The Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Challenge encouraged 12,958 participants ranging from 0-17 years old to read and contribute to the “Save the Chesapeake Bay” efforts this past summer.
The challenge began on June 15 and was created through a partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), the Washington Nationals, and the Friends of the Library Montgomery County (FOLMC), according to a Montgomery County government press release.
Participants were given a complementary book and participated in almost 200 programs to complete three missions. Each mission participants completed would lead to the FOLMC making contributions to support the Chesapeake Bay according to the release.
After participants completed mission one, FOLMC assisted the CBF in planting 500 trees along the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. After mission two concluded, the FOLMC and CBF planted 250,000 oysters into the Bay. When mission three was finished, it led to the restoration of healthy wildlife habitats throughout the Bay watershed according to the release.
In addition to the missions, participants were able to watch singers, magicians, storytellers, crafters, dancers, scientists, and teachers lead them in water-centered activities and help participants learn about organisms that live in bodies of water according to the Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) website’s blog.
“MCPL is grateful to The Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, MD, and the CBF for their support of this partnership,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “We are very pleased that our young readers have made a tangible, positive impact on the local environment through their reading efforts.”
Participants are encouraged to continue reading as MPCL hosts book group events and has reading lists for every grade level according to the blog post.
If community members would like to find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge, contact Cassandra Malik at Cassandra.malik@montgomerycounty.gov.
