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 head on a literacy adventure with a good book, fun activities, and free programs. The Ultimate Summer Challenge is back!
Why do we read? We read for enjoyment, escape, knowledge, and connection. You could add your own reasons to a long list! Literacy is a critical life skill, but our children could be facing a literacy crisis. Studies are showing that 1 in 4 kids in grade 3 are not reading at grade level. This is critical, as third grade is when the emphasis shifts from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’
Instead of losing momentum during the summer break, keep your kids reading and send them back to school with confidence! The Library’s Ultimate Summer Challenge makes literacy fun while kids learn, grow, and establish healthy reading habits. From babies to kids to adults, the Ultimate Summer Challenge is for everyone! It helps combat summer learning loss and offers an incentive to keep reading and learning over the summer. The goal is just 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 June 15, 2026. Then get your outdoor adventure-themed Challenge map, and track your reading from July 1 – August 31, 2026.
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, track your reading on the app to earn badges, or collect your paper map at your local Library. 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. Do a scavenger hunt or 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. At the end of summer, everyone can bring their completed map (or challenge on Beanstack) to the Library to receive a small prize.
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. It’s a ton of fun for the whole family, so accept the challenge and get reading!
Can you read every day this summer? Challenge accepted!
Calgary Public Library Ultimate Summer Challenge:
When: July 1 – August 31, 2026 (Registration opens June 15, 2026)
Website: www.calgarylibrary.ca
Looking for more summer fun? Find it here!
