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Are you looking for affordable things to do over Spring Break in Wichita? Once again, the Wichita Public Library provides plenty of fun and FREE spring break activities for kids in Wichita. This list includes events for both kids and teens.
All of these events are totally FREE, but some do require advance registration, so please use the library events calendar to register for those.
Check out the Evolve Summer Guide, which includes the combined activities guide from Wichita Park and Recreation, Wichita Public Library, and CityArts!
Remember also that the library has an extensive collection of movies you can check out for free! This is a great option if we have a rainy day during spring break.
Wichita Public Library Spring Break Activities for Kids and Teens:
Some of these events require pre-registration. Please double-check so you don’t miss out!
Monday, March 11, 2024
Share a love of stories and learning with children in these storytime sessions aimed at engaging the broad range of developmental stages between ages 0-6.
Join us for an out-of-this-world storytime and simple shadow craft as we prepare for the upcoming total solar eclipse. Each family that attends will get a pair of free eclipse glasses! For ages 3-8.
Teens Create: Eclipse Chalk Art
Are you ready to join the dark side? Come hear what an expert has to say about the upcoming total solar eclipse and stick around afterwards to create some fun chalk art of your own! Each teen will get a pair of eclipse glasses to save for the big event. For ages 12-18.
WPL Book Bus Stop: League 42 Leslie Rudd Learning Center
The Wichita Public Library is hitting the road and bringing library services directly to children and caregivers! The Book Bus is an outreach initiative to bring library services to areas of Wichita that don’t have quick access to a physical library location. The recycled bus from Wichita Transit is outfitted with shelves of books residents can borrow from the bus. While the majority of the books are geared towards children, there is a limited collection of popular books for adults.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
WPL Book Bus Stop: Pawnee Prairie Park
The Wichita Public Library is hitting the road and bringing library services directly to children and caregivers! The Book Bus is an outreach initiative to bring library services to areas of Wichita that don’t have quick access to a physical library location. The recycled bus from Wichita Transit is outfitted with shelves of books residents can borrow from the bus. While the majority of the books are geared towards children, there is a limited collection of popular books for adults.
Children ages 2 and under will develop a love of learning as they sing, dance, and enjoy simple stories. Caregivers will learn tips to encourage their child’s early learning development.
Children ages 3-6 will develop literacy skills through active listening, singing, movement, and sharing a love of stories in a group setting.
Share a love of stories and learning with children in these storytime sessions aimed at engaging the broad range of developmental stages between ages 0-6.
It’s never too early to start your child’s love of learning! Music, rhymes, activities, and stories for caregivers and babies aged birth to 18 months.
Solar Eclipse with KAO NASA Observers
Are you curious about the upcoming solar eclipse? Learn more from the Eclipse Ambassadors, a NASA sponsored volunteer partnership of students and amateur astronomers! This program will provide information and activities for children ages 5-12, and each family attending will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses.
Do more than eat this sweet, puffy treat! Enjoy marshmallow themed activities and crafts. For ages 6-12.
WPL Book Bus Stop: Orchard Park
The Wichita Public Library is hitting the road and bringing library services directly to children and caregivers! The Book Bus is an outreach initiative to bring library services to areas of Wichita that don’t have quick access to a physical library location. The recycled bus from Wichita Transit is outfitted with shelves of books residents can borrow from the bus. While the majority of the books are geared towards children, there is a limited collection of popular books for adults.
Confused about voter ID laws? Interested in voting early or by mail but concerned you may not have the necessary documentation? According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Kansas has some of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation. Join Leslie Butsh, Field Director, and Yusef Presley, Field Organizer from the ACLU of Kansas to learn about your rights in the polling booth, common voting misconceptions, and recent changes to voter ID laws.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Children 3-6 will develop literacy skills through active listening, singing, movement, and sharing a love of stories in a group setting.
Tweens Switch It Up: Mario Kart!
Ready. Set. Drive! Join area tweens and test your Nintendo Switch driving skills. No experience required! Tickets will be available at the children’s desk starting 30 minutes before the program starts. For ages 9 – 12.
Come and create festive dioramas with one of springtime’s most iconic treats for our second annual Peep Dioramas program! Teens grade 6-12 will use small boxes to design humorous scenes with Peeps. Bring your creativity and cleverness as we mimic the Washington Post’s annual competition. Space and supplies are limited; registration not required but program tickets will be available 30 minutes before the program at the circulation desk.
Learn to create, style, format organize and share documents online in Google Docs. Access Docs from any device connected to the internet with your Gmail account. A Gmail account and basic keyboard and mouse skills are required. Registration is required; call 261-8500, or register online.
Solar Eclipse with KAO NASA Observers
Are you curious about the upcoming solar eclipse? Learn more from the Eclipse Ambassadors, a NASA sponsored volunteer partnership of students and amateur astronomers! This program will provide information and activities for teens and adults, ages 12 and up. Each person attending will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses.
