Ah, those long, lazy summer days when I was a kid … playing outside, fighting with my brother over week-long Monopoly games, and curling up with a giant stack of books from the library. My summers look a little different now, but they still include a giant stack of books from the library. This year, Calgary Public Library invites you and your kids to let your imagination grow and enjoy those summer days with a good book, fun activities, and free programs. The Ultimate Summer Challenge is back!
Wondering what the challenge is? Are you up for it? Don’t worry — everyone can do it! The Ultimate Summer Challenge is the Library’s popular summer program. It helps combat summer learning loss, as it offers an incentive to keep reading and learning over the summer. Everyone from babies to adults can register; the goal is to read every day.
Read together at bedtime or discover a new graphic novel. Get the kids to read you a recipe while making dinner, and listen to audiobooks on your vacation. Everything counts! Registration for the Challenge opens on May 26, 2025. You can track your reading from July 1 – August 31, 2025.
How to Sign Up
The Ultimate Summer Challenge is free. Register anytime throughout the summer with your free Library card, available online or in any of the 22 Calgary Public Library locations. Once you register in Beanstack, you are entered to win fabulous prizes. You can track your reading on the app to earn badges. You can also collect a garden-themed paper map at your local Library to colour in every day you read. No matter what you do, you’ll be eligible to win amazing prizes once registered. But the earlier you register, the more chances you’ll have to win!
That’s not all! Stop by the Library throughout the summer and check out the free programs. Learn about art or science, or attend a storytime for all ages. Play a game on a hot afternoon when you pick up some new books — there’s always something to do! When you visit, the kids can bring their maps and receive a sticker for reading every seven days. There will also be activity prompts in the Beanstack app to earn a virtual badge. At the end of summer, everyone can bring their completed map (or challenge on Beanstack) to the Library to receive a small prize.
Prizes!
There will be three grand prize draws throughout the summer — be sure to register soon, so you don’t miss out! Each age group has their own set of unique prizes. The littlest ones could win KiwiCrate subscriptions or a family Zoo membership. Prizes for kids ages 6 – 12 include Zoo memberships, a TELUS Spark family membership, Long & McQuade lessons and a ukulele, or an iPad. Teens and adults will be excited for a chance to win LEGO, a District Box, a PS5, AirPods Pro, or an iPad.
The Ultimate Summer Challenge is perfect for the littlest one who still likes to chew the books you read to them, the middle-schooler who is passionate about graphic novels, or the teen who’s a reluctant reader. And you can join the reading community on social media with the tag #UltimateSummerChallenge. It’s a ton of fun for the whole family, so accept the challenge and get reading!
Can you read every day this summer? Let’s go!
Calgary Public Library Ultimate Summer Challenge:
When: July 1 – August 31, 2025 (Registration opens May 26, 2025)
Website: www.calgarylibrary.ca
Looking for more summer fun? Find it here!
