Summer break offers our students and their families more time together, whether on vacation, at the pool or relaxing at home. The break also is an excellent time for students to explore subjects they’d like to learn more about.
One of our favorite resources for summer learning is the Sequoyah Regional Library System. Through a partnership between our school district and the library system, students can use their school identification number to access an EZ Student Access library membership, for checking out books and materials.
The library system boasts an excellent collection of materials for all ages, from picture books, novels and nonfiction to magazines, DVDs, board games, puzzles and backpacks filled with STEM, music and other learning kits. Additionally, the library system offers an outstanding selection of e-books to check out; free passes for day trips, like to Zoo Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium and Georgia state parks; and access to equipment like 3D printers and digitizers.
Every summer, the library steps up its already awesome activity calendar, with even more programs geared toward students. The summer reading program schedule, which is posted at www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org, offers a wide range of choices — from storytimes for littles, to craft classes for elementary and middle schoolers, to special events designed by teens for teens. The library system regularly organizes Beanstack reading challenges for students, with the opportunity to earn incentives for their dedication to reading.
Cherokee County is home to two history museums, perfect for a summer “field trip” the Cherokee County History Center in downtown Canton (https://historycherokee.org/visit) and the Funk Heritage Center, Georgia’s Official Frontier and Southeastern Indian Interpretive Center, at Reinhardt University in Waleska (www.reinhardt.edu/funkheritage). Both museums are open for self-guided tours and regularly offer special programs, with guest speakers and other activities.
The Woodstock Visitor’s Center, in the historic Dean’s Store downtown (https://bit.ly/3KHAsUG), and the Georgia National Cemetery, a majestic final resting place for U.S. veterans in Canton (https://bit.ly/3UAHCie), are two more history-rich sites to considering visiting.
Another field trip idea close to home is visiting one of Cherokee’s outdoor attractions, such as Gibbs Gardens, a 300-acre garden in Ball Ground (https://gibbsgardens.com), or Lake Allatoona, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed destination offering fishing, boating, parks, picnic sites and camping (www.allatoonalake.org).
Cherokee’s county and city parks systems feature numerous parks, trails and facilities for outdoor summer recreation, as well as special events, such as outdoor concerts and farmers markets. You can learn more about their locations and activities at www.playcherokee.org, https://bit.ly/3JV2Otx and https://bit.ly/43Beb3q.
One of the most popular summer recreation choices is the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, which offers swimming pool access to the community. Mark your calendars for Water Safety Week, June 19-23. Learn something new each day, and participate in The World’s Largest Swim Lesson, June 22, noon-12:30 p.m. Participants will have their names put in the Guinness Book of World Records. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3zX1P8i.
– Barbara P. Jacoby serves as chief communications officer for the Cherokee County School District, and is a CCSD parent with four children.
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