The Haliburton and District Lions Club is helping to purchase Maker Kits. Maker Kits also called STEAM Kits focus on enhancing children and youth understanding of STEAM – science technology engineering art and math. STEAM education fosters problem-solving creativity curiosity and innovative thinking valuable skills that will allow children to be successful in the future in any industry. Maker Kits may contain books instructional activities and/or a toy or game. The Haliburton County Public Library already has maker equipment that is used in Mini Makers in-person programs and looks to add kits to their lending library.

One of the many ongoing initiatives of the Haliburton Lions Club is their commitment to enhancing literacy learning for children. To this end the Reading Action Program has included giving new books to local school children and to the Dysart and Wilberforce library branches; organizing community literacy events such as Stories in the Park and our Children’s Christmas Party; hosting author readings and book presentations; and constructing and maintaining our Little Free Library.

Now the Lions are excited to present the Haliburton County Public Library a cash donation of $1000 to be used to purchase Maker Kits. CEO Bessie Sullivan said that an individual kit would be somewhere between $300 and $500. Both Sullivan and program coordinator Nancy Therrien were thrilled to receive the donation and note that in addition to new kits the donation from the Haliburton and District Lions Club will also provide the opportunity to take some of their inventory and divide it among the existing kits.

The Haliburton Lions invite you to check out Maker Kits when you are once again able to take your children into the library.

Submitted by Lion Gail Stelter