In previous years, this program, formerly known as Kindergarten Boot Camp, had been offered in person at library locations that were selected due to the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) scores of area preschoolers. Unfortunately, access to broadband is a significant issue in many of these neighborhoods, which poses a challenge when offering virtual programming. However, the ongoing public health crisis added an additional layer of urgency around this critical outreach and curriculum.

From late July to early September, parents and caregivers could register for the free program online or by phone – then work to complete it at their own pace by:

• Picking up supplies at open library locations.
• Completing all nine sessions by watching short videos and completing activities with their child.
• Attending live events featuring tips and ideas to get their child ready for school.

The live events also enabled families to connect directly with real kindergarten teachers to get their questions answered.

Ensuring that children are prepared for the classroom — and that parents and caregivers understand their roles as their child’s first teacher — is one major piece of Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Young Minds strategy. To help support families, two virtual events were offered allowing parents to engage with teachers. This year’s Camp served 65 families through nine lessons featuring 22 short videos receiving 2,000 views. Each video was viewed in its entirety 73% of the time.