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Image for event: Little Explorers

Little Explorers

Celebrate & Create
2026-07-17 11:00:00 2026-07-17 12:00:00 America/Denver Little Explorers Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room

Friday, July 17
11:00am - 12:00pm

Add to Calendar 2026-07-17 11:00:00 2026-07-17 12:00:00 America/Denver Little Explorers Step back in time and get creative with a week full of fun, discoveries, and a little old-fashioned butter making! Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room

Step back in time and get creative with a week full of fun, discoveries, and a little old-fashioned butter making!

Little ones are invited to join us every Thursday as we explore different monthly themes through sensory play, STEM-focused activities, and stories! Tailored to children between the ages of 3-6.

AGE GROUP: | Children |

EVENT TYPE: | Hands-On | Educational |

TAGS: | STEM | little explorers |

Rapid City Public Library Downtown
Phone: 605-394-6139
Hours
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Rapid City Public Library Downtown

Mon, Jun 08 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Tue, Jun 09 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Wed, Jun 10 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Thu, Jun 11 9:00AM to 7:00PM
Fri, Jun 12 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jun 13 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Jun 14 10:00AM to 6:00PM
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About the library

Upcoming events

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Maker Mania for Upper Elementary - PaleoArt: Shrink-Wrapped Dinos
Wed, Jun 10, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
What did dinosaurs really look like? Learn about paleoart and the evolving ways that dinosaurs are drawn, then create an animal using the "shrink-wrap" art method.
Family Game Night
Wed, Jun 10, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Bring the whole family for a night of board games, beginner D&D, and friendly competition! Drop in, play together, and discover new favorites! All ages welcome.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jun 11, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Little Explorers - Fossil Fun
Fri, Jun 12, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover fossils and create your own!
Teen #FandomFriday - Origami Dinosaurs
Fri, Jun 12, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Fold your own dinosaur origami and create a whole herd of prehistoric paper creatures!
Books with Bernard
Sat, Jun 13, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Youth Services
Boost your reading skills and have a tail-wagging good time! Join Bernard, a certified therapy dog, for a fun and furry reading adventure.
Custer State Park Presents - Insect Investigation
Sat, Jun 13, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Get a close-up look at local insects and discover how these tiny creatures quietly support healthy forests and parks - no bug expertise needed!
TED Democracy Livestream at the Library
Sat, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Hoyt Room
Join us as we host a livestream of TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, a symposium featuring TED Talks focused on the evolution and future of democracy.
Growing Food - Simple, Easy, and Cheap with the Penn Co Master Gardeners
Sat, Jun 13, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Grow more food for less! Learn simple, budget-friendly ways to grow in small spaces, perfect for beginners and anyone short on time, money, or experience.
Puzzle Competition
Sun, Jun 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Race the clock in a puzzle showdown! Ten teams of 2-4 compete to be the fastest to finish their puzzle and win prizes!
Books and Blankets - at Storybook Island
Mon, Jun 15, 10:00am - 11:00am
Storybook Island
Join the library at Storybook Island for Monday story time! Reach your Summer Reading goals and stay afterwards to play at Storybook Island!
Monday Craft - Becoming a Fossil: A Prehistoric Adventure
Mon, Jun 15, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how prehistoric plants and animals were preserved and what fossils tell us about them by creating your very own to take home!
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Jun 16, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Curiosity Club - Rock On! Geology Lab
Tue, Jun 16, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Check out the rock cycle and how to identify sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks!
Coffee and Conversations - Staying Healthy with Monument Health
Wed, Jun 17, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join physicians from Monument Health as they share tips for taking charge of your own health, advocating for yourself in healthcare settings, and answering your questions.
Library Dice Legion - Tabletop RPG Club
Wed, Jun 17, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Welcome to The Library, a place for adventuring parties to convene and take part in glorious battles. Everyone's invited to play, whether it's your first time playing or you're a seasoned adventurer.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jun 18, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Summer Show - Black Hills Raptor Center
Thu, Jun 18, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Youth Services
Discover the link between birds and dinosaurs, then get up close with today's raptors while learning about the hunting birds of the Black Hills!
Levi Coovert's Find Your Paradise Concert
Thu, Jun 18, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Country artist Levi Coovert shares original tunes and timeless classics on acoustic guitar, bringing joy, heart, and toe-tapping fun to the library.
Library Closed
Fri, Jun 19, All day
Rapid City Public Library Downtown
The library will be closed in observance of Juneteenth
The Culper Spy Ring - A Revolutionary Escape Room
Sat, Jun 20, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Step into the Revolutionary War and crack codes, uncover secrets, and outsmart the enemy in an escape room inspired by the legendary Culper Spy Ring!
Books and Blankets - at Storybook Island
Mon, Jun 22, 10:00am - 11:00am
Storybook Island
Join the library at Storybook Island for Monday story time! Reach your Summer Reading goals and stay afterwards to play at Storybook Island!
Monday Craft - Shipwreck Gaming Hour: A Coordinate Guessing Game
Mon, Jun 22, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover underwater archaeology through gaming! Place your boats, sink other players' ships, and try to be the last vessel standing!
Sit & Stitch Knitting Club
Mon, Jun 22, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Conference Room
Bring your needles, hooks, and yarn for an evening of fiber arts! Don't have equipment? The library has some that you can use for the class! Join us for camaraderie and snacks!
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Jun 23, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Storytime & Crafts with Jane
Tue, Jun 23, 10:15am - 11:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
