Library, P&R, Conservation offer 'Summer Outdoor Adventure'

     The Monticello Public Library, Monticello Parks and Recreation, and Jones County Conservation are all coming together to offer the public an exciting new program for the summer!

   “Summer Outdoor Adventure” will kick off Sunday, June 5 and run through Sunday, July 10. The program takes place entirely outdoors, highlighting various city and county parks and facilities.

   Participants must download the free smartphone app, readSQUARED or visit Monticello.readsquared.com. Each Sunday, three different activities or tasks will be released. You can complete the tasks each week, at your leisure, or all at the end.

   Once the activities are revealed each week, you simply follow the directions, take a photo at the location mentioned, and upload the photo to your account on the readSQUARED app/website.

   Those who complete the most or all of the activities will have their name put in a drawing for several grand prizes:

   • A kayak, donated by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center

   • Two nights of camping and three watercraft rentals at Central Park, donated by Conservation

   • A fishing pole and tackle, donated by the Friends of the Monticello Library

   • A disc golf set, donated by Parks and Rec

   “It’ll be a random drawing of those at the highest point level,” said Library Director Michelle Turnis.

   Summer Outdoor Adventure could be done by an individual, a family, or a group of friends. There will be only one entry per person/family/group.

   All entries/photos must be uploaded and submitted by July 10. (Note: Entries can only be submitted using the readSQUARED app. There is not an off-line version to take part in the program.)

   Turnis said the library got the idea to offer this program after seeing it a few years ago through another library who also partnered with their Parks and Rec department.

   “We thought we could try it and encourage people to get out take advantage of what we have to offer in the community,” urged Turnis.

   Once she reached out the Parks and Rec Director Jacob Oswald and Conservation Naturalist Michele Olson, it was a win-win opportunity for all.

   Each department came up with a list of sites to send people. Some of those activities include:

Library

   • Visit the library and decorate the sidewalks with chalk

   • Walk on Willow Trail and read the storywalk

   • Take a trip to the library and take a picture outside

Parks and Rec

   • Take a picture by the big baseballs at Jaycee/Kleinow Field

   • Swing on the swing set at Jacobs Parks

   • Visit the playground at the fairgrounds

Conservation

   • Visit Pictured Rocks Park

   • Visit Central Park

   • Visit Mon Maq Dam

   “These all sounded like good ways to get people to places they normally wouldn’t go to,” said Turnis.

   Parks and Rec Superintendent Kegan Arduser listed all of the parks and areas within the city his department maintains, and then brainstormed how people could interact at each site.

   “This was a great opportunity to partner and then expand our Digital Scavenger Hunt,” said Olson. “By partnering, we can reach more families.

   “This is a great way to get families into the outdoors, exploring on and off the beaten paths of the community,” added Olson.

 

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