Candid Conversations: Education Access and Equality in Wichita
How can art that depicts our past help us change our future? This season of Wichita Public Library’s Candid Conversations series explores social justice through the lens of art and discussion. This session will be a guided conversation about education access and equality in Wichita and its lasting impact in the community. Panelists working in the field of education will discuss where we are now as a community. Registration is required; call 261-8500 or register online.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Cuentos Bilingües/Preschool Storytime
Whether you want to expose your children to another language or they already hear it in the home, enjoy a unique storytime presented in both English & Spanish for children ages 3-5.
Share a love of stories and learning with children in storytime sessions that will engage the broad range of developmental stages between ages 0-6.
Teen Breakout Box – Cold Case: Poe’s Tell Tale Heart
Hello there, Poeville Police Department Detectives! Join us as we investigate an unsolved homicide that occurred over 150 years ago and was documented in Edgar Allen Poe’s classic short story “The Tell Tale Heart.” Bring a friend or two and put your sleuthing skills to the test! For ages 13-18.
News Connect: High School Journalism
Visit News Connect, a pop-up newsroom brought to you by the Wichita Journalism Collaborative. A collection of 11 media outlets and community partners will gather to offer a unique opportunity for members of the public to interact with local journalists. Have a story idea? Curious how journalists cover the news in our community? Visit this casual, come-and-go event to converse with local media. This is a special session of News Connect geared toward high school students.
Join us as we take friendship bracelets to the next level. Design and create your own bracelet, necklace, or small art sculpture. You bring the vision, and we’ll bring the materials. Tickets are needed for this program. Tickets will be available starting 30 minutes before the program starts at the Children’s Pavilion desk. For ages 9 – 12.
Can you make the connection? Learn what comes between the battery and the bulb in this basic exploration of simple circuits. Best for ages 7-11.
Kick! Boom Pow! your favorite action star into a miniature portable garden. Space and supplies are limited; registration not required but program tickets will be available 30 minutes before the program at the circulation desk.
WPL Book Bus Stop: Northwest YMCA
The Wichita Public Library is hitting the road and bringing library services directly to children and caregivers! The Book Bus is an outreach initiative to bring library services to areas of Wichita that don’t have quick access to a physical library location. The recycled bus from Wichita Transit is outfitted with shelves of books residents can borrow from the bus. While the majority of the books are geared towards children, there is a limited collection of popular books for adults.
Solar Eclipse with KAO NASA Observers
Are you curious about the upcoming solar eclipse? Learn more from the Eclipse Ambassadors, a NASA sponsored volunteer partnership of students and amateur astronomers! This program will provide information and activities and attendees will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses. This program is for all ages, including adults.
Chess and its variations: learn about the classical game of strategy and its variations through the years. Each session starts with a brief lecture on the topic, with the rest of the time dedicated for playing. Some chess sets, regular and specialized, available for playing. Patrons welcome to bring their own. Program aimed at adults, but teens welcome. All skill levels welcome, beginner to experts. Sept. 08: Intro to Chess Sept. 22: Multi-player chess Oct. 06: Chess around the world Oct. 20: 3-Dimensional chess
Friday, March 15, 2024
Children ages 2 and under will develop a love of learning as they sing, dance, and enjoy simple stories. Caregivers will learn tips to encourage their child’s early learning development.
Explore the world of poetry together and to get your creativity flowing! Play with words using games and crafts. For ages 6-12.
Big Idea: Beyond Brown: Mexican Struggles for Equality Before and After Brown v. Board
Historian Valerie Mendoza will look at the ways the Latino communities banded together to fight discrimination and demand equal protection under the law, focusing special attention on Kansas examples.
The Big Idea is a series featuring insights from historical and current events from Kansas scholars that provide a starting point for conversations about ideas that shape our world presented by Humanities Kansas. This program is a live stream of the event in Topeka.
More information about the Big Idea can be found at humanitieskansas.org.
Do you need just a couple of hours of volunteering before school ends? Teens 12-17 are invited to drop in at the Rockwell Branch Library to help us get ready for summer with a variety of tasks. Parental permission will be required on a written form that can requested from the Rockwell Branch beginning April 1st or downloaded from wichitalibrary.org/volunteer.
Solar Eclipse with KAO NASA Observers – Bilingual
Are you curious about the upcoming solar eclipse? Learn more from the Eclipse Ambassadors, a NASA sponsored volunteer partnership of students and amateur astronomers! This program will provide information and activities for children ages 5-12, and each family attending will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses.
¿Tiene curiosidad acerca del próximo eclipse solar? ¡Obtenga más información de los embajadores de eclipse, una asociación voluntaria de estudiantes y astrónomos aficionados patrocinada por la NASA! Este programa proporcionará información y actividades para niños de 5 a 12 años, y cada familia que asista recibirá un par de anteojos eclipse gratis.
Join in a classic high fantasy Dungeons and Dragons campaign! New participants are welcome, but this campaign is designed for experienced players. Ages 13 to 18. Call 350-3261 or visit wichitalibrary.org/events to register.
Click HERE for the FULL list of Wichita Spring Break events, camps, and activities
Please note that these are not ALL of the March library events for kids and teens. (That’s a much longer list!) These are just things kids can do at the library during spring break.