Teen Bonus Activities

Are you signed up for the Teen Summer Reading Log? If the answer is YES, you lucky duck, you get to do the activities below. If the answer is NO, go sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Log! It’s open to anyone going into 7th-12th grade this fall.

Each optional activity below is worth four entries into the Friends of the Library Teen Prize Raffle. You will receive credit for each activity only once.

Need help submitting an activity? Contact Youth Services at 715-839-5007 or ysstaff@eauclaire.lib.wi.us.

EC Scavenger Hunt

Solve three puzzles to identify three locations or items in Eau Claire (and neighboring cities in the Chippewa Valley) and take selfies to show your success. See submission guidelines below. A selection of selfies may be displayed on this website and our social media.

All the Puzzles (Choose Three)

Puzzle 1: What do Hiccup Haddock, Thor Odinson, and Magnus Chase have in common? They may have all ridden in something like this object. While it’s not recommended that YOU try and hitch a ride, a selfie with this artistic piece would be epic.

Puzzle 2: Known for lurking under bridges and posing riddles to unexpecting passersby, letting these sleeping creatures lie is generally a sound idea. In this instance, however, jamming out with this trio would be a harmoniously good time.

Puzzle 3:

“Kick the ____”

“Don’t open that ____ of worms”

“____-do attitude”

…are clues to this new outdoor recreation area in central Eau Claire.

Puzzle 4: Dubbed a “woodsy wonderland” by Visit Eau Claire, this leafy location has miles of trails for skiing, biking, and hiking, and features a trout stream.  

Puzzle 5: The Boxcar Children would likely feel right at home at this vibrant development that opened one year ago this summer.

Puzzle 6: This little dude may look like a red Mike Wazowski, but he’s one of our local celebs. Find him and his dad pumping iron on this mural created in 2023. 

Puzzle 7: Just a hop, skip, and a jumpy away, this is a sister city’s locale for lifelong learning.

Puzzle 8: Usually accompanied by buddy Babe, this fella is an icon of folktale. 

To Submit 

• Email Youth Services and include all three selfies at the three locations or with the three items identified in the puzzle.* You may also stop by the Youth Services desk to submit in-person. Please include your first and last name and grade this fall. Deadline for submissions is August 15.

*NOTE: Both you and the item/location must be visible in the selfie to have this bonus activity marked as complete.

After you’ve submitted your answer to the Youth Services desk, you may enter the Teen Prize Raffle by clicking over to the Teen Raffle page to see prize options and then fill out your four entries into the prize raffle here.

Teen Writers Showcase

Craft an original writing based on this year’s prompt to be included in the Fall Teen Writers Showcase.  

Writing Prompt Options
  1. Write about what libraries means to you. For example, you could write about a personal experience or specific library, share about a person you’ve met through the library who is meaningful to you, or even create a short story that expresses your thoughts.
  2. Write about a specific book or author that has impacted you (be sure to credit the work/author). For example, if you really connected with the world of The Hunger Games series, write about your “why.” Did your connection with Panem change how you viewed our world or cause you to change your habits? Did you get really into survivalism? Explore your connection with your chosen book.
Guidelines

The 2026 Teen Writers Showcase run September 15 – October 31 in the Young Writers Gallery.

  • Youth Services staff reserve the right to determine qualification for the showcase. Submissions will be reviewed but not edited.
  • Submissions must be the writer’s original work (fan fiction is allowed if credited to the original creator).
  • Each submission should be no more than two 8.5” x 11” pages, be handwritten or typed, and be legible. If typed, font size should be at least 12 pts.
  • Writing must be kid-friendly, school-appropriate, and free of offensive and discriminatory language.
  • Pieces may include illustrations, but they should make up no more than 25% of the total work and will count toward the two-page limit. All illustrations must be created by the person submitting the piece.
  • Submissions must be delivered ready to mount. Library staff will mount the pieces.
  • Submissions are displayed in a public space, and the library cannot guarantee against loss or damage.
  • Pieces should be picked up between November 2 and 21 (if you indicated you would like your writing returned). Any writing not picked up by the deadline or scheduled for pick up will become the property of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.
To Submit
  1. Fill out the Teen Writers Showcase submission form (print copies are available at the Youth Services desk).
  2. Review the Info for Writers.
  3. Drop off your writing and submission form to the Youth Services desk. Deadline for submissions is August 15.

After you’ve submitted your writing to the Youth Services desk, you may enter the Teen Prize Raffle by clicking over to the Teen Raffle page to see prize options and then fill out your four entries into the prize raffle here.

Teen Art Show

Create a piece of art, any medium, to be included in our 2026 Fall Teen Art show.

Guidelines
  • All artwork on paper, including photographs, should be wall-ready. Art may be framed, matted, or attached to a piece of tagboard or cardstock (be sure to leave a border of approx. 2”). Please let us know if this isn’t possible for you, and we can discuss options.
  • Youth Services staff reserve the right to determine qualification for the art show.
  • Artwork is displayed in a public space, and the library cannot guarantee against loss or damage.
  • The art show will run September 3 through October 3 in the library’s lower level gallery space.
To Submit
  1. Fill out the Teen Art Show submission form (print copies are available at the Youth Services desk).
  2. Review the Info for Artists.
  3. Drop off your artwork and submission form to the Youth Services desk. Deadline for submissions is August 15.

After you’ve submitted art to the Youth Services desk, you may enter the Teen Prize Raffle by clicking over to the Teen Raffle page to see prize options and then fill out your four entries into the prize raffle here.

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