SUMMER PROGRAMS
Teen Summer Challenge
Ages 12-18
Sign up here
June 22nd – August 25th
Get ready for a summer of prizes with the Essex Library!
Complete 5 challenges and receive a prize package of certificates for free pizza and ice cream and a free book, plus a raffle ticket for the grand prize. For every extra challenge that you complete, get an extra raffle ticket put into the running for our grand prize.
GRAND PRIZE: a raffle basket filled with books, snacks, baseball tickets, and gift cards to local shops. Raffle drawn at end of challenge.
Drop In DIY
Ages 12-18
Tuesdays, June – August, 3:30 PM
Essex Library Teen Department
In the mood to make something? Drop in on Tuesday afternoons this summer to create something new and get out of the heat.
Our offerings will include: retro fortune tellers, tiny desk aquariums, perler bead video game characters, sketching, stitching, junk journaling, machine sewing, sticker by number, magazine collage and more. Registration is not required.
JUNE PROGRAMS
Take & Make – Mini Mandrakes
Ages 12+
Month of June
Create a clay mandrake plant and add instant personality to your space. Grab a kit and design away! The Teen Department creates a monthly series of free take and make art projects for our crew. Ages 12+ please. First come, first served.
Send a photo to jbranciforte@essexlib.org or show us your finished project for a chance to be honored in our crafty D.I.Y. hall of fame.
Teen Department Display
Ages 12+
Month of June
Pick one, pick two, or try them all! Visit the Teen Department throughout the month of June and find a Creativity Sparks display with 50+ ideas to inspire your creative side, with takeaways from CreativeBug. Our DIY resources will be at the ready for you to find a new summer hobby and produce new art.
Learn to Fish with CARE
Ages 6 – Adult
Wednesday, June 10, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Rain or Shine Location: Sunset Pond, West Avenue, Essex, CT
Join us for a fun-filled fishing adventure with the DEEP’s “Fish with CARE” program! We’ll provide loaner tackle, bait, and expert instruction from our staff and certified volunteer fishing coaches. This event is perfect for beginner anglers or anyone looking to refresh their skills.
Open to adults and families with children 6 and older—youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult, and anglers 16+ need a CT fishing license. Come relax, have fun, and maybe even catch your first fish! This program is free and open to the public.
Register Through the DEEP Website
Tiny Worlds – Terrarium Class
Ages 12 – 18
Saturday, June 13, 1:00 PM
Learn about the terrarium ecosystem and build your own living world. The library will provide moss, plants, rocks, soil, and a unique glass container. Bring your tiny world to life by including miniature animals and characters.
Care instructions and water droppers will be included. Registration is encouraged to be sure that we have enough supplies for this event.
Grow a Rare Plant with Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Ages 12+
Thursday, June 25, 3:30 PM
We asked and Baker Creek delivered! Thanks to a generous contribution by the rare seed company, you can join us to plant your choice of white strawberries, six inch tomato plants, purple carrots, rainbow corn, pink dandelions and more.
All planting materials for this event will be provided by the Essex Library.
Teen After Hours
Grades 7 – 12
Friday, June 26, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Join us on Friday night after we close the library doors. Teens only! We’ll have a retro video game competition on the big screen and will vote for our next book to film title. Find some games in the teen area or just hang with your friends.
The library is yours! Snacks and refreshments will be provided. This program is designed for teens to attend alone after the library is closed.
Sewing Workshop with Instructor Andrea Buka
Ages 10 – 18
Tuesday, June 30, 2:00 PM
Have you ever wanted to create your own sewn clothing or supplies? Join us to learn the basics of machine sewing with an emphasis on sustainability. Participants will leave this beginner’s course with a completed project.
All supplies and tools will be provided, including the use of sewing machines. Personal sewing machines are welcome. Students under the age of 12 must bring an adult or older teen participant to help with machine use.
JULY PROGRAMS
Take & Make – Mini Tin Art Kit
Ages 12+
Month of July
Create the viral trinket tin with our provided art supplies and tutorial. The Teen Department creates a monthly series of free take and make art projects for our crew. Ages 12+ please. First come, first served.
Send a photo to jbranciforte@essexlib.org or show us your finished project for a chance to be honored in our crafty D.I.Y. hall of fame.
Teen Music Club
Ages 13 – 18
Thursday, July 2, 4:00 PM
Welcome to Music Club! Here we celebrate quality music of all genres. Join for music video and documentary watch parties and vinyl nights. We’ll also organize playlist swaps and take part in music challenges.
As our club grows, we will host guest speakers from the music industry and watch live bands perform. We’d love for you to join us!
Make a Zine, Take a Zine
Ages 12 – 18
Thursday, July 9, 4:00 PM
Zines are described as small self-published magazines or books that can be produced in an inexpensive way. Zines easily allow artists and writers to share creative ideas with the world.
We’ll use Laura Zimke’s new book Zine Making and Bookbinding: A Beginner’s Guide in 25 Projects to help us, “level up our DIY, join a community of makers and thinkers, and discover the power of zines and handbound books.”
