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Keeping Scout Troops In The Loop

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The following is a guest blog post by Karley Hummert, a summer intern with the Office of Communications, and Bryonna Head, public affairs assistant in the Office of Communications at the Library of Congress and member of the 2016 festival planning committee.

2016 National Book Festival Patch
2016 National Book Festival Patch
We can’t believe we are already a month out from the big event! The children are headed back to school and troop leaders are planning fall fun, right? Well, if you need some help finding a festive field trip, consider bringing your troop to the Library of Congress National Book Festival to hear from popular authors and illustrators, get books signed and partake in fun activities.

You and your group can join book-lovers of all ages on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., to celebrate books and reading. This year’s lineup of children’s and teens authors includes Kwame Alexander, Meg Medina, Lois Lowry, Ken Burns, Sharon Robinson, Holly Robinson Peete and many more! There’s also a presentation featuring “A Book That Shaped Me” and Letters About Literature student essay contest winners, an evening Poetry Out Loud event and a pavilion to discover more about the Library of Congress.

Mark this memorable event with a badge of honor. Your troop can earn its stripes by purchasing the 2016 National Book Festival Patch, the perfect collectible for young readers. Order your patches online before the festival or purchase them on-site the day of. Download and share the festival patch flyer to help spread the word!

Girl Scout troop 3859 at the 2013 National Book Festival. Photo by Ashley Jones.
Girl Scout troop 3859 at the 2013 National Book Festival. Photo by Ashley Jones.
The book festival also provides the opportunity to meet other scouts, including those from Girl Scout Troop 3859 (Saint Augustine Catholic Church) led by Dena Grant. Ms. Grant, who is also a Library of Congress employee, has been bringing her troop to the National Book Festival every year since 2009. In the brief Q&A below, she shares her experiences along with tips and tricks for maximizing festival fun.

What inspires you to bring your troop to the book festival year after year?

One of our troop’s outreach projects is promoting literacy among young children. Over the past seven years, the National Book Festival has complemented that initiative. The festival energizes us each to reach as we gear up to read with our reading partners and book club members.

There is so much to take in at the festival. What about the festival makes it enjoyable for you and your troop?

Everything! We personally love the Children’s Pavilion, visiting with the various state librarians in the Pavilion of the States, completing the states map challenge, the authors, the giveaways and so many other aspects.

Do you have any top tips for troops?

Metro is the way to travel. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and eat a good breakfast. The food in downtown Washington, D.C., can be expensive, so save your money to enjoy an ice cream when you need a cool break.

Why is this the festival to attend this fall? What can scouts learn?

Strong readers = strong nation. That is something we work hard to make sure our scouts understand. It feels great to be together with thousands of readers. The beautiful patch you can get for attending the National Book Festival doesn’t hurt, either.

Comments

  1. Another great comics event, which is a partner with the Library of Congress, is the the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland!

    It’s the weekend before, and it features numerous and diverse comics creators, many of them self-publishing their own stories!

    It’s more of an arts festival than a comic-con, held in a hotel ballroom. The comics creators call it “Camp Comics”, and the vibe is excitement and fun!

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