Free Summer Kids Events nears the end at Bookmans Flagstaff. As hard as it is to say goodbye, we couldn’t be happier about the time spent in the Kids Corner learning about space, birds of prey and all the cool things living in the Colorado Plateau. We enjoyed our community partners like the Arboretum at Flagstaff and Lowell Observatory and must share the summer fun we had and the exciting things we learned.

summer fun

Lowell Observatory stopped by twice this summer. Both times we learned something spectacular about the final frontier, space. We learned why our atmosphere is so important with experiments involving balloons and vacuums and how Jupiter has a higher atmospheric pressure. This was demonstrated by adding hot water to a can filled with dry ice. We watched amazed as the can crushed instantly. We made our own comet using dry ice and instant potato spuds to represent organic matter. How cool is that? The next time Lowell stopped by was on the eve of NASA’s New Horizons arriving at its destination, Pluto! We learned all about Flagstaff’s pride for Pluto and how New Horizons began in 2006 and has gone further than any other space craft, giving us a view of Pluto’s heart. Many cool and interesting things can be discovered with Lowell Observatory.

summer fun at Bookmans Flagstaff

The Arboretum at Flagstaff also graced us with their presence not once but twice. At first we got to learn about the birds of prey, like the harris hawk or the barbary falcon. These birds play an important role in our environment and we got to get up close and personal with them right here in our store.

summer fun at Bookmans Flagstaff

Did you know Flagstaff is part of the largest ponderosa pine tree forest in North America? Because of all these lovely pines we get the pleasure of sharing our home with the alberts squirrel. These fluffy adorable little guys can be seen in your front yard but how much do you know about them? Thanks to the Arboretum we know that they eat pine comes and mushrooms that live underground on the roots of Ponderosa Pines. We made squirrel feeders using pine cones, sunflower seed butter and corn kernels. Yum! The Arboretum at Flagstaff offers education on alberts squirrels, raptors and other wildlife.

In addition to these awesome adventures, Bookmans Flag had a diversity celebration the day before the 19th annual Pride in the Pines and a Fourth of July party where we got patriotic Bookmans style. We made our own fireworks and flags to wave at the parade the following day.

summer fun at Bookmans Flagstaff

The fun isn’t over. We still have one more celebration before we say, “so long” to summer. Join us Friday, July 31 for our 2nd Annual Very Potter Party. To celebrate the birthday of “the boy who lived”, we will once again have a sorting hat to answer that age old question, “Am I a Gryffindor or a Slytherin?” Beware of the Chamber of Secrets and receive your Hogwarts acceptance letter before relaxing in the Kids Corner and enjoying a screening of Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone.

Thank you to all who joined us for our free Summer Kids Events. Bookmans Read to Me Story Time returns August 7 with Miss Jenna. Join us then for fun with literacy and learning! More pictures of all the fun we had on the Bookmans Flickr page.