Posted on

My Favorite Thing I Did This Summer Essay Contest

For youth up to age 18 (due by August 27)

Submit an entry in our essay contest and be entered for a chance to win a $10 gift card to Paperbacks & Pieces! We are able to offer this exciting chance to our younger patrons because of a generous donation from longtime library supporter and local author, Kathryn Sullivan. Any child up to age 18 is eligible to enter. Tell us your favorite thing you did this summer, and you could win a chance to browse for books with your own money!

Visit the Youth Desk on the second floor to pick up an entry form. All entry forms must be returned to the library by August 27th. Late entries will not be eligible.
Posted on

Summer End Challenge

August 2-27

The Summer End Challenge (August 2nd-27th) is for all high school students, ages 14-18, in the Winona area. The goal is to acquaint teens with all the amazing things Winona has to offer, such as climbing boulders, disc golf, kayaking, and our beautiful library. Small prizes are awarded for completing each activity on the list, and one large prize is awarded each week through a random drawing. There is no cost to participate and free equipment rentals are available, but registration is required (https://www.winonacountyasap.org/summer-end-challenge/).

The Summer End Challenge is hosted by the Winona County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) in partnership with the Winona Parks & Recreation Department and the Winona Public Library.
Posted on

Summer Bingo Scavenger Hunt

July 17 through August 15

Join Happy Dancing Turtle for a scavenger hunt in nature! Can you find all 24 items on the Summer Bingo Card for a chance to win the grand prize? All ages welcome, free to participate, join from anywhere! When you find something in nature that's on the card, snap a pic. When you get a bingo, submit your pics for a prize to info@happydancingturtle.org. The more Bingos you find, the more chances you'll get to win a bigger prize!

You must register (for FREE) in order to receive prizes. We hope you have fun out there!

Registration: https://bit.ly/SummerBingoReg

Summer Bingo Rules and Card (PDF download)
Bingo de Verano-Busquedo del Tesoro

Photos must be submitted by August 15!

Want to take your hunting up a notch? Identify what you've found by using resources from Winona Public Library!

Posted on

Tecreation in the park

Join WPL Youth Services for three coding challenges at Sobieski Park this summer! These outdoor programs are open to ages 9-15, no prior experience necessary. Registration is required. To sign up, visit the links below.

July 21, 1:30-2:30p - littleBits circuit challenge
August 4, 1:30-2:30p - Cubelets robot challenge
August 18, 1:30-2:30p - Sphero Bolt water challenge

littleBits, Cubelets, and Sphero Bolt kits are all available to Winona Public Library cardholders for checkout as well. To learn more and request a kit, visit https://winona.lib.mn.us/tecreation/.

These programs are made possible with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library Services and Technology Act [LS 00-20-0024-20].

Posted on

Cubetto Playset Kits

We’re excited to offer Cubetto Playset Kits for checkout at Winona Public Library! Cubetto is an educational robot best for ages 3-9. Cubetto activities are self-guided with the included adventure book, so you can teach yourself to code and play with the robot. You do not need a device.

Here’s what you’ll find in each kit:

♦  This quick-start guide
♦  1 robot with 3 AA batteries inside
♦  1 play board with 3 AA batteries inside
♦  16 play tiles in a cloth bag
♦  1 cloth map
♦  1 story book
♦  1 instruction book

Interested in checking out a Cubetto Playset Kit? Fill out this request form, and we will contact you. Checkout time is four weeks, with no renewals allowed. To make sure kits are available to lots of patrons, there is a limit of one kit at a time per household.

These kits are available as part of Tecreation @ WPL, a new makerspace program made possible with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library Services and Technology Act [LS 00-20-0024-20].

The library also hosts in-person Tecreation programs at the library and other community locations, and we’re committed to bringing these experiences to youth across Winona.

About Cubetto

For more information about using Cubetto at home, check out Cubetto’s User Manual and Cubetto’s Playroom. You can also read a guide for caregivers all about exploring computational thinking with young children.

Cubetto Playset Kit care tips

This kit is designed for use by kids, but be nice to it! Here are some dos and don’ts:

♦  Take care of the kit for the next person. Don’t throw, drop, or kick the pieces, and don’t try to take individual pieces apart.

♦  Keep the Cubetto in sight when you are using it. Use the Cubetto indoors only.

♦  If Cubetto gets dirty, wipe clean with a damp cloth. No chemical cleaners, please! Leave that to us.

♦  The included batteries are good for 5 hours of continuous play, so be sure to turn off Cubetto when you're not using the coding tiles. You can still play with it when it's off. If you have additional batteries, you may use them, but be sure to return the Cubetto with the original batteries.

♦  If any part of the kit breaks, contact the library. Email us at winonapl@selco.info, or call youth services at 452-4592.

Posted on

Cubelets Robot Kits

We’re excited to offer Cubelets Robot Kits for checkout at Winona Public Library! Cubelets is an educational robot building kit best for ages 4 and up. Younger children will need supervision.

Cubelets activities are self-guided with the included instruction booklet, so you can teach yourself to make and play with the robot blocks. A device is not necessary for beginner and intermediate activities, but some of the more advanced coding functions only work in conjunction with Cubelets Console, which you can access at https://console.modrobotics.com/. To use Cubelets Console, you will need a desktop, laptop, or tablet with Bluetooth and internet.

Here’s what you’ll find in each kit:

♦  9 cubelets
♦  3 square plastic pieces
♦  21 activity cards
♦  1 flashlight
♦  1 charging cable
♦  1 instructional booklet

Interested in checking out a Cubelets Robot Kit? Fill out this request form, and we will contact you. Checkout time is four weeks, with no renewals allowed. To make sure kits are available to lots of patrons, there is a limit of one kit at a time per household.

These kits are available as part of Tecreation @ WPL, a new makerspace program made possible with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education using federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library Services and Technology Act [LS 00-20-0024-20].

The library also hosts in-person Tecreation programs at the library and other community locations, and we’re committed to bringing these experiences to youth across Winona.

About Cubelets

For more information about using Cubelets at home, check out Cubelets’ Getting Started Guide. You can also read free starter lesson plans all about exploring Cubelets, tailored to different age groups.

Cubelets Robot Kit care tips

This kit is designed for use by kids, but be nice to it! Here are some dos and don’ts:

♦  Take care of the kit for the next person. Don’t throw, drop, or kick the pieces, and don’t try to take individual pieces apart.

♦  Keep the Cubelets in sight when you are using them. Use the Cubelets indoors only. A hard surface, like a table, is best.

♦  When you are finished charging the battery Cubelet, take it off the charger.

♦  If any part of the kit breaks, contact the library. Email us at winonapl@selco.info, or call youth services at 452-4592.