to cook for themselves. Start up a vegan cookbook club to help them along! This can be run in several different ways. Teens can gather to discuss and swap their favorite recipes or, if your library has a kitchen, get basic cooking lessons. You could also make this into a passive program: Record yourself making simple recipes and promote the videos/recipes as part of your teen programming. Alternatively, teens might want to create and share videos of themselves making their favorite vegan foods.

Wild Jeopardy
60 Mins+, Chapter 5 Read, Connect, Protect, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2539 downloads

Run a game of Jeopardy using a free online template! You can adapt the questions for any age group or animal theme. The rules follow the traditional TV game show, and contestants get points for every correctly answered question. Remember prizes for the winning teams.

Backyard Habitats
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Craft, Multigenerational, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2821 downloads

A backyard habitat series for birds and pollinators! This program teaches participants the basics of backyard habitats: Project options include a bug hotel, a bird feeder, and a butterfly puddler. Build one habitat, or run a series to build all three. Modify habitat designs based on audience age and the supplies you have on hand; see Resources for more design ideas.

Animal-Themed Room Decor
60 Mins+, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1349 downloads

Teens make animal-themed décor for their rooms! Craft options include removable vinyl wall decals or animal découpage that works on almost any household item.

Create A Creature
60 Mins+, Adults, Craft, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 3144 downloads

There is no place like home! And that home. And that home. In this program, children learn about habitats and how animals adapt to them. Read Listen to our World (2016) and/or show a brief video, such as “Animal Habitats” by Learning Junction. Show habitat cards and discuss which animals live in each habitat and why, then let participants get creative! Their task is to create a brand new animal that would thrive in a particular habitat. You can have them draw habitat cards, let them choose whichever habitat they like, or base the whole program around a specific habitat. Ask everyone to present their new animal—and describe what makes it perfectly suited to its habitat—at the end of the program.

Pet BFF Necklaces
60 Mins+, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Craft, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2277 downloads

BFF necklaces for pets and owners! Children or teens make bottle cap necklaces out of their favorite pet pictures. Alternatively, they can turn the photos in bottle caps into pins or magnets. For a passive display component, create an animal besties bulletin board where patrons post selfies with their pets.

We Rate Pets
Adults, 60 Mins+, Chapter 4 No Place Like Home, Children, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Multigenerational, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2776 downloads

Participants share their funniest pet stories! They bring in pictures of their pets (or draw the pets they wish they had) and write funny captions. You can run this as a show-and-tell, or create a display and leave out templates and instructions for a passive program. Patrons vote on the funniest (or fluffiest/grumpiest/etc.) pets; the winners get pet-themed prize at the end of the summer.

Winter Shelters For Stray Cats
60 Mins+, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Craft, Outdoors, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1634 downloads

Teens make winter shelters for stray cats! Alternatively, for indoor cats, they build elaborate cardboard playhouses out of recycled boxes.

Shelter Pet Portraits
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Children, Craft, Multigenerational, Outreach, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2839 downloads

Participants make portraits of adoptable pets to donate to the local animal shelter! Alternatively, each participant integrates a photo of a shelter pet into a collage. The shelter can display the pictures and give them to the pets’ forever families when they get adopted. This is a great way for children to practice art and contribute to their communities; alternatively, they could create portraits of their own pets. This program is easily adapted to any age
or artistic ability.

Teen Volunteer Fair
60 Mins+, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Children, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, Outreach, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2926 downloads

Match teens with animal-related volunteer opportunities in your area, such as humane societies, animal shelters, or even veterinarian offices! Local organizations could give presentations about the work they do, then set up behind tables around the room with more information about how to start volunteering. This could also be a fully passive program in which you display local volunteer opportunities and information cards/flyers for teens to take.

Who Helped Me
45 - 90 Mins, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Adults, Children, Multigenerational, Low Cost, Passive/Display, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2440 downloads

Do your patrons love trivia? If so, they will get a kick out of this lift-the-flap display. Glue pictures of different animals on flaps; underneath each flap is a photograph of the scientist who helped them. More importantly, there is a list of books or movies about this scientist and/or animal based on your library’s resources. Can be adapted for any age group.

Career Dogs
45 - 90 Mins, Adults, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Low Cost, Outdoors, Outreach, Outside Presenter, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2824 downloads

Search and rescue dogs, K9 units, and therapy dogs! A local organization presents about working dogs’ jobs and  training process. Ideally, they also bring dogs to demonstrate some of their working tasks and/or commands. Be sure to ask them to talk about volunteer opportunities suitable for teens. Can be modified for any age group.

A Horse Is A Horse Of Course
60 Mins+, Adults, Chapter 3 Animal Caretakers and Friends, Low Cost, Outreach, Multigenerational, Outside Presenter, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2582 downloads

Invite trainers and/or horses from a local horse rehabilitation group to talk about horse rehabilitation. Teens get meaningful exposure to these beautiful animals and learn about how they might get involved. This could be an educational event, an opportunity to raise awareness and find volunteers, or a multigenerational program.

Eons Making Prehistory
60 Mins+, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, Game/Activity, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, STEAM, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2450 downloads

See prehistoric life in virtual reality! Or choose short videos about the earliest life on earth from the PBS Eons YouTube channel. Optionally, let teens destress with prehistoric coloring sheets while watching the videos.

Creepy Crawlies
Adults, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, 45 - 90 Mins, Children, Low Cost, Outside Presenter, STEAM, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 2714 downloads

An insect expert gives a presentation with a Q&A period and an interactive component. Your local Audubon Society branch may have free information packets about insects, and you could hold a show-and-tell event for patrons who have pet insects. Can be adapted for any age group or run as a multigenerational program.

DIY Harry Potter Monster Book Of Monsters
60 Mins+, Chapter 2 The Wild Side, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1424 downloads

Teens recreate their very own Monster Book of Monsters from the Harry Potter series. Suggested runtime

Animal Anime And Manga
60 Mins+, Chapter 1 Bookish Beasts, Game/Activity, Craft, Teens
August 24, 2020 0.00 KB 1862 downloads

It is no secret that teens love anime and manga. Does your library have an anime program or club? If not, consider adding one! You could focus on anime and hold regular screenings of TV series or movies, or you could add an instructional component on how to draw anime characters and manga. For the latter, allow plenty of time to draw and socialize.