Families make fairy caves during Library’s summer programming

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Families packed the Zastrow Room on Tuesday as the Charles City Public Library kick-started its summer series of family programming.

The rainy day turned out to be a boon for the library as more than 20 families came in to craft “fairy caves.”

“Because softball got canceled I think I got a few extra,” said Children’s Librarian Stacey Leerhoff.

To make a fairy cave, families filled up an aluminum cooking tray with soil and grass seed, placing a pot inside sideways to create the little enclosure, then it was time to decorate the diorama with marbles, colored clay, shells, figurines and anything else the library had on hand.

Soil for the program was provided by Theisen’s.

“They just volunteered,” said Leerhoff. “I didn’t even have to ask for a donation.”

Once finished, families can take their fairy cave home and place it outside or on a window sill to let it grow.

“When the grass grows over it, it will be like a cave or a Hobbit hole,” said Leerhoff.

Leerhoff was happy with the strong start for the library’s family summer programming and said she hopes it will continue.

The next family event will take place on Tuesday, June 17, and feature Little Creators Club fromf Des Moines, which will show families how to design their own customized board games.

“They’ll get all the supplies and get together everything they need to make it,” said Leerhoff. “It will be really awesome.”