Gifted Atlanta

I try to look far and wide to find fun, educational activities for kids. But this summer, free fun may be as close as your local library.

Sure, you already know that public libraries offer summer book clubs and reading programs for school-age children. Maybe you even know they have chess clubs and family game nights. But did you know you can build LEGO vehicles, learn Chinese, study mummies and see planetarium shows, all at your local library at no cost?

Here’s just a sampling of activities going on at metro area libraries this summer. Follow the link to your county’s public library system to see the full calendar of events. (You can sneak a peek at other counties, too, but note that some activities will be open only to county residents, so if you’re thinking about traveling across county lines, call to check first.)

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: Starting this Saturday, June 4, teens can take part in a free drama camp that meets Saturday afternoons at the Dogwood branch…. Learn about mummies June 9 at the Northside branch…. A Science Academy at the Alpharetta branch on June 13 will teach kids about biology, paleontology, oceanography and even volcanology.
• Clayton County: A kids’ Scrabble club meets occasionally at the main branch…. Make stained glass on June 14 at the Riverdale branch…. Learn about the polar regions of Earth on August 6 at the main branch.
• Cobb County: The Wheeler High School robotics team will give a presentation this Saturday, June 4 at the East Cobb branch…. Middle-schoolers can get a taste of Chinese language on June 6 at West Cobb…. The East Marietta branch will host an 8-week creative writing workshop for teens, beginning June 7.
• DeKalb County: The mobile planetarium from the Fernbank Science center will be at the Chamblee branch on June 6 and at Clarkston on June 28….  Snakes and other reptiles will be at the Northlake branch on June 14…. On July 9, kids can build and race LEGO vehicles at the Stone Mountain branch.
• Gwinnett County: Reviewing the summer calendar, I see a lot more entertainment and crafts than educational programs. The Five Forks branch presents an introduction to origami for teens on July 28…. The Zoo Atlanta Zoomobile visits Five Forks on August 2.