Support Ultimate Summer Challenge

Experts suggest that spending at least 15 minutes a day engaged in an activity that utilizes fundamental learning skills — like reading, physical activity, and social play — can help prevent “summer slide,” the period of time during the summer months when students lose academic skills and learning achieved over the previous school year. This is where Ultimate Summer Challenge comes in.

Ultimate Summer Challenge is Calgary Public Library’s biggest program, with thousands of participants reading every year during the summer months. The goal: to read every day. Participants in Ultimate Summer Challenge keep track of time spent reading for a chance to win a prize at the end of the summer. Families are encouraged to read together as a group activity, which reinforces the adoption of a daily reading habit.

In addition to combatting the summer slide, one of the outcomes of Ultimate Summer Challenge is a deepened relationship with the Library. Engagement with the Library through themed programming and events helps position the Library as a resource for literacy-building and learning. It helps instil in children and families a lifelong habit of learning, exploration, and play.

Ultimate Summer Challenge 2025 saw 19,814 participants who completed more than 26,000 online activities and badge challenges marking their progress. Over 11,000 of the participants were children under 12 years old.

As a donor, you can help sustain this program, ensuring there are always plenty of reasons to come to the Library during the summer — shoring up learning and literacy skills in the process. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, providing maximum brand exposure through visibility at as many as 22 Calgary Public Library locations across the city. Contact Tamara Smith, Director of Development, for more information on sponsorships.