Summer Learning Challenge
Celebrate the joy of Summer by participating in our 2024 Summer Learning Challenge.
June 1 - August 10, 2024
Stay tuned for our 2024 Summer Learning Challenge tracker and additional information!
How it Works
Earn a point by...
1. Reading for 30 minutes,
2. Attending a Summer Learning Challenge program or
3. Completing a learning activity of your choice.
Track points by...
Adding your points to your paper record.
Celebrate!
Once you've earned 30 points...
1. Give yourself a pat on the back.
2. Receive your medal (children) or choose to Read it Forward (teens and adults).
3. Collect:
• Your Free Admission to the Columbia Museum of Art (good for entry of one adult and one child under 18 thru December 31, 2024)
• Your Free Ticket to a select Columbia Fireflies game (good for one child or teen)
• Your Free Item from a Friends and Foundation Book Sale (up to a $2 value)
• Your BOGO Coupon for a Pelican's Kiddie Cup with the purchase of any size SnoBall or buy any size SnoBall and receive a free topping.
Available locations:
• 1912 Rosewood Dr (Rosewood)
• 918 Center St (WeCo)
• 2768 Decker Suite M (Decker)
• 2404 Main St (NoMa)
Read it Forward:
Children who complete the challenge a second time can choose to Read it Forward in lieu of a prize and we'll donate a book to a local non-profit. Teens and adults can opt to Read it Forward at any time.
Make Your Own Medal
Swing by any Richland Library location to pick up your Summer Learning Challenge medal or click the picture above to learn how to create your own super cool medal and celebrate in style.
Print Your Completion Certificate (Color)
Stop by the library to pick up your prizes and click the picture above to print your completion certificate.
Print Your Completion Certificate (BW)
Stop by the library to pick up your prizes and click the picture above to print and color your own completion certificate.
Learn More About the Columbia Museum of Art
Use your completion coupon to check out everything The Columbia Museum of Art has to offer. Coupons must be used by December 31, 2023.
Learn More About the Columbia Fireflies
Use your completion coupon to check out a Columbia Fireflies baseball game! Check coupon for specific dates and times.
Learn More About Pelican's SnoBalls
Use your completion coupon for a BOGO Kiddie SnoBall or buy one any size SnoBall, get one topping free! Check coupon for participating locations.
Making Summer Count
Summer Slide, or summer learning loss, refers to the unfortunate issue that on average students lose up to two months of learning over the summer. Summer learning loss often impacts low-income students the most, and the loss is cumulative, getting worse each and every summer.
However, there is good news! Reading for just 30 minutes a day can prevent the Summer Slide and help ensure that students return to school in August ready to learn.
We are committed to helping every student avoid the Summer Slide with a summer full of reading and learning. If you have questions or need personalized recommendations for your child, please call us at 803-799-9084.
Free Meals for Kids and Teens
June 5 - August 11 (except July 4)
Kids and teens ages 18 and under can get a free meal*, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Monday-Friday all summer long at the following three library locations:
Edgewood | 2101 Oak St., Columbia 29204
North Main | 5306 North Main St., Columbia 29203
St. Andrews | 2916 Broad River Rd., Columbia 29210
*Available while supplies last.
Our Sponsor is Francis Burns United Methodist Church, and the program is managed in South Carolina by the SC Department of Education.
There are many Summer Break Cafe sites available in Richland County. You can use the site locator tool on the USDA website to find the site closest to you. You can also text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 304-304 to find a meal site close to you.
Get Social
Show us what you're learning using #learnfreely on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.