Junior Auxiliary of Taney County is a local non-profit organization focused on serving the needs of children in the Taney County area. One of the organization’s projects, Celebrate Reading, is to provide easy access to books for children, especially those living in extended-stay hotels. The organization supplies book libraries for children of all ages at a variety of locations in the community. Volunteers take a new collection of books to each location once a month. Children and parents are encouraged to explore and enjoy the variety of available books. Children can “borrow” the books for as long as they want. The volunteers are thrilled when a child finds a favorite book they can’t part with!

June 1, 2024, the Junior Auxiliary hosted the “Reading Around the Campfire” event at the Branson Tri-Lakes News Community Room. The event was open to pre-kindergarteners through sixth grade. The goal of this event was to spark children’s interest in a variety of camping-related activities so they continue to read all summer long.

There were a variety of activities. Stephanie Callahan with Callahan Entertainment led the children and parents in several sing-alongs around the campfire.

Jordan Poe, from the Missouri Department of Conservation, brought a bear pelt, bear skull, and several very realistic samples of bear tracks.

Children learned and practiced four basic knots frequently used when camping. They also learned how to create a weather vane and enjoyed some craft activities like designing wood necklaces, and rock painting, and could challenge themselves on the obstacle course

JATC is thankful to have generous sponsors for this event. Central Bank provided the funding for the event and allowed JATC to provide every child attending with new books to take home. Dollar Bill also greeted the children and participated in many activities. JATC is also thankful to Camping World and the Missouri Department of Conservation for their contributions.

JATC is a non-profit organization, founded in 1997, is affiliated with the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, Inc. Their mission involves improving the lives of children in Taney County, and their projects are designed to fulfill the virtues of charity, youth, health, community service, and leadership in members and those they serve.

Published by: Branson Tri-Lakes News, Saturday, June 29, 2024; Branson Globe, Thursday, June 13, 2024