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Pirates, dragons and a team from Auckland Zoo will all feature at local libraries this school holidays, with two weeks of Treasure Hunter-themed activities and events lined up.
At Warkworth, staff will be setting up a special treasure hunters’ escape room, where those who dare have to solve puzzles, find the hidden treasure and get out of there in the space of an hour.
The escape room will be open over two days, but bookings are required, so see the panel or go into the library to find out more and reserve a spot.
Warkworth Lions Club are seeking artistic treasures on September 25, by sponsoring a special art competition encouraging young artists to express their vision for peace. There are two age categories – a colouring competition for those aged from five to seven, and a broader art contest for 8 to 11-year-olds, with prizes for both.
Both Warkworth and Wellsford Libraries will be getting a visit from Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning team on October 4. The zoo crew will tell stories, play games and set up art and craft activities to help young wildlife lovers discover more about the natural taonga, or treasures, in our backyards.
Wellsford Library is looking for help to find a Book Dragon that’s been stealing books to create its own literary hoard, plus you can make your own dragon puppet, or treasure hoard with LEGO, modelling clay or melty beads.
There is a Treasure Jar competition and a scavenger hunt that involves cracking a series of comedy codes, as well as a range of scheduled events and activities that include computer coding, robot workshops and Dungeons & Dragons.
What’s happenaing and where …
WARKWORTH
Monday, September 25, 10.30am
Vision for Peace art competition
Express your vision for peace at this special art session sponsored by Warkworth Lions
Tuesday, September 26, 10.30am
LEGO Time
Challenges, games and heaps of fun with piles of everyone’s favourite building bricks
Wednesday, September 27, 10.30am
Salt Dough Fossils
Learn about fossils, make salt dough and create your own fossil imprints
Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29, 11am-3pm
Treasure Hunters Escape Room
Solve the puzzles, find the treasure and escape from the room! One hour per session, bookings essential – email warkworth.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Monday, October 2, 10.30am
Pirates in the Library!
Avast ye, mateys – make yourself a treasure map, listen to pirate tales, even dress the part
Tuesday, October 3, 10.30am
Geocache Treasure Hunt
Find out about geocaching, then go on a special geocache treasure hunt in the library
Wednesday, October 4, 10am
Auckland Zoo Crafty Conservation
Join the Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning team to hear stories, play games and enjoy art and craft activities while learning about local wildlife and backyard taonga/treasures
Thursday, October 5, 10.30am
Magnetic Metal Detectors
Calling all treasure hunters – have fun with magnets and make your own magnetic metal detector
WELLSFORD
Monday, September 25 and Tuesday, September 26, 2-3.30pm
Codey Rocky Robot Workshops
Creative coding adventure with Codey Rocky robot. Bookings required – email wellsfordlibrary@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, or ask at the library
Tuesday, September 26, 10.30am
Dragon Puppets
Get fired up at the library and make your own dragon puppet
Thursday, September 28, 10.30am
Treasure Sculpting Workshop
Create a mini-treasure hoard with colourful soft modelling clay
Friday, September 29, 2-4.30pm
LEGO Club – Treasure Hoard
Treasure building session for the Wellsford Library’s own LEGO treasure hoard.
Monday, October 2, 2pm
Salt Dough Fossil
Mix up some salt dough then make your own fossil look-a-likes
Tuesday, October 3, 2pm
Melty Mini-Treasures!
Melty bead workshop to create your own melty mini-treasure to take home
Wednesday, October 4, 1-2pm
Auckland Zoo Backyard Treasures
Join the Auckland Zoo Conservation Learning team to hear stories, play games and enjoy art and craft activities while learning about local wildlife and backyard taonga/treasures
Thursday, October 5, 10.30am
Dungeons & Dragons
Role-playing adventure game to defend your group from scary monsters, take back your treasure and maybe save the dragon
Friday, October 6, 2-4.30pm
LEGO Club – Loot Bag Challenge
Special edition of the regular LEGO club, building treasures from mystery loot bags
MAHURANGI EAST
Monday, September 25, 9.30am
My Waka Huia
Learn about Waka Huia. Art and crafting materials supplied. Create then spend time in the holidays collecting your taonga from Te Taiao
Tuesday, September 26, 2.30pm
Under the Covers & make your own search & find image
Under the Covers treasure hunt. Make your own search and find image
Wednesday, September 27, 3.30-5pm
Books and Basketball Whacky Hair Day
Afternoon of basketball activities and prizes for the most creative hair
Thursday, September 28, 2.30pm
Treasure for a BFG with Shelly Gray
Get creative with modelling clay and create a necklace for the Big Friendly Giant. Bookings essential.
Friday, September 29, 10am
Coffee Club with kids
Enjoy icing and eating your own cupcake. Grab a fluffy and bring Mum, Dad or the grandparents for a fun social time.
Monday, October 2, 9.30am
Harakeke Planting & the pūrākau of Reitu & Raipae
Planting Harakeke in the Library garden. Waiata. Explore an important Te Tai Tokerau pūrākau about Reitu & Raipae
Tuesday, October 3
Highfield Donkey Park Project
Invitation only even for kids 8+. Send Photos of two pieces of your artwork to mahulib@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to be selected for this 4 hour art workshop
Wednesday, October 4
Books and Basketball Dress Up Day
Afternoon of basketball activities. Wear your favourite dress ups to win spot prizes
Thursday, October 5
The Treasure Inside Book
Each person will get creative and help craft their own pages of the collaborative Treasure Inside Book.
Friday, October 6, 10am
Coffee Club with kids
Enjoy icing and eating your own cupcake. Grab a fluffy and bring Mum, Dad or the grandparents for a fun social time.
For more information on other activities and events, visit the Mahurangi East Library Facebook page, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/school-holidays-events.aspx or just call in and ask staff what’s going on.
PLUS
As well as activities at individual libraries, there is the usual chance to win prizes that include visits to MOTAT and Auckland Zoo by joining in with Auckland Libraries’ Beanstack reading challenge for students aged from 5-18.
Participants will be invited to explore the Treasure Hunters theme via reading lists and activities, then log what they’ve done on the Beanstack Tracker app.
There is also a school holiday activity booklet available at local libraries.
