Wednesday June 25 10:30 AM -

just one meeting this June - Returning to weekly in July

Perfect for 18 - 36 months, but fun for everyone!

Lots of rhymes, a sprinkling of songs, and one or two shared board books round out this library program that is perfect for little ones who need to get those wiggles out. Stay to PLAY! After the rhymes, stay for some unstructured play time with other kiddos.

$5 Per Person, Waterbury public school, magnet school, and charter school students get in FREE, Kids Adventure Passholders get in FREE.

Hang out with friends, try a relaxing craft, get creative with graphic design, or chill on a beanbag! All teens grades 6-12, ages 12+ are welcome, with supplies and snacks provided.

To pre-register please call (203) 753-0381, extension 130

Register Here

 Support provided by United Way of Greater Waterbury and Elisha Leavenworth Foundation. .

Come to our blast-off to get your summer reading materials.

Our theme this year is outer space! Drop-in any time between 5:30 and 7:30 and stay for as long or as little as you want. Grab your bag. Enjoy a scavenger hunt, crafts, ice cream, and some outdoor games. All kids and teens are welcome to participate.

No need to register. For all ages.

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

Join the Gunn Library Book Club on Thursday evening for a rewarding discussion on celebrated author Niall Williams's beautiful book, The Time of the Child.

Doctor Jack Troy was born and raised in Faha, but his responsibilities for the sick and his care for the dying mean he has always been set apart from the town. His eldest daughter, Ronnie, has grown up in her father's shadow, and remains there, having missed one chance at love – and passed up another offer of marriage from an unsuitable man.

But in the Advent season of 1962, as the town readies itself for Christmas, Ronnie and Doctor Troy's lives are turned upside down when a baby is left in their care. As the winter passes, father and daughter's lives, the understanding of their family, and their role in their community are changed forever.

Registration is required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/gml-thursday-book-club-the-time-of-the-child-by-niall-williams/

Bring your picnic baskets and lawn chairs and join us for one, two or all of these fun family events!! 

These are all free events! No Registration is Required! Feel free to join us for some foot tapping and swinging Summer entertainment!

Morris Beach & Recreation's 2025 Summer Concert Series continues!

An incredibly realistic Tribute to the Story of Stevie Nicks's Voice, Music and Legacy.

Bring your beach chairs and blankets and join us at the Morris Town Beach Pavilion as we celebrate Summer with some amazing live music! Wooo hooooo!

FOOD TRUCK!

Cousins Maine Lobster

Fun begins at 6:00 pm. No tickets or reservations required.

**Please be advised that Morris Town Beach Parking Permits are NOT required to attend any Town sponsored function, including our annual Summer Concert Series.**

Friday, June 27, 2025

6:00 pm

Morris Town Beach (83 East Shore Road)

FREE!

Mini Makers Cricut Puzzle Lab | June 28, 10:00 am-2:00 pm (Drop In)

Join us in the Junior Library for a fun project using one of our high-tech maker machines! Create a work of art on cardstock paper and transform it into a puzzle with a bit of help from the Cricut and our Makerspace Specialist. Stop in any time between 10 am and 2 pm! Ages 5+

https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/mini-makers-cricut-puzzle-lab/

Children aged 0-3 and their caregivers to invited to enjoy time in the Museum galleries for some art and history fun while practicing developmental, social, and mobility skills- all while the museum is closed to the public! A museum educator will facilitate storytime and 30 minutes of playtime in the galleries with an opportunity to mingle with other parents and caregivers.

Cost: $5

Summer Camp will be running for 9 weeks for the summer 2025 season!

• June 23, 2025- August 22, 2025
• 9:00a - 4:00p
• $200 per week or 10% for all 9 weeks ($1620)
• Ages 5-12
• Located at Pleasant View Park (Durand Street) & Elise Besse Pool

Get ready for an unforgettable summer of adventure, creativity, and exploration at our themed summer camp! Each week, campers dive into a new, exciting theme, engaging in activities that spark their imagination, build new skills, and encourage teamwork. Our dedicated staff create a supportive and inclusive environment where every camper feels welcome and motivated to try new things. Each week is packed with themed games, creative arts and crafts, outdoor activities, and memorable experiences that will have campers eagerly looking forward to each new day!

Weekly Themes:

• Circus: Step right up to the greatest show at camp! Learn juggling, create clown costumes, and try your hand at acrobatics as we explore the wonders of the circus world.
• Holiday: Celebrate holidays from around the world in a week of festive fun! From Halloween to New Year's, each day is a different celebration with themed crafts, games, and treats.
• Under the Sea: Dive deep into ocean adventures! Explore marine life, create ocean-themed art, and embark on underwater-themed challenges.
• Superheroes: Unleash your superpowers! Design your own superhero persona, participate in "hero training," and work together to solve camp "missions."
• Around the World: Take a journey across the globe as we explore different cultures, languages, and traditions through games, food, and creative projects.
• Sports: Get your game face on! Try out various sports, build team spirit, and compete in friendly matches while learning the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.
• Outer Space: Blast off into space for a week of cosmic exploration! Learn about planets, create space crafts, and go on an epic space-themed scavenger hunt.
• Flora and Fauna: Discover the beauty of nature! Learn about plants and animals, explore local ecosystems, and create nature-inspired art.
• Challengers: Push your limits and test your skills! Compete in exciting team challenges, obstacle courses, and problem-solving activities designed to build confidence and collaboration.

 Each week campers will have the opportunity to enjoy our Besse Pool on Mondays and Wednesdays, so don't forget your swimsuit!

