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Summer STEM activities on offer at local libraries

Posted on 21 Jul 2022

To support this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, we are delighted to be working in partnership with Willmott Dixon to host exciting STEM activities for budding young scientists and engineers! Children aged 6 – 16 will have the opportunity to have a go at building bridges, and to experience virtual reality with VR sets.

The activities are designed to promote skills and construction careers while having fun during the summer, providing young people the opportunity to experiment with new environments as well as learning and developing their skills in an enjoyable way.

More than 17 libraries will be taking part, including Exeter, Honiton, Bovey Tracey, Torquay and Cullompton with dates ranging across the summer, please see the full list below.

Focusing on the Summer Reading Challenge and ‘Gadgeteers’ theme, the days will highlight innovation and the use of technology within the construction industry. The Summer Reading Challenge and Gadgeteer days with Willmott Dixon are completely free and open to all ages and abilities.

Daffne Zamudio, Social Value Manager at Willmott Dixon said; “We strongly believe in engaging with younger generations to develop skills and offer potential opportunities within the construction industry. The STEM activities aligned perfectly with the ‘Gadgeteers’ Summer Reading Challenge delivered by the libraries in Devon and Torbay, these will support communities and families who are looking for something fun and educational during the summer, particularly in these challenging times for some families. We are very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to work with Libraries Unlimited.”

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered every summer by Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs the 54 libraries across Devon and Torbay. Its aim is to help children keep up their reading skills throughout the long summer holiday. This year’s theme has been developed in partnership with the Science Museum Group and is aimed at igniting children’s imaginations, encouraging curiosity, and instilling a love of reading.

A full list of dates and locations can be found below: Each date will consist of two 1-hour sessions per library. The first session will be a building bridges STEM activity for children aged 6-10, followed by a second session which will involve a VR set with construction demos for children/young people aged 11-16.

To book a space, contact your local library:

LibrariesDate
Bovey TraceyFriday 29th July

10am and 11am

IvybridgeMonday 1st August

10am and 11am

TavistockTuesday 2nd August

10am and 11am

ExeterTuesday 2nd August

2pm and3pm

TorquayThursday 4th August

10am and 11am

PaigntonThursday 4th August

2pm and 3pm

Moreton HampsteadTuesday 9th August

10am and 11am

OkehamptonTuesday 9th August

2pm and 3pm

HonitonThursday 11th August

10am and 11am

SidmouthThursday 11th August

2pm and 3pm

TotnesFriday 12th August

11am and 12pm

HolsworthyFriday 12th August

2pm and 3pm

IlfracombeFriday 19th August

10am and 11am

PrincetownMonday 22nd August

2pm and 3pm

South MoltonFriday 26th August

10am and 11am

CullomptonFriday 29th August

2pm and 3pm

ChagfordFriday 2nd September

Times tbc

Visit our website for full library contact information – Devon and Torbay.

Libraries Unlimited believes…

…in the unlimited potential of library services to make a positive difference to people’s lives and communities through a shared love of reading and access to high quality information and facilities.