ABC's of Bicycle Maintenance

Who needs to know "fill in the blank"?  This is the question I ask when developing programs.  For a very good reason, bicycle maintenance popped in my brain as the obvious answer for May.  Having great friends who are bicycle advocates, this program was easy to pull off.  The turn out of attendees made this one of my best-ever-program-efforts!

Too crowded Room

Weather was against us for this outdoorsy program, so we tried to host it inside a community room.  No Dice!  The amount of bikes you see above nearly doubled in 10 minutes. 

Outside is the best side

The answer was obvious to move outside and the rain held off for most of this 3 hour session.  Tara Escudero from Elmira Bikes and John van Otterloo from Corning Bikes led participants through the ABC's of Bicycle Maintenance.

The A of ABC's stands for Air.  John van Otterloo shows these twins the proper way to pump air into bike tires.  There are several learners and one statuesque gawker.

The B of ABC's stands for Brakes.  We each learned a few important lessons on brake maintenance.  This empowerment is gratifying.

The C of ABC's stands for Chain.  Tara showed our group how to check the quality of the chain.  "Avoid water puddles, they lead to rust!"

Tara shows a simple chain cleaning trick using a towel and a buddy to turn the pedals.  We purchased a chain cleaner that can be used by any biker riding through town.  Remember during those hot summer days, the library is a designated cooling station.  Stop in to cool down and spruce up your ride while you're here.

This was our Saturday scene at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  I love to see this community building  and wide age range of learners.  Each person helped one another to get their bikes ready to roll.  Teamwork makes the dream work!

When we work and learn together, we grow together.  This little test in community proved successful.  There were more adults than teens, but we are always nursing that inner child.
If you have a program suggestion, post your ideas in the comments section.  If you have a skill you wish to share, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Theatre Camp 2017

This year marks the third annual installment of Theatre Camp with Centre Stage Community Theatre.  Our local, talented crew of actors led the week-long program, guiding students to the end of summer and a new school year.  Participants learn skills appropriate for the theater, but also valuable lessons to carry forward in life.

I said a-BOOM!

Kimberly Canale is the ring-leader of this silly circus of kids acting goofy all week.  There are games and rhymes they practice daily.  Boom Chicka Boom is a repeat-after-me style verse that gets used as practice, activity transition, and a closer to each afternoon session.  Kids have to follow actions and voice style of the leader.  Each person takes the opportunity to lead the group and every time it gets giggles.

I love watching how the teens and tweens are uncomfortable at first, but within a few Boom Chicka Booms, all shyness is pushed aside.  Kimberly and Eddie, our talented actors, show no restraint in their silliness, which is contagious.  The confidence building over the week is  one superb life skill these kids need.  

Public speaking should be a cinch for these students as they progress in their educational and working careers.  Other skills achieved are respect for each other.  Giving attention and applause to each actor shows respect, but learning to accept applause--actually wait for it--is an incredible opportunity to experience.

Reader Theatre

Performing plays by reading the script helps students remain confident that they know their lines and improves the ability to read aloud and keep track of the play's progress.

Team Huddle

Working in teams to decide upon themes, actions, etc. helps build cooperative skills working with peers.  The copious group activities these kids experienced all week give them a lead in the new school year.  Team work makes the dream work!

Team Eddie

Having multiple team leaders helped maintain momentum and gives each student different perspectives.  While Kimberly loves drama, Eddie loves comedy and this was a perfect mix for our group of students.

Awaiting Applause

Parents are the BEST Audience 💜💜

Boys acting like HEAVY Luggage

Parents and patrons were invited to a free performance on the last day of class.  I got many great responses from parents whose kids LOVED this program and can't wait to have it offered again.  I see a puppet show looming in the near future...stay tuned 😉

Script reading= skill building

This wraps another fantastic week of young adult programming at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  Thanks for visiting!

~erica

BRAVO!

Friday Fashion Club - Accessorize!

For Fashion Friday Club, we had a TON of bric-a-brac donated by the Art Institute of Chicago.  Our resident fashion designer, Tetyana Buchholz is an alumna of the school and we are grateful to have this professional connection.

Craft 'til the table is clear!

We emptied the contents of two large tote containers and told the budding designers to "Craft until the table is clear!"  That joke was quickly understood.  These supplies are the type that never deplete.  A few parents also offered to add to the collection after seeing the projects at the end of the program.

Sewing lessons included

For some students, it is difficult to dream up a project when seeing a pile of supplies.  Some students had a mission from the start.  The hurdle several students faced was wanting to sew something, but not having the skills.  Luckily Tetyana is a seasoned sewing instructor and at least 3 students were trained on sewing machine basics within the 90 minute session.

A project in process

Learning to sew and design your own bag is fun, but requires some patience.  This designer had to remember how to place the fabric right sides together and pin the trim correctly in order for it to be sewn in place, but not bunched or cinched.  

Patience leads to project success

This rainbow bag inspired another designer to create a pouch for her mother.  Gifts made for parents always make me happy!

Pouch made for Mom

If you grew up in the 1980's, you are sure to remember, and possibly used these t-shirt clips.

Well, move over T-shirt Clip, you have now become a Veto Necklace.

Power of the Veto

The Big Brother reality television show inspired this simple necklace.  You can spend over $50 to get a replica from the CBS Store or you can get crafty in the studio to make your own for free!

Beginning of a Halloween Costume

With Halloween just around the corner, it was suggested to make costume essentials that cannot be purchased.  I look forward to seeing how this designer finishes her Chess Piece costume design.

Our designers had a blast rummaging through supplies and creating good and bad designs.  This is part of the process.  Not all creations are great.  Not all creations take forever to make.  We all appreciated the freedom to make without fear.  It was especially fun to get together and learn, while sharing silly stories and giggling away the afternoon.

