The Conway branch of the Faulkner County Library packs a full schedule of events for kids, from Nursery Rhyme Time to Teen Game Night, throughout the year, but things really heat up in the summertime. For the youngest readers, FCL features Story Time at 10 and 10:30 a.m. every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, with additional summer activities on Tuesdays. For tweens ages 8-12, the library has crafts from 1-2 p.m. every Wednesday in July (except Independence Day). Game Night, for both tweens and teens, plays out each Wednesday and Friday from 3-7 p.m.

Teens ages 13 and up can say goodbye to summer boredom when they visit the library. Watch a free surprise flick on Movie Nights, scheduled for Thu., July 12 from 4-6 p.m., and Fri., July 27 at 8 p.m. Fittingly, on Friday the 13, the Arkansas Ghost Hunters will be on hand to spook teens at 7 p.m. To end the summer season, teens are invited back to the library for Ghost Stories and S’mores by the Fire on Thu., July 26 at 8 p.m.

As an extra incentive to keep reading in the summer months, students age 13-18 can sign up in the library for the Super Summer Reading Club. Students will be registered to win an e-reader, a $50 Visa gift card or a digital camera for each summer event they attend at the library. To double the chance of winning, students are encouraged to fill out a book suggestion form, and will be registered to win a $25 Visa gift card.

“Like” the Faulkner County Library on Facebook to learn more. All activities at the library are free.

Fifth Grade Training Camp

It’s still summer, but now is the time to prepare your youngsters for the next step in their education. Conway Public Schools will hold its annual Fifth Grade Training Camp on Thu., Aug. 9 from 9:00 a.m. – noon to help incoming fifth graders adjust to middle school life. Each student will attend the camp at their assigned school for the 2012-2013 school year—Bob Courtway, Carl Stuart, Ruth Doyle, or Ray & Phyllis Simon. At the camp, students will receive their school schedules, take tours of their new stomping grounds and engage in other fun activities that welcome them to middle school.

At the same time, parents will attend a seminar for grown-ups, during which teachers and administrators will address questions, and discuss schedules, attendance, policies and what parents of new fifth-graders can expect. Student assignment planners will be on sale for $4 along with other items, and food services will be on-hand for parents to add money to their child’s lunch account.

To find out which middle school district you live in and to learn more, visit ConwaySchools.org.

Blackbird Academy of Arts, Inc. Holds Summer Dance Camp Intensives

Blackbird Academy in downtown Conway will hold two mini-dance camps and summer intensives in July. Blackbird Academy says the camps will focus on two of the most popular productions in ballet—“The Nutcracker” and “Sleeping Beauty”—and will feature technique classes, the history and storytelling of the famous tales, and ballet-focused educational art projects.

The Nutcracker Mini Dance Camp, for boys and girls ages 4-5, will be held July 23-25 from 8:30-10 a.m. each day. The Sleeping Beauty Mini Dance camp gets boys and girls ages 6-7 dancing July 30-Aug. 1 from 8:30-10 a.m. The Nutcracker Mini Day camp is $55, and Sleeping Beauty is $65. For more information on any of these camps, visit BlackbirdAcademy.org