2011 Library Giveaway - Flow Circus Skill Toy Kit

Flow Circus wanted to help support librarians as they prepare for the 2011 Summer Reading Program's themes of One World, Many Stories and You Are Here. We realized what better way for tweens and teens to understand other cultures and time periods than through the universal language of play!

We are excited to announce our 2011 Library Giveaway. One lucky library will win a Flow Circus Skill Toy Kit which includes 5 different skill toys from around the world. The kit includes a total of 20 skill toys, instructional materials, and a program guide to help you start and maintain a skill toy club at your library.

To learn more about the Skill Toy Kit and to enter your library for a chance to win, visit www.FlowCircus.com/Giveaway

Deadline for entry is March 31st. A winner will be randomly drawn and announced April Fool's Day.

Twist & Earn! Helps Teens Raise Money & Awareness

This past spring, Flow Circus sponsored a contest for librarians looking for innovative programming ideas for their teens. The Make Waves/Make Money Library Giveaway awarded Twist & Earn! tote bags to 6 libraries in the regions where we currently offer performances and workshops. These tote bags contain instructional materials and supplies needed to learn how to twist balloons in order raise money toward a goal determined by the teens.

One of the contest winners was East Greenbush Community Library in New York where teens decided to raise money for WaterAid America. WaterAid America works to provide clean, safe water and sanitation to communities in Africa and Asia. The teens twisted balloon animals at the children's Summer Reading Program kick-off event and were able to raise $86 in just one afternoon. The benefits of the program go beyond just raising money. As Tween/Teen Librarian Chrissie Morrison wrote about Twist & Earn!

I think it is a great way to work on building bridges within the community and around the world.  Getting the teens to work with other generations helps them to be seen in a positive light instead of always being looked upon as an annoyance and/or as trouble-makers.  Getting teens involved in charity work also helps them to learn more about the world around them and to DO SOMETHING about the parts they want to change/improve!

The following article highlights the work of the East Greenbush teens.

For more information about the Twist & Earn! program, visit www.twistandearn.org

Bringing Juggling & Skill Toys to Libraries

Flow Circus kicked off Skill Toy Programs at 3 locations in Rowan County & the North Regional Branch of Durham County Libraries this month. We were excited to introduce tweens & teens to a variety of Skill Toys such as the Japanese kendama, diabolo, spinning plates, and flower sticks. We also taught a juggling workshop to teens in Elkin, NC.  All of these props are so simple, yet provide hours & hours of entertainment (without needing to be plugged in!)

To see pictures from the workshops, visit our photo gallery.

Twist & Earn! - Tween & Teen Library Workshop

 

 Teens and tweens at Fair Haven branch library in New Haven, CT learned how to Twist & Earn! during National Library Week. After learning basic balloon twisting skills and participating in a high-energy team building exercise, kids had the opportunity to Express Yourself @the Library making balloon hats. Some were big and some small, but all were very colorful!

These teens with the guidance of their wonderful teen librarian will be able to continue to twist balloons in their community to raise money, do community service, and advocate on behalf of the library.

Visit our photo gallery for more pictures of their wonderful creations.