Thanks for visiting.  Check back soon for more exciting stories from the SSC Library!

Friday Fashion Club

 

We are at it again-- taking our trash and creating fashion forward art!  Fourth Fridays at the Southeast Steuben County Library are dedicated to  Last year we participated in the Recycled Runway Fashion Show, a benefit for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and it was a smashing success!  Here is a recap of last year:  Catch Us on the Runway.

Our design is TOP SECRET, so you will have to purchase your ticket and get a front row seat to the show.  To tease and excite you, here is some bait to whet your appetite.  Enjoy!

Busy Fashion House

Mini Masterpieces

REpurposed Plastic

Layout Sample

Recycled Runway Fashion Show will be held in the auditorium of the Corning Museum of Glass on June 4, 2016.  Check back for sneak peeks at our progress in the coming months, but better yet, come out and support this fantastic fundraiser!

Spirited Away--Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!

Today was our first installment of the "Studio Ghibli Afternoons" program series and it is serendipitous that today is also the director's 75th birthday.  

Happy Birthday Hayao Miyazaki!!!

In this series, we will show a Studio Ghibli film and serve an authentic food from the movie on the first Tuesday of each month through 2016.

Spirited Away is the debut for this series.

Spirited Away on the BIG SCREEN

It seems we have soothsayer foresight in planning this series.  How lucky to start the movie/ food series on the three-quarter-century birthday of the director?

  

I mean--Holy Kasutera!

What's that you ask?  What is Kasutera??  According to Japanese Cooking 101 it "is an old-fashioned Japanese sponge cake that is loved by everyone from the young to the old."  Our Teen Tech guru, Kayla, followed the linked recipe and had it piping hot to serve just in time for me to hit "Play" on the DVD player.

Steaming hot Kasutera!

We sourced some sponge cake from the local grocer, just in case the recipe was not a success, but it being mid-afternoon and our audience is late-teens/ early 20-something adults, barely any food remains with an hour left to the film!-->>>SUCCESS!!!

Along with the yummies, we have 2 door prizes to be won--

A 3-D printed "No Face" character token

or

A felt "No-Face" bean bag

The winners were pleased to have a special treat to take home, but all claimed it was totally not necessary!  Studio Ghibli has it's own following, no treats or tricks needed to bring a captivated audience. 

So I wonder if they would appreciate some "Dried Worm Salts- It's supposed to be good for you."<< a memorable line from the movie, but I am curious who wants to try some Dry Worm Salts???!!!

If Studio Ghibli is your jam, stop over here at SSC Library next month on February 2 at 3:30 for the next film, Kiki's Delivery Service.

Stop in again on March 1 for Howl's Moving Castle.

We'll save a seat for you!

Get Away @ Your Library

Teen Read Week was October 18-24 this year.  We had two great programs for the "Get Away @ Your Library" theme.

Comics!!!

One Page Comic Books was scheduled during our teen Anime' group program.  This allowed for a very mixed age group.  Some kids had never read a comic book before!
Laura Charles lead the group with her comic credentials.  Just a day out of River Road Expo, Laura had the comic scene fresh in her mind.  Here are a few samples of the work created in comic style.

Altered Books was another chance to Get Away @ Your Library.  We had a collection of books that were saved from recycling.---Not all books go on shelves or to good homes, as these kids learned.

Rip 'em, cut 'em, glue 'em

Handing out scissors, utility knives, glues, beads, googly eyes, etc., we all got busy breaking down books into new creations.

"Cutting up books seems WRONG!!!"

This was an interesting process for the group, who L.O.V.E. books!!!  Who cuts books like this?! But soon enough everyone had a vision and method to their madness.

Amelia made a shadow box

This became a dragon emerging from a volcano---lots of work done at home.

These pages became flowers

Ethan built a battle scene

Even the adults in the class got fancy

The heart of the book

And Christopher Columbus got a makeover...

Blacklight reactive Chris

These programs were a fun break away from regular library programs. Altered Books struck some artistic nerves with several students, who will provide their creations for display in the next few weeks--we hope!

Check back again soon for more exciting adventures in the SSC Library and Teen Tones.

Sandblasting at Corning Museum of Glass

Corning Museum of Glass has a phenomenal education department.  We have teamed up many times to enrich the learning experiences of young adults in my programs.  This time, we got to try sandblasting for the first time in the new Education Lab!

Immaculate Studio

My dear friend, Lu Kania, gave us the short introduction to sandblasting.  It involves these machines:

The Sandblasting Beasts

AND LOTS AND LOTS OF STICKERS!!!! Now chill out a moment....these stickers may look cool, but Lu will tell you, the image will not remain on your glass once "The Beasts" get a taste of them!  The stickers sole purpose is to resist the sand.  That means, the cutesy little sparkles and fishy faces will not be seen by your grandma or Aunt Alice when you gift your amazing sandblasted glass for the holidays.  It means, you create your own design using the stickers as a means to produce a pattern or random chaos.  Here is a sample of our cool creations.

 Once our designs were final, we took turns with "The Beasts" to blast the glass to a frosted appearance.  

The Beasts are sloppy eaters.

I'll show you the process my tiny glass experienced.

Galss is taped and stickered

Glass entered The Beast to be blasted.

Glass has been blasted and is now frosty where there is no sticker.

Some goofball having too much fun with "The Beast".

The glass after being blasted, but before tape is removed.

The process is quick and the result is something we got to take home at the end of the program.  So fun!

A final product, ready for a cold lemonade.

Visit the Corning Museum of Glass to have your own Sandblasting experience.  It's a wonderful experience.