York County Library
Summer Learning Challenge
Summer Learning Challenge
June 3 – July 31, 2024 • For All Ages • Registration Starts May 18!
Each time you complete the Challenge, you’ll be entered in the Grand Prize Drawing at the end of the program. Need help? See the Beanstack FAQ, view helpful videos and tutorials in the Beanstack Help Center, or read more below. Please note, if you have already registered for a previous reading challenge, simply sign in to begin the new challenge.
This summer, "Adventure Begins at Your Library!" York County Library's 2024 Summer Learning Challenge runs June 3 through July 31, with prize drawings, reading incentives, free events, and more, for all ages. Participating is simple!
Starting May 18, sign up at any YCL branch, the Bookmobile, or online using our fun, interactive Beanstack website or app. Once you've registered, simply pick up a reading log at any YCL branch or track your progress online using your Beanstack account when the Challenge begins. Log all your reading progress online or return the completed record by July 31 to receive your incentives!
"Adventure Begins at Your Library!" Summer Learning Challenge for All Ages
How the Challenge Works
The challenge is simple! Starting Monday, June 3, begin tracking your progress using the Beanstack website, app, or a reading log, available soon for each age group (infants/toddlers, children, or teens/adults). You'll get a prize for reading either: 10 books for infants and toddlers; 10 hours for children; or 15 hours for teens and adults.* For every time you complete the challenge, you'll earn one entry into a Grand Prize Drawing — up to 5 entries! You have until July 31, so make sure all of your reading has been logged in Beanstack!
#YCLReads2024
We want to hear all the fun you're having during the Summer Learning Challenge! Tag us on Facebook (yorkcountylibrary) or Twitter (@Beamer_YCL) with the hashtag #YCLReads2024.
Prizes and Drawings
Registration Rewards
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Infants & Toddlers, Ages 0–3: York County Library magnetic picture frame
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Children, Ages 3–11: Summer Learning Challenge 2024 Brag Tag
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Teens, Ages 11–18: Lanyard and Summer Learning Challenge button
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Completion Prizes
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Infants & Toddlers, Ages 0–3: Reading certificate, board book, and choice of bath toy or finger puppet
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Children, Ages 3–11: Reading medal and certificate, and choice of a book or three-charm “Adventure” wristband
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Teens, Ages 11–18: $5 gift card to a local business​
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Adults, Ages 18 & Up: Canvas book bag​
Grand Prizes
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All Age Groups: One entry into a Grand Prize Drawing for every time you complete the Challenge, up to 5 entries. Grand prizes include:​​
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Infants & Toddlers: $50 Books-A-Million gift card, turtle chunky puzzle, "Adventure Begins at Your Library" growth chart, miniature magnetic picture frame, and browsing bag
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Children: $50 Books-A-Million gift card, sand art craft, clip-on compass, "Adventure Begins at Your Library" pencils, notepads, and drawstring sports bag
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Teens: $100 gift card to a local business of your choice (exclusions apply)
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Adults: $50 Books-A-Million gift card
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*Prizes may be substituted as necessary and are available only while supplies last. Prizes are awarded only for the first Challenge completion. All reading time must be logged into Beanstack to receive each entry for the Grand Prize Drawing.
Children's Summer Performances
All performances are free, but space for in-person events is limited. Please see our Events Calendar for times, locations, and registration requirements for the featured performances below. For virtual teen programs via our Discord channel, contact the Young Adult Department or visit the Teen Reading & Fun page.
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June 3–4: Summer Reading Challenge Kick-off: Celebrate the start of the Summer Reading Challenge with a one-of-a-kind music and movement concert presented by The Jolly Lollies! Known for their early childhood music, this Charlotte-based music group provides a silly, magical experience for adults and children.
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June 4–7: Travelin' Tales: Pack your bags and fasten your seatbelts for an enchanting trio of timeless tales from "That Puppet Guy!" This multi-cultural performance delivers messages of honesty, anti-bullying, and that being bigger doesn't make you more important.
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June 11–14: The Totally Twisted Tale of the Three Little Pigs: Porkchop Productions' adaptation of this fairy tale favorite puts a new twist on a timeless tale! When Stanley (the cool pig on the block) is encouraged to invite Ralphie (the new sheep on the block) to his backyard campout, hilarity and chaos ensue! This fast-paced performance teaches important lessons in finding friendships where you least expect them, and the bond that can be formed over a book.
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June 17–21: Three Bears and a Big Bad Wolf: Does a good story ever really end? What happens when characters from different tales meet? Do sheep like it when you read to them? Columbia Marionette Theater's newest puppet show answers these questions and more ... as an unexpected mix of storybook characters find themselves wrapped up in a brand-new adventure!
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June 25–28: Cirque du Todd: Cirque du Todd combines juggling, circus skills, a little magic, and just the right mix of comedy and reading encouragement for all ages.
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July 9-12: READasaurus Adventure: Join Mark Daniel and Steggie as they share great books with your young READasauruses! This program incorporates terrific books, storytelling, puppetry, book talking, magic tricks, and audience participation, all blended artfully with the notion that we learn and are impacted on many different levels, many different ways.
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July 16-19: Magical Adventures: Young and old alike will be dazzled by the witty magical style and storytelling of Fish the Magish!
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Friends • Leaderboards • Streaks • Achievements
Friends: You can add friends and family and challenge them to see who can read the most! Friends can view each other's reading logs, challenge histories, and badges, and compete on leaderboards. Just use the Beanstack mobile app or web version to get your unique friend code and get started.
Leaderboards: Compete with friends on leaderboards and see who has read the most during the past week or month. Leaderboards display the top 25 readers, and the top three readers will see gold, silver, and bronze medals next to their names!
Streaks: Track and grow your daily reading to maintain reading streaks. Each consecutive day you log reading — whether it's minutes, pages, books, or days — adds a day to your streak. There is no minimum; even 5 minutes a day helps keep a streak alive! You can also view your friends' streaks.
Achievements: Motivate yourself to read with surprise badge rewards for certain reading actions, like logging your first book, completing your first challenge, adding your tenth friend, maintaining a lengthy reading streak, or reading on special days or holidays. The more days you log your reading, the higher your chances of garnering achievements!
How to Log Reading
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Use our Beanstack website to log in or create an account and log time for you and your family. If you have previously used our Beanstack site, you do not need to create a new account each year. If you need help resetting your password, just ask a staff member.
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The Beanstack Tracker App, available for both Android and Apple devices, features a handy reading timer that automatically logs your time for you, or for multiple people at the same time. When setting up the app, make sure to select York County Library (SC).
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Beanstack Tracker: Alexa Skill
If you have an Amazon Alexa-enabled device, use the Beanstack Tracker: Alexa Skill to log your reading. Enable this Skill by saying "Alexa, enable Beanstack Tracker" or search for "Beanstack Tracker" on the Alexa Skill Store. Please note that to use this Alexa Skill, you must first have a Beanstack account.
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If you are unable to use Beanstack or need help to register or log time, call or visit your local library location.
The Summer Learning Challenge is sponsored by
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