Youth Programs
The McIntosh Memorial Library Children’s Department is a fun and safe place for children and families to gather and explore. Inside the Department we offer a Comfort Room, a Family Restroom, Program Room, and Play Area. All of the new children’s items are located just across from the Seating Area on the New Arrivals Wall. Please enjoy our growing collection of books, AV materials, magazines and Launchpad tablets. Special programming is offered for children of all ages. Please call Youth Services Director, Laci Sheldon, for more information about disability services. (608) 637-7151 x.5.
Register online for youth programs: Click Here
Youth Summer Program Kick Off & Book Giveaway!
Tuesday, May 28th and Wednesday, May 29th from 10:00am – 2:00pm in the program room. Best for all ages.
Let summer begin! McIntosh Memorial Library invites children and their families to kick off the library’s Youth Summer Program! Attendees can choose free books, DVDs, and CD Audio Books to keep! Plus, pick up summer reading logs and summer program schedules. Enjoy snacks and boba tea too!
No registration and no cost.
Snake Discovery
Tuesdays: “Be a Superhero!”
Tuesdays: June 4th, 11th, and 18th and July 9th, 16th, 23rd
From 8:30-9:15am at Bigley Park Shelter in the Park Bowl Complex
Best for youth ages 4-7.
Viroqua Parks and Recreation Department and McIntosh Memorial Library join forces to offer children imaginative and playful classes called “Be a Superhero!”
Classes will include Superhero Story Times, activities, and crafts.
No registration and no cost. Drop in and be super!
Rain delays/cancellations for programs held outdoors: Announcements will be made up to 30-minutes before the program. Check Viroqua Library Facebook and/or call the library at (608) 637-7151 x. 6.
Tuesdays: “LEGO Club”
Tuesdays: August 6th, 13th, and 20th from 1:30-2:30pm in the program room
Best for ages 5-10.
Calling all building block enthusiasts ages 5 to 10! Club meetings will include guided builds and time for free-form building. All materials will be provided. Completed projects will be put on display at the library. Mr. Christopher, Youth Services Associate, leads the club!
Registration is required (R/R). No cost.
Register online for youth programs: Click Here
“Tuesday Afternoons”
Tuesdays: June 4th, 11th, and 18th and July 9th, 16th, 23rd.
June 4th and July 9th: At Eckhart Park from 3:30-4:45pm
June 11th and 18th and July 16th and 23rd: At Library Lobby from 3:45-4:45pm
Best for youth ages 6+ and their families.
June 4th: To celebrate Wisconsin June Dairy Month, we will be playing “Dairy Games” at Eckhart Park. Early start time of 3:30 until 4:45pm. Local royalty courts will be joining us to get a little messy as we play Cheese Ball Head, Smash Cones, and Milk Jug Toss!
Rain delays/cancellations for programs held outdoors: Announcements will be made up to 30-minutes before the program. Check Viroqua Library Facebook and/or call the library at (608) 637-7151 x. 6.
June 11th: “Adventure Calls” with professional storyteller, Tracy Chipman. “Together, let’s adventure to places near and far. A wild orchard, a dragon’s lair, a secret garden and the deep dark tangle of forest await us through the magic of stories! Together, let’s answer the call!”
Presenter Bio: Tracy Chipman (she/her) weaves the ancient rivers of oral storytelling, writing and somatic practices creating unforgettable experiences inviting us towards more embodied transformation & interconnectedness with the animate world. She resides in northern Wisconsin, occupying the traditional territories of the Ojibwe peoples. In March 2023 Tracy published her first book, Borealis Mundi – Resting in Place, Loss & Grace. Learn more about her work – www.tracychipman.net
June 18th: Friends from the Driftless Humane Society will present about the purpose and mission of their organization. They will talk about what they do and why they do it! Plus, we can hear about some special animals that they have helped.
July 9th: A Treasure Hunt with Valley Stewardship Network will happen at Eckhart Park with an early start time of 3:30 until 4:45pm. Ben Johnston will introduce us to key concepts about maps. How to look at them and how to use them. Then, each child will receive their own map to locate a special treasure chest in the park that they can keep.
Rain delays/cancellations for programs held outdoors: Announcements will be made up to 30-minutes before the program. Check Viroqua Library Facebook and/or call the library at (608) 637-7151 x. 6.
July 16th: Friends from Bluedog Cycles will teach us how to take care of bicycles, give tips on how to ride bicycles and tell us about local bicycle sports! They will let us pass around some items they’re bringing from their bicycle shop!
July 23rd: The library’s lobby will be transformed into an indoor campsite by the After School Program Staff. Expect to see tents, blanket forts, fishing pond and camp fire ring. We will tell stories around the campfire, fish in the pond, explore the tents, and take home work sheets to identify local plants, tracks, and animals!
No registration and no cost. Drop ins welcome!
