More than 100 children have participated so far in the summer reading program that C.H.I.L.D. set up at Verona Pool this summer.
C.H.I.L.D., which stands for Children Having Individual Learning Differences, supports teachers, parents and children in Verona by funding teaching tools and workshops on a wide range of learning issues. It has run an outdoor summer reading program for several years and, this year, decided to move it from the Children’s Garden in Verona Park to Verona Pool. “We’re trying to inspire kids to read,” says Elise Boatwright, a member of C.H.I.L.D. since 2007.
Every weekday through Friday, July 30, C.H.I.L.D. volunteers roll out carts containing a wide range of books for pre-readers through young adults. The program is free, and children can earn prizes for books read at the pool or at home. The prizes have been donated by Verona merchants including Learning Express and The Towne Scoop. Later this month, C.H.I.L.D. will also be holding reading groups for middle schoolers on the books that are on their summer reading list. There’s still time to register to participate, which you can do at C.H.I.L.D.’s tent, located near the pool manager’s office at the front of the pool.
For more information about C.H.I.L.D. and its ongoing programs, click here.
