Children get a kick out of color run at North Trail Public Library’s summer program
WEST SUNBURY — Donning sunglasses and white shirts, children participating in the summer reading program at the North Trail Public Library set out to complete the obstacle course at the library’s first ever color run.
The obstacle course, put together with pool noodles, included hopping through tires, crawling under tunnels, jumping over hurdles and snake running. Laid out throughout the course were stations where the children were sprayed with cornstarch color powder.
The color run was not a competition with a stopwatch and participating children were allowed to run around for as long as they wanted.
“It’s not a timed run. It’s just a fun thing,” Kelly Terwilliger, the children's programming coordinator at the North Trail Public Library said.
The runners were rewarded with temporary tattoos and bracelets after they were done.
The color run was the fourth event of the annual summer reading program, the theme this year being “Color Our World.” Terwilliger said the program aims to motivate young children, mostly elementary level, to read more and get more involved with the library.
“Reading can take you on all kinds of adventure and we hope they (children) just enjoy what we do and that they think the library is a great place to be,” Terwilliger said.
Events preceding the color run were the opening messy art night on July 1, hanging yarn art on July 8 and dot-art painting on July 15. The program will continue for two more weeks, with a glow in the dark party on July 29 and a presentation by Mad Science called ‘Fire and Ice’ on Aug. 5.
Terwilliger said the glow in the dark party is an invite-only party for participants who read for a required amount of minutes per week and attend at least three of the four prior events. The participants keep track of their reading minutes with a time sheet.
Sheryl Glasser, a resident of Butler, said her children, Gracie and Wynn, who are participating in the summer reading program, are enjoying their time
“These two are really into the art and reading,” Glasser said. “The kids every week come home with some new artwork.”
Glasser said that she and her family like the North Trail Public Library, which organizes many different activities to keep younger children busy.
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Gracie Glasser gets blasted with orange paint dust at the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Mark Zanella coats the kids in paint dust at the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Ezra Zanella participates in the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Ellee Zanella laughs her way along the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Susan Grossman coats Mia Plaisted in pink paint dust during the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Rose Repsher jumps over part of the obstacle course for the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Amanda Zanella covers Matthew Snyder in blue dust at the color run at North Trails Public Library in West Sunbury on Tuesday evening. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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Kelly Terwilliger tells the children gathered at North Trails Public Library the rules for the color run. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
