The Putnam County Public Library District will offer Sky Explorers, a free six-week astronomy program for youth ages 11–14, this fall, thanks to a $33,892 grant from the Illinois State Library’s Project Next Generation initiative.
Sky Explorers is a distance-learning program that lets participants explore daytime and nighttime skies from home using genuine scientific equipment, including telescope and binocular kits. Activities focus on light pollution and building observation skills with hands-on scientific tools.
The program is part of the library’s “From Soil to Stars: Discover Science All Around” initiative, which also included the Earth Explorers summer program.
Participants who complete all six weeks will receive an all-expenses-paid field trip to the Adler Planetarium in Chicago on Sept. 19, including transportation, admission, a sky show, and lunch.
The program is free and limited to 12 participants.
For more information or to register, contact Rachael Blomquist, project director, at 815-339-2038 or rblomquist@putnamcountylibrary.org.
Funding is provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Illinois State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act.
Registration: July 13–31
Program dates: Aug. 2–Sept. 12
Location: Putnam County Public Library District, Granville Branch, 214 S. McCoy St., Granville