Feel like you’re running out of fun activities to do during these dog days of summer? We’ve come up with a few creative ideas to do through your libraries.
Let us know what your best boredom-busters are in the comments!
1 Create your Comic Con Cosplay Outfit
Fort Collins Comic Con is coming up August 26-27, so you still have time to design and create a spectacular cosplay outfit! The Library has many books on costume design, sewing, and much more to help you piece together the perfect wardrobe and accessories. Don’t forget to purchase your Con badges before they run out: www.FoCoComicCon.com.
2 Find a Date
No, we don’t mean using the Library as a pick-up spot. Take our class and learn to create an engaging online dating profile on Tuesday, July 25. It’s a popular workshop, so don’t miss out. No registration needed. And, check out our other social media classes on our online events calendar.
3 Record your Adventures
Whether you’re out on the trail or strolling through Old Town, why not record or photograph your adventures? The Library’s Gadgets & Things Collection includes a GoPro HERO4 Silver with accessories! Afterward, use Lynda.com to learn how to edit and enhance your video. Maybe even start your own YouTube Channel!
4 Become a Power Reader
It’s sort of like being a superhero! Besides earning the ultimate bragging rights as a Power Reader, you also get to attend the Summer Reading Challenge party in August. There’s still time to sign up and record your hours spent reading by the August 20 deadline. Adults, teens, and children reach Power Reader status with 100 hours and toddlers/babies become Power Readers after being read to for 25 hours.
5 Celebrate Harry Potter’s Birthday
It’s the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and a perfect time for a series refresher before Harry’s birthday on July 31. We have all of the books (English and Spanish) and movies available for you to binge-read/watch the adventures of the Boy Who Lived.
After finishing the series, up your Potter game by
- Learning to play music from the films,
- Cooking up a few tasty recipes inspired by the story,
- Knitting some charming Harry Potter projects, or
- Designing unique magical crafts.
Then, cap it all off by taking part in one of our Harry Potter-themed events.
6 Race a Robot
In addition to the various coding programs presented at the Library, we also have Dash Robots available to check out through our Gadgets & Things Collection. This fun robot responds to your voice, navigates objects, dances and sings. Dash makes robotics and coding child’s play!
7 Let the Kids Drive you Up a Wall
Young kids will get a kick out of the STREAM-focused interactive learning walls at the libraries. The experiential learning wall taps into children’s natural curiosity while introducing them to numbers, shapes, color, rhymes, and motion. Located in the Children’s area.
8 Go on a Wild Goose Chase
AKA “birding” or “birdwatching.” All you need to do is check out one of the Library District’s bird watching kits and hit the outdoors. Each kit comes in a backpack and includes a pair of binoculars and the book, Joy of Birding by Kate Rowlinski. You’re bound to see more than just Canada geese.
9 Discover Hidden Connections
The newly redesigned Fort Collins History Connection site has a wealth of information about our town and surrounding areas. The online collection includes oral histories, historic maps, newspaper articles, and much more. Start with the online resource and then move your exploration to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s artifacts collection.
10 End the “Are We There Yet?”
Need to keep the kids occupied during your next road trip? TALES Kits are available to check out for up to 3 weeks. Each backpack contains four books and four learning activities based around a theme. Available in English and Spanish.
11 Put Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
Car, motorcycle, and CDL-driver practice tests are available online through our Driving Tests eResource. These practice tests are good for the permit test, driver’s license test, and the senior citizens’ refresher. Driver handbooks in both English and Spanish accompany the practice tests.
12 Dig up Family Secrets
How much do you know about your family ancestry? Have fun tracing your family’s heritage using one of the many free genealogy tools available at the Library including Ancestry Library Edition (in-library use only), HeritageQuest, and Select Families of New Mexico.
BONUS: See how many items you can check off Great Outdoors Colorado’s Generation Wild list of 100 Things to do Before You’re 12. You’re never too old to tick off all 100 activities!
What are some of your favorite boredom-busting activities? Share with us in the comments.