Out and About in Central New Jersey: June is Jumping at the Bridgewater Library Youth Services Department

Programs for Children @ the Bridgewater Library:

Tail Waggin' Tutors: Children Reading to Dogs (For Children of All Ages) Thursday May 30th, Monday June 3rd and Thursday June 6th In-Person and Phone Registration Only – two weeks before each session. Each child will have 10 minutes to read a favorite story to his or her new, canine friend. For more information, please visit www.tdi-dog.org.** These slots are in heavy demand – please be on time for your time slot. If you can no longer make your scheduled time, please call the desk at 908-526-4016 ext. 126**

Storytime Yoga for Children (Ages 6 and below) Thursday, May 30th from 10:00 am - 10:30 am Registration begins May 16 Repeats Friday June 7th, registration begins May 24th. Join ACE certified Personal Trainer and Karma Kids certified Yoga Instructor, Pamela Nixon, for our new Storytime Yoga series. Animal characters come to life as stories are read and acted out with yoga poses. Through the use of songs, puppets, and fun, animated poses, children will learn what it’s like to hop like a frog, slither like a snake and roar like a lion!

Drop-In Game Day (All ages) (For children of all ages) Saturday, June 8th All Day No registration required. Join us for 'Board Game Day!' We'll have all of your favorite board games available so that you and your friends can have fun all day long. There'll be Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, Connect Four, and plenty more! Registration is not required, just come on in!

Toddler Dance Party (Ages 2-6) Monday June 10, 2013 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Registration is required .
Read, rock, and roll at the library! Toddlers, ages 2-6, and their caregivers are invited to get their groove on at the library. Shimmy and shake to your favorite toddler tunes!

Sharp Students (Parents/Caregivers with students in grades K-5) Monday June 10, 2013 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM Sharp Students (Parents/Caregivers with students in grades 6-12) Monday June 10, 2013 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM Registration is required. Discover the physical and electronic resources available at the library to help keep your child's skills sharp during the summer months!

Eisenhower School Choir (All ages) Wednesday June 12, 2013 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM No registration required.
Join us for a wonderful, spirited evening filled with musical delight as the Eisenhower Intermediate School's 5th and 6th grade choir present selections from their spring musical, 'Seussical.'

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Thursday, June 13th 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Registration is required. Hey LEGO fans, here's a club just for you! Get together with other LEGO-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time!

Aesop's Shop (Ages 2-8) Friday, June 14 3:30-4:30pm. Registration required and begins May 31
Aesop's Shop is a musical comedy version of several well-known Aesop's Fables, including The Hare and the Tortoise, The Wolf and the Mother Pig, and more. The Fables are funny and fun; they're witty ditties suitable for young children and old coots!
The Shop is run by Cy Young as Aesop; Cy is a veteran writer, composer and performer with experience in London and New York.

June 17th – Dig Into Reading – Summer Reading Club registration begins today (and continues all summer). Come on into the library and sign up for fun and prizes!

Sing-along: Summer Songs (All ages) Wednesday, June 19
2pm No registration required Slip into Summer with these warm weather tunes!

***Summer Reading Kick-Off*** Days of Knights (Grades K - 5)
Monday, June 24 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. Registration required and begins June 10.
A knight in shining armor is coming to the library! Join Sir Kenneth and his squire as they re-enact a classic medieval fairytale! Throughout the interactive story, kids in grades K-5 will learn all about knights. They will also get to see an exciting swordfight, try on real armor, take pictures with the performers, and more!

Drive-In Movie: Monsters, Inc. (Ages 2-8)Wednesday, June 26
from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm. Registration required and begins June 12. Make your very own kid sized car and buckle up as we watch 'Monsters, Inc!' Feel free to bring your own sack lunch to eat in your car.

Dig It: Sterling Mining Museum (Ages 4-8) Saturday, June 29
from 10:30 am - 11:30 am. Registration is required and begins June 14. Celebrate this year’s Summer Reading Theme by joining staff from the Sterling Mining Museum as they present an exciting program on the world of mining, minerals, and their importance in our everyday lives!

There are ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page. Planning ahead for July? -- Check out our library calendar.