Wednesdays: “Toddler Story Times”
June’s Theme: “Farm Animals”
Wednesdays: June 12th, 19th, 26th from 10:00-11:00am. Best for ages 0-5.
Story Time from 10:00-10:30am. Meet in the Aviary Seating Area. Story Times or Story Circles include reading children’s books, songs, and rhymes.
Then, from 10:30-11:00am meet fluffy, furry, cute farm animals in the library’s courtyard (or program room if raining).
Emery comes on June 12th with her bunnies. Shawn brings her goat on June 19th. And, Krista brings her calf on June 26th. Expect extra “surprise” farm animals too!
No registration and no cost. Drop in to meet fluffy, furry, cute farm friends!
Wednesdays: “Toddler Story Times” cont…
July’s Theme: “Family Dance”
Wednesdays: “Storytimes with Gordon the Dog”
Wednesdays: June 5th, 12th, 19th from 3:45-4:40pm in the Aviary Seating Area
Best for youth ages 6+.
McIntosh Memorial Library invites children ages 6 plus, and their families, to a special Story Time with Gordon the Dog. Gordon is a certified Good Canine Citizen and is very patient listener as children take turns reading to him.
Library staff provide book selections and are on hand to support all levels of reading ability.
No registration and no cost. Drop ins are welcome to cool off, build a summer reading habit, and enjoy the very friendly dog, Gordon!
Wednesdays: “Chess Open Play”
Wednesdays in June, July and August from 4:00-6:00pm in the adult library.
Best for ages 7+. Note, the age range extends through adult ages.
Players ages 7 through adult are welcome to check out chess boards from the library’s front desk and organize in the Adult Library for game playing. Coaches will be present per their availability. Open Chess is player-driven, community-oriented time to independently organize and play chess!
No registration and no cost. Library staff will not be directly supervising the game playing.
Thursdays: “Berry Fairy Tales”
Thursdays: June 6th, 13th, and 20th and July 11th, 18th and 23rd from 8:30-9:15am in the library’s garden (located behind the historic pool bath house)
Best for youth ages 4-7.
McIntosh Memorial Library and Viroqua Parks and Rec Department will host imaginative and playful classes called “Berry Fairy Tales”. Classes will include Fairy Story Times, activities and crafts.
No registration and no cost. Drop in for fairy frolicking fun!
Rain delays/cancellations for programs held outdoors: Announcements will be made up to 30-minutes before the program. Check Viroqua Library Facebook and/or call the library at (608) 637-7151 x. 6.
Thursday Toddler Play Groups
Hosted by The Parenting Place
Every Thursday of the year from 9:30 – 11:00am in the Library’s Aviary Seating Area and Program Room.
Best for youth ages 0-3.
Parents, guardians, care providers, and older siblings are welcome!
Professional staff from the Parenting Place in La Crosse, Wisconsin lead a toddler-aged play group with specifically designed activities which include free-play, crafts, motor skill building activities, snack times and Story Times!
Parent Educator, Amber Brantner, leads the group and is joined by a rotating staff of occupational therapists, and parent volunteers.
No registration and no cost. Drop in to play, learn, and grow!
Thursdays: “Tween Leadership Committee ‘T.L.C.’ Meet Ups”
June 6th, 13th, and 20th and & July 11th, 18th, 25th from 3:30-5:00pm in the Library’s Lobby.
Best for youth entering into Grade 5 and children who are already in middle and high school. Best for youth age 10-17.
The activities have been planned by tweens for tweens!
All materials are provided. Items which are made can be kept.
There is no registration & no cost. Drop ins are welcome.
In addition, attendees are welcome to hang out, chat, draw/color/art/crafts, play E rated Switch games, and relax in the lobby and tween space during TLC Meet Ups.
Each meet up will have a different activity including:
June 6th: A movie (Daddy Day Care rated PG, starring Eddie Murphy from 2003), root beer floats, and pizza party (gluten free and vegan options available)
June 13th: A boba tea and jewelry making activity
June 20th: Faux candy sushi rolling with crispy treat cereal and candy fish
July 11th: An adventure themed escape room done in small groups in the Conference Room
July 18th: Mixing Japanese Kracie Popin’ Cookin’ kits in pairs
July 25th: A chips & salsa competition- mild, medium, and hot!
Please call Christopher Olson, Youth Services Associate, with questions. (608) 637-7151 x. 9. Or, email at [email protected]
No registration and no cost. Drop by to meet up!
Fridays: “Nintendo Switch Gaming Tournaments”
Fridays: June 14th, July 19th, August 9th from 3:30-5:30pm in the lobby
Best for youth ages 11-17.
Register to be added to the tournament bracket! You can bring your own Switch consoles, but only the library’s consoles will be used for tournament-play. You can use your own Switch console while you wait for your turn to play. Matches are 3-minutes long, but this can change depending on the amount of people that sign up.