Teen Cooking Workshop – Sushi Style Rolls
Ages 13 – 18
Saturday , July 11, 11:00 AM
Learn to create handmade sushi rolls and bowls using simple ingredients and take your cooking skills to the next level. Snacking encouraged!
Registration is required to ensure that we have enough materials for this event. Please leave a note with any food allergies during registration.
Level Up! With Ms. Sarah Minor, John Winthrop Middle School Media Specialist
Grades 7 – 8
Saturday , July 11, 1:00 PM
Hey middle school students – this one’s for you! Join JW Library Teacher and gaming expert Ms. Minor for an introductory session to JW Clubs and activities in the Media Center. Are you a genre obsessed reader? Do you love Magic the Gathering or D&D?
Learn about upcoming book and gaming clubs throughout the community at our schools, through Tri Town Youth Services and here at the Essex Library. We’ll have the scoop on the most popular reads and game events for you this summer and into the fall.
Teen Snack & Chat: Once Upon a Broken Heart
Grades 9 – 12
Thursday, July 16, 3:30 PM
Get a jump on your summer reading with our Snack & Chat Book Club. At this session, we’ll discuss Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber.
The library will have copies of the book available all summer. Registration is encouraged to help us to arrange for snacks.
Teen Escape Room
Ages 12 – 18
Thursday, July 23, 4:00 PM
Can you escape? Bring a few friends or go it alone. Use your detective skills to discover clues, solve puzzles and accomplish an exit. Winners receive fame, glory and a tasty prize.
Registration is encouraged to help us arrange for prizes!
Teen Art Class: Sculpting with Air Dry Clay
Ages 12 – 18
Saturday, July 25, 11:00 AM
With air dry clay, you can make quality items without the need for expensive equipment. We’ll be learning the basics of sculpting, air drying and glazing.
Join us to learn how to make a photo holder, bud vase and/or coaster and take your art home to dry.
Teen Snack & Chat: Everything is Tuberculosis
Grades 9 – 12
Thursday, July 30, 3:30 PM
Get a jump on your summer reading with our Snack & Chat Book Club. At this session, we’ll discuss Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green.
The library will have copies of the book available all summer. Registration is encouraged to help us to arrange for snacks.
AUGUST PROGRAMS
Take & Make – Beach Creatures
Ages 12+
Month of August
Add googley eyes to a favorite beach item and sculpt a body with clay. The Teen Department creates a monthly series of free take and make art projects for our crew. Ages 12+ please. First come, first served.
Send a photo to jbranciforte@essexlib.org or show us your finished project for a chance to be honored in our crafty D.I.Y. hall of fame.
Teen Snack & Chat: The Song of Achilles
Grades 9 – 12
Thursday, August 6, 3:30 PM
Get a jump on your summer reading with our Snack & Chat Book Club. At this session, we’ll discuss The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
The library will have copies of the book available all summer. Registration is encouraged to help us to arrange for snacks.
Teen Snack & Chat: Throne of Glass
Grades 9 – 12
Thursday, August 6, 3:30 PM
Get a jump on your summer reading with our Snack & Chat Book Club. . At this session, we’ll discuss Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas.
The library will have copies of the book available all summer. Registration is encouraged to help us to arrange for snacks.
Digging for Good with the Essex Historical Society
Ages 8 – 18
Saturday, August 22, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: Pratt House, West Avenue, Essex, CT
Essex Library Association and Essex Historical Society invite children and young adults to join the team from Digging for Good to dig on Pratt House grounds, using metal detectors to find buried objects. This program will be held at Pratt House, 19 West Ave.
In the event of rain, this program will not be held. Registration is required.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
Teen Book Box
Reader Subscription Service
Ages 12-18
Reserve a Teen Book Box on our website by filling out our Book Box form and our Teen Librarian will use your reading preferences to create a subscription box just for you.
Included in your package will be a book or two tailored to your reading preferences, a themed snack, and other small goodies. Your box will be set aside and checked out to you on our hold shelf. This is a zero pressure individualized guide for finding a new favorite book.
First come, first served. Our number of boxes per month is limited.
Teen Advisory Board Meeting
Grades 8+
Saturdays, June 13, July 11, August 8, 3:00 PM
Join our new Teen Advisory crew! We’re recruiting teens of all ages to help us make the library a better place for young adults. Help us choose books, plan programs, design the teen department and mentor young readers, all the while earning volunteer service hours. Tell us how to best serve your community and help us follow through.
Snacks provided! Registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Teen Volunteer Program
Ages 12-18
The Essex Library Teen Department is looking for young adult volunteers. All teen volunteers are trained to help us organize our book collection, review new book possibilities, design displays, and create art used in the Teen area and at the front desk. There are also opportunities to mentor younger children and to help our Teen Librarian develop and run programs.
Being a library volunteer looks great on your resume, helps with job experience, and delivers an avenue to help your peers and the greater community.