Register HERE

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

Learn how to use the library apps Libby and Kanopy to take books, audiobooks, movies, and shows with you wherever you travel this summer! After a brief introduction to these apps, we’ll help you use them to curate lists of digital books and movies to enjoy on your next road trip, plane ride, or relaxing afternoon at the lake. Please bring your library card and a phone to this workshop.

Ages 18+.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/tech-tuesday-books-and-shows-on-the-go/

Real-life carpentry and woodworking

Three sessions: 

• ODB Basic: Structure: June 23–June 27 *WAITLIST ONLY
• ODB Basic: Structure and Sculpture: June 30–July 3
• ODB Advanced: July 7–July 11

Dream it and build it! In this small-group outdoor program, tweens and teens will design, plan, and build lasting wood structures and sculptures. Working together, under the guidance of an experienced woodworker-artisan duo, participants gain practical skills—and confidence—using hand tools to create projects. Past projects include an outdoor stage, A-frame, pergola, planter boxes, and a treehouse. 

In these five fun-filled days, kids will:

• Gain basic carpentry skills—measuring, cutting, fitting, and more.
• Use their own set of hand tools—and take pride in their proper care and safe use.
• Try out building techniques using modern, dimensional lumber.
• Learn to source natural materials from the environment.
• Develop spatial design aptitudes.
• Work as a team. 
• Discover the sheer joy of real-life woodworking and building.

Space is limited. This is a small-group outdoor program that maintains a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio to provide hands-on direction. Early registration is recommended.

Session 1 - ODB Basic: Structure

Learn the building techniques artists use. Create wood sculptures and armatures, craft musical instruments, and more.

Ages: 12+

Dates: Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27

Times: 9am–3pm

Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and Justin Truskauskas

Fee: $395

No experience is necessary for ODB Basic: Structure, but…

A keen interest in carpentry and the outdoors is a prerequisite. Participants will need to work together to complete their project successfully. 

Early Bird Discount

A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.

Session 2 - ODB Basic: Structure and Sculpture

Gain practical furniture-making skills while participating in the RiseUp for Art Able TableTM initiative. Participants will:

• Design and build a structure for AMP’s campus.
• Build wheelchair/stroller-accessible picnic tables to enhance the community. 
• Explore accessibility in public furniture design, ensuring that everyone “has a place at the table.”
• Contribute to tangible, community-serving projects.
• Learn how public art transforms spaces and fosters inclusion, and more.

No experience is necessary for ODB Basic: Sculpture, but…

A keen interest in carpentry and the outdoors is a prerequisite. Participants will need to work together to complete their project successfully. 

Ages: 12+

Dates: Monday, June 30 – Thursday, July 3 (no session on July 4)

Times: 9am–4pm

Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and David Polon

Partnerships: RiseUp for Art

Fee: $395

Early Bird Discount

A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.

Session 3 - ODB Advanced

Participants will apply the skills they’ve gained and learn new ones, designing and building with more autonomy. Through AMP’s partnership with the RiseUp for Art Able TableTM initiative, participants will:

Design and build a structure for AMP’s campus.Build wheelchair/stroller-accessible picnic tables to enhance the community. 

Explore accessibility in public furniture design, ensuring that everyone “has a place at the table.”

Contribute to tangible, community-serving projects.

Learn how public art transforms spaces and fosters inclusion, and more.

To register for ODB ADVANCED, you MUST meet one of these requirements:

Successful completion of one of the Outdoor Design & Build BASIC sessions OR

Successful completion of ODB in a previous year OR

Passing a basic carpentry skills assessment (Request an assessment when you register.)

Ages: 12+

Dates: Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 11

Times: 9am–3pm

Teaching Artists: Chip Heuer and David Polon

Partnerships: RiseUp for Art

Fee: $395

Early Bird Discount

A $25 Early Bird discount will be applied when you register before March 31. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis.

AMP’s summer programs are made possible in part by Thomaston Savings Bank.

Waldo's Back in Washington Depot This July!

Once again, in celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and two hundred and fifty independent bookstores across the country for some hide-and-seek fun to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses.

Where’s Waldo?   In Washington Depot, of course!  Beginning on Tuesday 1st July, the iconic children’s book character in the red-and-white-striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 19 local businesses throughout the community .  Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses and the Shop Local movement.

Anyone who wishes to join in the fun can pick up a “Find Waldo in Washington Depot” passport from any of the participating stores.  When you spot Waldo collect a store stamp or signature.  And to make things a little more challenging, Waldo’s magnifying glass will also be hiding in The Hickory Stick Bookshop.

Great prizes for participants who get 16 or more stamps in their passport. Completed passports should be handed in to the Hickory Stick Bookshop by no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday July 31st.

We will be having a celebration party from 3-4 pm on Saturday August 2nd. Check our website for further details!

There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for all of July.  

For more information about hunting for Waldo in Washington Depot, call The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 860-868-0525 or visit our website at www.hickorystickbookshop.com.  

“Level Up at Your Library” Summer Reading Program for all ages, Morris Public Library, June 24 -August 20, 2025.

We are excited to offer a fun and engaging Summer Reading Program “Level Up at Your Library,” June 24 – August 20, 2025.

Each reading level has their own “Level Up at Your Library” Activity Card to participate in the program. Youngsters (PreK and under) will enjoy reading with their families and engage in fun activities. Students (Grades K-Grade 5) will count the number of their new reading adventures by writing them down in their cards. Teens (Grades 6-12) and adults will explore new and special book selections, which they can easily find at their Library.

Submit your completed cards (could be more than one!) to enter for a chance to win a Level Up at Your Library Prize.

Find weekly coloring projects for children and adults throughout the program – complete yours and share it for our library display!

No registration is required – obtain your card at the kickoff, at the library or download it from the website https://morrispubliclibrary.net (all levels!).

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!