WESTFIELD – With all the rain that has drenched the city the past two weeks, the city-wide duck scavenger hunt July 19-25 is a fitting family event.
The Amelia Park Children’s Museum and the Westfield Athenaeum’s Children’s Library are challenging families to get out and find ducks hidden at some of the city’s historical buildings.
Amelia Park Children’s Museum Director Ray Radigan said the museum’s Education Manager Bridget Leahy worked with the Athenaeum to organize the event.
“The ducks, you may notice, are all reading books! So, the connection to the Athenaeum is clear,” Radigan said, “but it also connects to the museum because we just received grant support from multiple foundations to invest in literacy learning and redesign our library space.”
Olivia Eberli, the head of Youth Services and Young Adult librarian at the Athenaeum said when Leahy approached her with the idea, she loved it.
“We both want to collaborate on an event and felt this would help get families out into the community again – and ducks are super cute,” said Eberli.
Radigan said the museum wanted to participate because, “We’re always looking to strengthen our community connections. Working with the Athenaeum on a public event right in the heart of Westfield that focuses on children’s learning is right in line with our mission.”
There will be eight ducks hidden throughout the city. Participants can either send pictures of the ducks to [email protected] or print out a PDF at westath.org or ameliaparkmuseum.org and fill out the answers. Once completed, bring the scavenger hunt to either the Amelia Park Children’s Museum or the Westfield Athenaeum Children’s Library for a goody-bag and to be entered in a raffle.
“Our hope is that this is a fun way to get kids and caregivers out and about in Westfield,” said Radigan.
