Music Compound is committed to educating all year long, including when school is out for the summer. In addition to hosting an in-person summer camp, Music Compound launches the Rock Your Summer Reading initiative each year on June 1. Music Compound is again partnering with area businesses to provide special treats, one-of-a-kind experiences, and cool items as prizes; area youth have an opportunity to receive prizes for every five books they read.
The program runs through August 31. As the number of books a child reads increases, the value of prizes he or she can earn grows. Prizes range from meals, books and kid-friendly activities to passes for local attractions and private music lessons.
All participants who read 50 books or more are eligible to be entered into the grand prize drawing for a party for up to 20 people at Music Compound SRQ’s “Studio 32.” Pizza from Solarzano’s, bounce house donated by Let’s Jump Rentals, SRQ PhotoBooth, and sweet treats donated by Crumbl Cookie are included (a $2,000 value).
Associated Rock Your Summer Reading events are being planned, including writing workshops with local young author Sienna Alfano, 11. The sessions will be presented at both Music Compound locations in Sarasota and Bradenton, for ages 8-13; dates and times TBA.
“This initiative has grown beyond all expectations since we launched it in 2020. Last year, 86 children participated, logging approximately 3,400 total books, and 43 children qualified for the grand prize drawing by reading at least 50 books,” says Townsend. “We are so grateful to our business partners, who have been very generous in providing prizes; our hope is that the participating families will be introduced to new products or experiences that they will choose to continue to enjoy in the future.”
This program is open to all area children. Participants can download a reader passport by visiting RockYourSummerReading.com. Each participant is requested to complete the form after each book to inform prize partners; after reading their 50th book, participants are encouraged to drop off their completed passport at Music Compound to be entered into the drawing for the grand prize. The winner will be announced on September 8.
While the children enjoy the reading and the prizes, parents also enjoy knowing that their kids are benefiting from the activity as well.
“Rock Your Summer Reading was such a great motivator to keep my kids reading last summer – I’m thankful that Music Compound offers such a wonderful program,” said proud mom Jessica White, whose daughter, Violet, won the grand prize last summer. “Most days, I didn’t have to suggest they read – they’d wake up, check their reading charts to see how many more books they had to read to get to their next prize, pick a book and start reading. We visited the library almost every week to pick new books!”
For additional information, contact Music Compound: [email protected] or 941-379-9100, or click HERE. There is also a Rock Your Summer Reading Facebook group, with live reading events and plentiful inspiration to keep those pages turning.
