The Estevan Area Literacy Group wrapped up its summer programs last month.
Nature Smarts concluded with sessions on Aug. 23 and 24 at the Hillcrest Play Park, while Summer English Fun came to an end on Aug. 25 with an obstacle course set up at St. Paul’s United Church.
Nature Smarts was offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and it sought to bring together an enjoyment of nature and science with literature, crafts and experiments. It attracted more young people than the literacy group originally expected, as they finished with 86 kids registered.
Their themes included the weather, rocks and minerals, airplanes, motion, outer space, plants, fossils, dinosaurs and insects. The final week featured games that incorporated all the children had learned during the summer.
Summer English Fun, meanwhile, grew over the course of the summer, and finished with about a dozen participants. It helped English as Another Language students strengthen their English speaking skills while gaining knowledge.
They learned about Canada, colours, numbers, the alphabet, safety and other topics.
“Each day we did activities based on the theme,” said Marshall. “We read books every week, and we did some kind of physical activity where we tried to incorporate the theme. We did crafts.”
The literacy group is now preparing for fall programs. They will offer Talk Time at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays at the Estevan Public Library, and they will be running programs in the schools during the upcoming school year. Marshall hopes the Battle of the Books can be offered in the schools for the second consecutive year.