If you register for a program and realize that you won’t be able to come, please call (908 526-4016x126) or email us (bwljuv@sclibnj.org) as early as possible so we can make someone on the waitlist very happy. Next time that waitlisted participant might be your child!

@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:

Sharp Students (Parents/Caregivers with students in grades 6-12) Monday June 10, 2013 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM Registration is required. Discover the physical and electronic resources available at the library to help keep your child's skills sharp during the summer months!

Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+) Thursday June 13th, 2013 From 7-8:30pm. Registration required TO PERFORM. Want to share your poetry, comedy, or original music? Not an artist, but would like to witness some of the most inspiring artists Somerset County has to offer? Then join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers have their voices heard. Depending on registration, artists will receive 10-15 minute slots to play music or recite poetry. Sign ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. **Please help support local artists and musicians – you don’t need to be an artist to enjoy our Open Mic Night!**

Tween Party After Hours (Grades 4-6) Friday, June 14 6-8pm
Registration required and begins May 31
Tweens, grades 4-6, get locked in the library after hours! We'll have a movie, video games, crafts and snacks! No admittance after 6:15 pm. Advance notice required if tween must leave the program early.

TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8 Tuesday June 25th, 2013 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12) Tuesday, June 25th 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Registration required Do you want to make a difference at your library? Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our upcoming T.A.B. meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

**Teen Summer Reading Kick-Off** Games 2 U: Laser Tag Wednesday, June 26th Evening (exact time TBD) Raindate July 1st. Registration required and begins June 5. We’re starting off the summer with an exciting game of laser tag on the lawn behind the library! Players compete in teams to find and tag their opponents using high-tech lasers. Obstacles on the battlefield create opportunities to hide and ambush opponents. With a little bit of strategy, some quick wits (and even quicker reflexes) your team will emerge victorious! A release form is required to participate in this program. We will have two half hour sessions to accommodate more teens. More details to come!

Want more info about upcoming programs? Check out our July teen calendar here.

Around the Community:

Come experience a very special autism-friendly matinee of Disney’s The Little Mermaid WHEN: Wednesday, June 26 at 4:00 PM WHERE: Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn

Paper Mill Playhouse, in cooperation with Autism New Jersey and the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University, is proud to bring you a very special autism-friendly matinee of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Come experience the all-new musical production based on the animated classic! For one magical afternoon, the theater environment will be altered to offer a comfortable space that is welcoming for all families. Click here to learn more about our autism programs and to purchase your tickets today.

SPY THRILLER FARCE OPENS @ CIRCLE PLAYERS JUNE 7

THE 39 STEPS By Patrick Barlow directed by John Dowgin WHEN: June 7 - 23, 2013
WHERE: The Circle Players, 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway (Directions)
TICKETS: Adults $18; Seniors and Students $17
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE or call 732.968.7555 Combining a spy thriller with farcical comedy and ingenious theatrical invention, The 39 Steps is an engaging, fast-paced whodunit that celebrates the magic of theater. Closely following the storyline of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film, the play features more than 150 characters brought to life by a cast of just four actors.

5K Race through History at Frantic Fun Run! The Frantic Fun Run 5K on Tuesday, June 25 is a rare opportunity to run through the 19th century Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township. Participants race through history on a cross-country trail. Runners receive custom moisture wicking t-shirts, and awards. Enjoy the post-race party including raffle prizes, DJ entertainment, and food. Course Map Preregister by June 20 at www.raceforum.com/frantic. Preregistration: $20 Day of Registration: $25 Schedule: 5:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. : Registration 7 p.m. : 5K Start 7:45 p.m. : Awards and post-race party (approximate time) For more information call, 973-326-7616.

Thanks to Ruth Ross at NJARTSMAVEN.COM for some of these listings.
There are lots more things to do around our community. Look at the “Useful Websites for Families” (on the right side of this blog – click the headline if you are reading this as an email) for many more options!
Looking for events around our community? Check out the “Events” links under the “Useful links for families” list on the right side of this blog listing. (If you are getting this as an email, click on the headline title to open it as a webpage and then you’ll see all these useful links!)