9 DIYs for Summer Programs

Lauren Carlton, ALA Public Programs Office

Mar 28, 2019

Summer is just around the corner. While we might be looking forward to the warmth, fear not — we'll be clamoring for some air-conditioned activities soon enough. Keep your out-of-school teens (and everyone else) busy with these fun and easy DIY activities.

Image	Nail Polish Pots Repurpose old nail polish and inexpensive terra cotta pots into unique and functional pieces.
Image	Botanical Prints Celebrate the warm weather with this pretty take-home craft. Perfect for adults or teens, it's a simple and inexpensive way to refresh your walls.
Image	Terrarium Workshop This program allows patrons to make small succulent gardens in jars to use as décor around their homes or workspaces. Short on space? Set up a folding table outside for extra elbow room and easy clean-up.
Image	Squishies Why buy stress balls when you can make your own? Let kids and teens get creative and make their own foam squishies. With minimal supplies, the possibilities of what you can make are endless.
Image	Escape This: Creating DIY Escape Rooms for Your Library Escape rooms are great for getting people of all ages working together and solving problems. You can buy escape room kits online, or check out this free webinar for tips for creating your own.
Image	“Stranger Things” Craft Night Season 3 of “Stranger Things” is coming this summer, and fans are pumped. One way to tap into this excitement is by hosting a library craft night leading up to the release.
Image	Hypertufa Pots Hypertufa might be too messy for most adults to tackle at home ... what better place to try it than the library?
Image	Japanese Bookbinding It'll be back-to-school season before you know it. Replace the colored paper with notebook paper and encourage your kids and teens to make their own notebooks for school.