Cooking can be fun for the whole family when you learn how to play with your food! Connect in the kitchen by making something sweet or trying an edible experiment. These projects work for all ages and are guaranteed to bring smiles to your plates. To set the mood, check out this special food-themed playlist on Spotify!

Fun At Home

• With just a few sweets like Fruit by the Foot and Rice Krispies Treats, you can make candy sushi at home! 
• Learn how to make edible slime with this list of 14 recipes from Abrazo and Coze.
• Get inspired by amazing food art! Red Hong Yi makes art using everyday items, including foods like tea leaves, beans, and seeds. Artist Jason Mecier makes portraits using candy, cereal, and more! What art can you make out of food?
• These edible science experiments from We Are Teachers prove that science can be fun and delicious.
• You can cook a whole meal with just a coffee mug! Try making pizza in a mug and delicious chocolate cake for dessert. 
• See what you can build using only food. Graham crackers, frosting, and candy can be the building blocks to start you off!
• Patience pays off when you make rock candy at home! This delicious treat is a perfect kitchen science experiment. 

CPL Resources

• Try a brand new recipe featured in a cookbook. We've collected both physical and ebook picks!
• Use Your library card to access AtoZ World Food. Learn about food culture, national cuisines and ingredients, and save recipes in an interactive digital cookbook.
• Music can set the stage for a fantastic meal. If you're trying out a dish from another country, check out these world music picks from hoopla!

CPL Programs and Grab & Go kits

• Sweet & Savory Test Kitchen for adults on July 12
• Pizza Parlor Craft Grab & Go for ages 18-35 months on July 20
• Garden to Table: Edible Sprouts on July 20
• Pickling Pickles with Patton for adults on August 4

Image "two pineapples with gold party hats" by Pineapple Supply Co on Unsplash. 

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Growing your own garden is a great way to save money, provide family fun and get exercise. Community gardening, Farmer's Markets and eating local are all the rage. Get help gardening, from learning the basics to more advance gardening, with these resources and activities to help you complete this 62 Days square and Grow Green.

Jump back to 62 Days of Summer for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Photo: Colleen O'Brien-Brumley

Physical fitness can help you sleep, feel, think and manage your weight loss better. It can also energize your mind and body. Just a quick walk around the block can rejuvenate your body and mind. Get moving and inspired with these books, DVDs, e-media and other digital resources.

Did you know that Michigan is home to six protected Dark Sky Preserves? Additionally, Michigan is home to Headlands International Dark Sky Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park, which are the only internationally designated park preserves in the state. While each location provides the very best opportunity for you to truly enjoy the Milky Way, aurora borealis and more - you do not need to travel to these places to Observe the Night Sky. You can begin your adventure at home by simply keeping a few viewing tips in mind.

• The Best Place for Stargazing (In the World) Is Your Backyard
• Consider checking out one of our many astronomy resources  and e-resources to help you identify constellations and enhance your experience.
• If you would like to find out more about what you are seeing, consider watching the short youtube series Learn the Night Sky.
• Know when significant events are happening, like the Perseid Meteor Shower on August 11 & 12, with the 2021 Guide to Meteor Showers, Supermoons in Michigan and The 10 Must-See Night Sky Events in 2021 and International Asteroid Day on June 30.

Activities:

• NASA at Home has activities for the whole family.
• Visit a Michigan Dark Sky Preserve - Many have activities throughout the summer! Some of these preserves participate in the Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) program. Library patrons can access hundreds of participating institutions by visiting the Michigan Activity Pass website to print or download a pass to their mobile device.          
• Get creative with Creativebug! For an activity you can do with your kids there is Astro Origami class, for adults there is Zodiac Necklace class. (CPL card required)

Resources:

Today is a great day to love the planet! Respecting the Earth today ensures that we have a beautiful place to call home in the future. Use the resources and ideas below to learn about ways to enjoy nature, lower your environmental impact, and more!

Image "low angle photography of high angle trees during daytime" by Angela Benito on Unsplash. 

Calming and exhilarating. Both words that can be associated with hiking. Hiking is a fabulous hobby that can be done year round, all over the world, or close to home. Trails and paths can be anywhere from straight, narrow and rocky to wet, curvy, or steep. They can be on all sorts of terrain like sand, snow, dirt, hills, mountains or forests. Michigan is a beautiful state that offers all sorts of hiking trails for any season.  Local metroparks also have hiking opportunities as does the Michigan Trails Magazine. Hiking also offers access to activities for all ages, from senior citizens to kids.  No matter what kind of path you decide to take, hiking is great for your mind and body. So lace up your boots and dont forget to pack your water and some snacks! Head back to 62 days of summer for more ways to participate in the summer program.

Follow the trail to these library hiking books:

Nonfiction

Fiction

Kids Fiction

Kids Non-Fiction