-Information courtesy of the Granville Library System

The Granville County Library System, in partnership with the North Carolina Arboretum, will now offer ecoEXPLORE discovery kits for patrons to check out. These backpack-based kits include binoculars, a camera, a bird call, a magnifying glass, and more to encourage science and nature exploration through participation at https://www.ecoexplore.net/

Participants earn badges as they gain knowledge about the environment and the creatures that live nearby while earning prizes for exploration.  The kits, designed for children ages 5-13, promote “citizen science” and getting kids outdoors.

The discovery kits will be available to check out at the Berea Branch Library, located at 1211 U.S. Hwy 158, north of Oxford. It’s best to call the library in advance – 919.693.1231 – to make sure kits are available for checkout.

In addition to this program, the Berea Branch Library has also been designated as an ecoEXPLORE hotspot and will be establishing a wildlife viewing area and pollinator -friendly garden for patrons to use and explore. A volunteer workday will be held Aug. 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to install the garden.

Volunteers can sign up by calling the library or filling out the form at https://tinyurl.com/garden-help-signup.

Also, as part of the ecoEXPLORE program, the library will be hosting an “All About Owls” event on Thursday,  Aug. 18, at 5:30 p.m. A naturalist will present information about ornithology (the study of birds) and provide more information about the ecoEXPLORE program.

For more information about this exciting addition to the services offered at the Berea library, call 919-693-1231 during its hours of operation: Tuesday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Thursdays 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.