Week 2 Highlights: Summer Reading Program 2025 at Pohnpei Public Library

The second week of the Pohnpei Public Library’s 2025 Summer Reading Program was packed with energy, excitement, and enriching experiences for children of all ages.

Monday: Staff Preparation Day
The week kicked off with a day of preparation as the library staff geared up for the busy days ahead—planning activities, organizing materials, and ensuring everything was ready to welcome our eager young readers.

Tuesday: Cluster 2 Fun and Learning
Tuesday brought in Cluster 2—our enthusiastic group of children—who spent the day engaging in lively read-aloud sessions, fun exercises, singing, and interactive games. Laughter filled the library as the children immersed themselves in stories and activities designed to spark their love for reading and learning.

Wednesday: Cluster 3’s Educational Field Trip Adventure
On Wednesday, Cluster 3 embarked on their second field trip day, which was both educational and memorable. The students were divided into three smaller groups, each given questions to explore and reflect on throughout the trip. With transportation provided by the Department of Education and our friendly bus driver from Ohmine Elementary School, the group—led by Library Staff Erika, Emy, Andrew, and our dedicated student volunteer Victoria Weital—set off on their learning journey.

Their first stop was the Historic Preservation Office, where the head of the office shared stories about the rich history of Pohnpei, including the significance of Sokehs Ridge, the ancient city of Nan Madol, and other important cultural sites. The students were thrilled to witness archaeologists and university students in action, carefully sifting through sediments and examining artifacts such as porcelain shards and WWII-era pottery. They even saw pieces of coal found meters deep, offering clues about Pohnpei’s ancient environment. The Board of the PPL appreciate the great cooperative spirit of the staff at HPO allowing us to see the office and archeologists in action. We hope that this is a wonderful beginning to a fruitful partnership between our organizations.

Next, they visited the Pohnpei State Fire Station, where firefighters demonstrated their equipment, including the jaws of life, and showed the children how they suit up for emergencies. The hands-on demonstration left the kids wide-eyed and inspired. We got the chance to have met the men who served to control the wild fires and emergency cases that occur here in the islands. We are always very amazed with the determination and resilience of the brave men and women that work tirelessly to protect the people of Pohnpei. The Board expresses its greatest appreciation to our heroes at the Pohnpei State Fire Station.

The last stop was the Red Cross Office, where the staff explained the global history of the Red Cross and its symbols, including the Red Crescent and Red Diamond, teaching the children about humanitarian efforts worldwide. The very informative session we had with the Red Cross Representative had been a real treat! We learnt new facts and information about the red cross that washed away all our misconceptions; we also got to watch a fun animated film that captured the core importance of the Red Cross across the globe. The PPL Board members are also very pleased that the Red Cross staff accommodated and gave their 110% to teaching our young generation about their organization and expressed eternal gratitude for this opportunity.

Thursday: Cluster 1 Returns with Smiles
Despite the rainy weather, Thursday saw the return of our youngest participants, Cluster 1, who arrived with bright smiles, ready for more fun and learning. The day was filled with engaging educational activities focused on helping the children practice writing high-frequency words and becoming more familiar with the alphabet—all while having a wonderful time.