All games are rated E for Everyone.
Registration is required (R/R). No cost.
Register online for youth programs: Click Here
Pet Parade! Costume Contest! Animal Dance Party!
Tuesday, June 25th from 9:30am-12:00pm
Best for all ages of youth and their families.
Parade line up begins at 9:30am in the library’s courtyard.
Parade begins at 10:00am and routes by sidewalk along Rock St. and Court St.
Parade passes the Judges’ Stand at 10:15am in front of the Vernon County Courthouse.
Parade ends at 10:45am at Eckhart Park’s Main Shelter.
Award Ceremony (Everyone’s a winner!) at 10:45am at Eckhart Park’s Main Shelter.
DJ do Good’s Animal Dance Party and Book Giveaway from 11:00am-12:00pm at Eckhart Park’s Main Shelter.
All participants are a winner! Medals for everyone and their animals (if they bring a pet). Four trophies will be awarded to four parade entries that bring costumed pets.
Families, children and pets are encouraged to dress up in costume! No pet? That’s ok! Dress up in costume as your favorite animal or bring a stuffed animal!
All attendees may choose free books about animals to take home with them.
Registration is only required for those bringing pets! (R/R) No cost.
Register online for youth programs: Click Here
Art in the Park
Friday, June 28th from 10:00am-12:00pm at Eckhart Park’s Main Shelter
Best for all ages of children and their families; and, interested adults.
A free, all ages, community-art event will be offered at Eckhart Park by staff from the McIntosh Memorial Library and Viroqua’s Park and Rec Department on Friday, June 28th from 10:00am-12:00pm Noon.
“Creation stations” include staff-led tye dye, water color painting, fingerpaints, and side walk chalk. Bring your own piece of cloth or clothing to tye dye! All materials are provided and participants can take their art home!
No registration and no cost.
Rain delays/cancellations for programs held outdoors: Announcements will be made up to 30-minutes before the program. Check Viroqua Library Facebook and/or call the library at (608) 637-7151 x. 6.
The Amazing Race
Tuesday, July 30th from 9:00am-12:00pm Noon
The race begins and ends in the library’s lobby. Contestants will visit 5 locations in and around downtown Viroqua during the game.
Best for all ages of youth and their families.
Teams of two to five (youth and their families) advance through the game by correctly answering questions and successfully completing activity challenges. Each accomplishment advances competitors to a new location in and around downtown Viroqua.
No contestants shall travel by car, bicycle, roller skates, skate boards, or any other means other than foot, wheelchairs, or push strollers for babies and toddlers.
We encourage teams to decide on a team name and dress similarly!
Team members can include adults, siblings, friends, neighbors, classmates, toddlers, and babies. You choose your team! Five people maximum per team. Each team must have at least one child aged 0-17 and no more than 3 adults per team.
More information will be issued after registration.
Registration is required (R/R). No cost.
Register online for youth programs: Click Here
Mermaid Pool Party
Wednesday, July 31st from 1:00-3:00pm at Bigley Pool at the Viroqua Middle School campus.
Best for all ages of youth and their families.
Real life mermaids greet children pool-side. They will also grant wishes and offer special gifts!
Young children and unskilled swimmers must be accompanied by an adult.
No registration and no cost. Drop by to swim and meet the mermaids!
Read to Win!
Thursday, August 1st through Friday, September 13th
Best for youth ages 0-17.
Beginning August 1st, youth ages 0-17 can pick up and complete a “Read to Win Reading Log” from the front desk to earn their choice of a free one-day entry pass or one free ride ticket. Total reading time averages 15-minutes a day for 40 days- a total of 10 hours!
Reading out loud to young children counts! Audio books count!
The last day to submit a completed reading log is Friday, September 13th at 6:00pm.
Only one reading log per child per year.
Special thanks to the Vernon County Agricultural Society Fair Board for making this reading incentive possible.
No registration and no cost.
PBS KIDS Playful Learning Workshops
August 6th and 7th from 10:00-11:15am in the program room and garden.
August 8th and 9th from 1:00-2:15pm in the program room and garden.
Best for ages 7-10.
Each workshop will be enhanced by utilizing PBS KIDS materials and resources. Children will learn from library staff and PBS KIDS’ characters! The four classes include: garden pollinators, garden recipes, coding robots, and launching air rockets!
Tuesday, August 6th “Garden Pollinators” PBS resources include materials from Wild Kratts.
Wednesday, August 7th “Garden Recipes” PBS resources include materials from Molly of Denali.
Thursday, August 8th “Coding Robots” PBS resources include materials from Ruff Ruffman.
Friday, August 9th “Engineering Rockets” PBS resources include materials from Ready Jet Go!
Registration is required (R/R). No cost.
Register online for youth programs: Click Here
Library’s After School Program
To learn more about the Library’s After School Program, please locate the “After School Program” tab in the top Menu options.
