If you walk into Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BHML) on a Wednesday afternoon during the school year, you’ll smell the delicious scent of freshly popped popcorn in the air. It’s the unspoken signal that the “club kids” are coming! BHML launched its afterschool clubs in 2017 in response to the implementation of weekly early release school days, providing a free opportunity for local students and families to help bridge the work/school pick up gap. Today, staff members Jen Betts and Bethany Schmidt continue the program, and go to great lengths to plan and conduct engaging afternoons for local students in grades 2 through 6.

This year’s clubs were filled with creativity, teamwork, and plenty of memorable moments. Highlights of the 2026 season were special visits from Dottie Yunger of the Maine State Aquarium, who introduced participants to two fascinating turtles: a terrapin turtle named Tide and Rex, a snapping turtle. The visit inspired curiosity about wildlife and conservation, and included a turtle-themed craft that encouraged kids to turn their new turtle knowledge into artistic expression.

Creativity is a constant theme throughout the year. Students tie-dyed and decorated t-shirts, and enjoyed hands-on crafts like making fidget and friendship bracelets, self-portraits, grateful leaves, gingerbread houses, robots, cardboard creations, and paper squishies. Every week brought something new to create and take home.

Lego challenges are a favorite tradition. Young builders put their engineering and problem-solving skills to work through themed challenges like building bridges, designing Lego stores, creating ramps and vehicles, and constructing entire Lego towns. The creativity and teamwork on display were impressive.

Movie days offered kids a chance to relax together, with the students themselves selecting favorites like “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and “The Little Rascals.” Another especially fun project involved a group creating their own library commercial, showcasing both their video production skills and their enthusiasm for the library. It’s still in editing, so we’ve heard.

For nearly two months, a dedicated small group became deeply invested in weekly games of Clue, turning the mystery-solving classic into an after school tradition of its own. And whenever the weather cooperated, club activities moved outdoors, where kids drew with chalk and played freeze tag, cornhole, pass, and giant Connect Four.

The most important part of these clubs is the space and time given to kids to be kids, and to connect, create, play, and simply enjoy being together after school. We are grateful to all of the families, volunteers, community partners, staff, and Library donors who help make this programming possible.