Kids rewarded for summer reading

With a short performance and a chance to run through an obstacle course, students at Jackson Elementary School had a chance to end the day in a fun way Friday afternoon at the Green River Recreation Center.

Students who completed the Sweetwater County Library System's summer reading program were rewarded with the fun outing.

According to Becky Iwen, children's librarian at the Sweetwater County Library, said she has wanted to work with the elementary schools as part of the summer reading program, which encourages library patrons to read throughout the summer months. Iwen said Jackson Elementary's PTO was the first group to take them up on the offer.

Students were first treated to a short play hosted by library staff, with some of the roles filled by Jackson students. After the play, they were given time to run through an obstacle course, which included a balloon pit, plastic tubes to crawl through and a string maze.

Irish Kreis, the PTO's treasurer, said the organization has always hosted a program to help encourage children to read. Originally, PTO members would go to Hastings in Rock Springs to pick out children's books to be given to students at the elementary school. With the store's closure last year, the PTO had to find another way to provide those books, which is when the organization decided to partner with the library.

"The library really helps us stretch our funds," Kreis said.