Location: TBD _____ Duration: 1 Hour _____Time: Varies (see schedule below)
Power of Community
This theme study uses the warmth and storytelling of picture books to help children explore what community means and why it matters. Through carefully selected books, kids will discover how communities come together to support one another, solve problems, celebrate differences, and make a positive impact.
Each story highlights a unique aspect of community—kindness, teamwork, belonging, shared responsibility, and helping neighbors. An experienced Youth Action Collective volunteer will lead families through read aloud stations and activities throughout the hour. During and after reading, families will have a variety of hands-on activities that reenforce the story themes.
This study encourages empathy, social awareness, and a deeper understanding that even small actions can strengthen the places we live and the people we live with.
Please sign up ahead of time to ensure our volunteers have enough supplies for everyone to enjoy the activities.
Kindness and Compassion
This is an interactive experience designed to celebrate and inspire compassion. We’ll begin with a picture book read-aloud focused on the power of kindness, followed by the opportunity for families to move through a variety of engaging activity stations at their own pace. Families can paint kindness rocks, contribute to a kindness paper chain, create compliment cards, design a kindness jar challenge to take home, and learn about the health benefits of kindness. With even more surprise activities in store, this event offers a fun and meaningful way for families to connect, create, and spread kindness throughout the community.
This will be an hour you do not want to miss!
Teamwork and Collaboration
Join us for a fun and meaningful family event centered around the themes of teamwork and collaboration! We’ll begin with a picture book read-aloud that highlights the power of working together, followed by a series of interactive stations that families can explore at their own pace. Activities include hands-on team challenges, a collaborative community art project, decorating signs that will be displayed around town, a puzzle piece activity that shows how every person plays a part, and a take-home cooperation chart to keep the spirit of teamwork going at home. It’s a great way to connect, create, and contribute as a family!
Diversity and Inclusion
Join us for a family event celebrating diversity and inclusion through stories, creativity, and hands-on activities! We’ll begin with a heartwarming picture book read-aloud that encourages appreciation for our differences and the beauty of belonging. Afterward, families can explore a variety of interactive stations at their own pace. Design a unique family flag, add your mark to a collaborative community handprint mural, take on the “Spices of the World” scent challenge, and receive a calendar filled with local cultural festivals and events happening in Greater Lafayette. It’s a joyful way to learn, connect, and celebrate the many cultures that make our community strong!
Problem Solving and Innovation
Get ready for a creative and inspiring family event focused on problem solving and innovation! We’ll kick things off with a lively picture book read-aloud that celebrates imaginative thinking and finding solutions in unexpected ways. After the story, families are invited to move through a series of interactive stations at their own pace. Try your hand at the toothpick challenge, build a balloon tower, create inventive designs with pipe cleaners, and take part in a collaborative group drawing. Before heading home, each family will receive a calendar of innovation challenges to keep the spirit of creativity and critical thinking alive all month long. It’s an event full of curiosity, collaboration, and fun for all ages!
Our Differences Make our Communities Stronger
Our differences—whether in culture, background, abilities, or perspectives—are what make our communities stronger, more creative, and more compassionate. When we learn from each other and celebrate what makes us unique, we build a richer, more understanding world where everyone belongs. Hear what Cole has to say about why being unique is such an incredible thing!