4-H Youth Program Advisor Jane Amiotte shares stories that connect children to nature, followed by a craft.
Curiosity Club - Stunning Stalactites
Tue, Jun 23, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover the world of caves while creating your own crystal "stalactites" to take home!
Bedazzled Book Covers
Wed, Jun 24, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Bling out your favorite book with gemstones! Bring one from home, give a discarded book a new home, or buy one to decorate from our bookstore. All other supplies will be provided.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jun 25, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Chapter Chat Book Club - Hekate the Witch by Nikita Gill
Thu, Jun 25, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Conference Room
A propulsive, electrifying, and enraging retelling in verse of the life of Greek goddess Hekate, child of war turned all-powerful goddess of witchcraft and necromancy.
Little Explorers - Dino Egg-stravaganza
Fri, Jun 26, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Hatch your own dinosaur with fizzy science and creativity!
Teen Book Bakes - Erupting Lava Cakes
Fri, Jun 26, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how to make a delicious, decadent lava cake while creating an edible Jurassic scene.
Books with Bernard
Sat, Jun 27, 10:30am - 11:30am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Youth Services
Boost your reading skills and have a tail-wagging good time! Join Bernard, a certified therapy dog, for a fun and furry reading adventure.
Play Through the Past
Sat, Jun 27, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Discover historic games, crafts, and activities for kids and families to celebrate the United States' 250th birthday!
Donuts & Documentaries - Hard Hat Riot
Sun, Jun 28, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Explore the violent 1970 NYC clash between construction workers and Vietnam War protesters that exposed a growing class divide and reshaped American politics.
Books and Blankets - at Storybook Island
Mon, Jun 29, 10:00am - 11:00am
Storybook Island
Join the library at Storybook Island for Monday story time! Reach your Summer Reading goals and stay afterwards to play at Storybook Island!
Monday Craft - Build your Ultimate Dinosaur
Mon, Jun 29, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn about why dinosaurs looked the way they did, then imagine and build your own dinosaur!
An Evening with Rushmore Music Festival
Mon, Jun 29, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join the Rushmore Music Festival for a classical concert at the library, exploring beautiful music along with its influences and history.
Little Owl Tuesday Story Time
Tue, Jun 30, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join in on the fun and listen to popular stories and songs with one of our library storytellers! Designed for preschoolers, but all are welcome!
Storytime & Crafts with Jane
Tue, Jun 30, 10:15am - 11:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
4-H Youth Program Advisor Jane Amiotte shares stories that connect children to nature, followed by a craft.
Curiosity Club - Create a Continent
Tue, Jun 30, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Draw and design a fantasy map using real Earth science rules!
The Write Stuff - Children's Creative Writing Group
Wed, Jul 01, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Calling all young writers! Sharpen your pencils for a creative writing workshop designed for children ages 8-12 this summer.
Hunger Games Book Club - Catching Fire
Wed, Jul 01, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Revisit Panem before the new Sunrise on the Reaping movie this November! Join us as we continue our monthly journey through the Hunger Games series with book two, Catching Fire.
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jul 02, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Library Closure
Fri, Jul 03, All day
Rapid City Public Library Downtown
The Library will be closed in observance of Independence Day
Library Closure
Sat, Jul 04, All day
Rapid City Public Library Downtown
The Library will be closed in observance of Independence Day
Open Art Session
Sun, Jul 05, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Unleash your artistic side and create a beautiful painting to take home. We'll provide the supplies and tutorials.
Books and Blankets - at Storybook Island
Mon, Jul 06, 10:00am - 11:00am
Storybook Island
Join the library at Storybook Island for Monday story time! Reach your Summer Reading goals and stay afterwards to play at Storybook Island!
Gentle Chair Yoga - with Sol Yoga Collective
Mon, Jul 06, 10:30am - 11:15am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Restore your mind and invigorate your body with Sol Yoga Collective at the library! In this safe and comfortable environment, you'll be guided through beginner's yoga poses and stretches.
Monday Craft - Paleo Builders- Mastodon Motion
Mon, Jul 06, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Learn how paleontologists use living animals to help them put ancient bones together, then make your own free-moving paper skeleton.
First Tuesday Storytime with the Rapid City Fire Department
Tue, Jul 07, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join the Rapid City Fire Department for a fun morning of stories, plus tips on staying safe!
Storytime & Crafts with Jane
Tue, Jul 07, 10:15am - 11:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
4-H Youth Program Advisor Jane Amiotte shares stories that connect children to nature, followed by a craft.
Curiosity Club - Lego Club
Tue, Jul 07, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Free-build your own design or complete the librarian's challenge for a small prize!
Bring Your Own Book Club at the Alex Johnson
Tue, Jul 07, 5:15pm - 6:00pm
Starbucks at the Hotel Alex Johnson
Bring your current read to the Starbucks at the Alex Johnson Hotel for bookish conversation, librarian recommendations, and complimentary coffee!
Maker Mania for Upper Elementary - Owl Pellet Dissection
Wed, Jul 08, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Practice observation and classification skills by dissecting an owl pellet and learning about local food webs!
Registration opens Wednesday, June 24 2026 at 9:00am
Baby Bumblebee Story Time
Thu, Jul 09, 9:30am - 10:00am
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Join us for a story time specially curated for children ages birth to 3 and their families. Bring your little ones for an exciting experience filled with stories, movement, and fun!
Summer Show - Traditional Hoop Dancing with Tara Kingi
Thu, Jul 09, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Youth Services
Tara Kingi leads an engaging, interactive experience for kids exploring the history and tradition of Native American Hoop Dance.
Little Explorers - Sensory Play
Fri, Jul 10, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
Squish, stretch, scoop, and scribble with hands-on fun!
Teen #FandomFriday - Button Pins
Fri, Jul 10, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Rapid City Public Library Downtown - Community Room
We're bringing out the button press! Design and stamp your own buttons to show off your fandom pride!
See all events