Attention fairy lovers: Samuels Library holds free children’s nature program on Aug. 7

Right beyond the fence, Samuels Public Library has its own fairy garden in the raised brick plant bed. All photos by Kim Riley

FRONT ROYAL — Fairies have a very important message that they want to communicate to humans: Heal and respect Earth.

Fairies — those fanciful, magical, enchanting beings — can help empower children to be environmentally friendly, considerate of all life forms, and supportive of saving wildlife and the planet.

But first, kids need to attract them into the human world.

One of the best ways to do that is by creating fairy houses that draw in the sprite, sparkly pixies.

Luckily for local children ages 6 years and up, Samuels Public Library is holding a free program that provides all the materials children need to build a fairy house.

“Kids love fairies,” said Michal Ashby, youth reference supervisor at the library. “We thought it would be a fun thing to do to connect them with the environment.”

“Fairy Frolic: A Children’s Program” is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the library on E. Criser Road in Front Royal.

Youngsters can build their own fairy house and then celebrate reading afterwards with fairy lemonade, shimmery cookies and a tour of the library’s Children’s Garden, where Ashby said they’ll also learn about what plants to grow in the garden to entice fairies to visit.

Creating fairy houses, she said, offers children a unique activity that encourages them to go outside, connect with the natural world, and learn how to nurture, care and respect the environment — all of which are very important to fairies.

“The program brings alive nature for them,” said Ashby, who also plans to incorporate learning through stories and lore. “Hopefully, children will fall in love with nature.”

The Fairy Frolic program is one of several free programs offered by Samuels Public Library to highlight its Summer Reading Club, Ashby said.

More than 1,100 children registered this summer for the reading club, which is a free, annual event that gets kids to read or listen to books from June through August, win prizes and attend free programs like Fairy Frolic. All that’s required is registration.

“We try to bring in programs that incorporate folklore, history, culture, nature — whatever might encourage more reading,” said Ashby.

In addition to Fairy Frolic, other fun programs held at the library this summer to celebrate reading included:

• Wiggly Worms: Under the supervision of Allyson Ponn of the Lord Fairfax Soil and Conservation District, kids made a worm hotel for the library garden and learned about the importance of worms to the health of the soil and farm crops. The worms were garden pets for the entire summer and children could participate in twice-weekly feedings held at the library. The worms were officially released today.

• Creepy Crawlies: Wildlife Ambassadors helped children discover the truth about “misunderstood” animals like poisonous toads, pythons, spiders, hissing cockroaches and skinks.

• Being creative with puppet shows, song and dance programs, art, a Mario Kart Wii tournament, movies with free popcorn and refreshments, and a Mexican fiesta.
And the list goes on.

Samuels Public Library Director Harold Hayes (left) and Youth Reference Supervisor Michal Ashby.

“I like to think we’re an asset to the community,” said Harold Hayes, director of the Samuels Public Library. “We provide the community with access to information. And information is huge.”

As Warren County, VA’s only library, Hayes said it’s important to engage with residents on a variety of levels, including by starting young people on the road to reading as early as possible.

The library’s Summer Reading Club culminates in the free “Magic and Illusion of John Kingry” performance, which is being held on Friday, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. by Magician John Kingry, who will perform a mind-boggling show of trickeries and levitation. He’ll even saw someone in half!

While the Summer Reading Club is ending, Ashby and Hayes said that young and adult readers may join upcoming Winter Reading Clubs that also will highlight more free programming and prizes to celebrate reading. Details are available online or at the library.

And don’t forget to mark your calendar for Aug. 7 for the Fairy Frolic children’s program. Register here for this event online.

Children on Aug. 7 can build their own fairy houses like the one at the library’s Children Garden.

Michal Ashby, youth reference supervisor at Samuels Public Library, tours Children’s Garden, where visitors may play chess (above); sit and read (below); or view beans, butterflies, botanicals & berries.