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

Welcome to 62 Days of Summer STEAM!  STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Scroll down to find different STEAM topics to explore this summer. We've got something for all ages and interests.

Don't forgot to check out our STEAM titles, we've got books on every topic, and plenty for grownup readers, too.

Reading book reviews are a great way to find new titles to read, but have you ever considered writing them yourself? Sharing your critiques and compliments of books are a great way to help others evaluate whether they’re worth reading or not. Glowing reviews also help great books that just don’t happen to have a lot of marketing going into their publications, get more attention.

Anyone can write a book review, but there is an art to writing a good one that really tells others if a book is a good fit for them. Good book reviews are not too long, but at the same time get at what struck you most about the book. Book review readers want to know more than that you enjoyed it and would recommend it. You want to summarize the main themes of the book and pick out what you thought stood out to you the most (and whether it was good or bad). Compare it to other similar books.

Get some more ideas on how to format your book reviews here:

BOOK RIOT's "How to Write a Book Review"

Grammarly's "How to Write a Book Review"

What are some places you can share your book reviews?

The most common book review websites are Amazon.com and Goodreads.com, but who says you have to only leave your book reviews on sites people go to looking for reviews? Why not post them on Facebook or Instagram and see what your friends think? Maybe they’ll have some book review recommendations to give back to you!

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

Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners.

Read on to find many ways to celebrate what makes our pets special!

Whether you see a favorite band, attend a play, or yuk it up with a comedian, there are plenty of ways to listen live this summer. 

Dancing not only improves your cardiovascular health, it's also good for strength and flexibility. Additionally, it can boost your mood as well as increase cognitive performance. Dancing can also be a social activity that allows you to spend quality time with friends and family. You don't have to sign up for a dance class to experience the benefits of dancing because you can always just throw a home dance party! 

All you need is music and then you can decide your moves. Free form dancing is also a good option, especially if you're dancing with children, but either way, the library can support you in your home dance party plans.

Check out dance albums available to stream on Hoopla:

Latin: https://www.hoopladigital.com/genre/1064271582

Electronic: https://www.hoopladigital.com/genre/322087717

Reggae: https://www.hoopladigital.com/genre/322087729

Children's: https://www.hoopladigital.com/genre/1519301086

General dance: https://www.hoopladigital.com/genre/322084880

Get dance move ideas:

Hoopla Dance videos: https://www.hoopladigital.com/genre/1288697068

Check out one of our instructional dance DVDs. We have ballroom dancing, swing, foxtrot, latin, tango, and more.

Celebrate National Dance Day:

Mark your calendars for July 31st and read more about this day here.

You can also sign up children ages 4-9 for our Dance Your Cares Away Lit Lab: https://www.cantonpl.org/content/lit-lab-productions

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

Did you know that arts and crafts have amazing benefits for the mind and body?  They can help relieve stress, encourage creative thinking, and improve our fine motor skills. Explore the resources listed below for ways to get your craft on!

[Photo by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash]

As we have increased our time at home over the past year, taking full advantage of summer fun in our own CPL backyard is a must! There are so many fun things to do without having to go out and spend a lot of money. Even if you invest in some new games, you can use them all summer and for years to come. Some days just sand, shovels and buckets keep the kids busy, while cooling off with some water action when it gets hot. We also have books at the library to help get some of those backyard ideas coming. Head back to 62 days of summer for more ways to participate in the summer program.

Summer is a great time to get out a learn a new hobby. Photography is a fun way to capture the world around you and the people you love. Not sure where to start? We have some excellent resources to point you in the right direction. Happy snapping!