ADVENTURES IN READING'S (AIR) MISSION IS TO FOSTER READING ENJOYMENT BY PROVIDING READING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO CHILDREN, PRESCHOOL TO 12-YEARS-OLD, WHO RESIDE IN THE GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA, INCLUDING NORTHWEST INDIANA.
In addition to schools, AIR affiliates with local community services and organizations such as Fire and Police departments as well as after school programs, community centers, libraries, day camps, churches, Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA, and sports teams. If you have kids and a location, we’ll create a program for you!
Adventures in Reading is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
AIR HAS ONE MAIN GOAL —TO GET CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO ASSOCIATE READING WITH FUN. IMPROVED LITERACY IS A BONUS!
Our premiere option, this 8-week interactive program puts kids at the center of creating their own books, professionally produced by Flying Turtle Publishing.
Using AIR activities, we encourage parents to find Adventures in Reading at home and in the classroom. Parents are motivated to read for their own enjoyment and to model reading for their children. Includes book giveaways.
A multi-week interactive literacy program providing an opportunity for kids to create their own book of poetry, professionally produced and available for fundraising.
Your tax-deductible donation will directly support our work, enabling us to meet our goals to help children and adults find the fun in reading. Your generous donation buys books and other crucial components in support of our mission.
Programs suitable to implement in a variety of environments, a anywhere children and parents gather:
Parks
Day Camps
Boys & Girls Clubs
Churches
Police & Fire Departments
Libraries
YMCA
Team Practices
Scout Meetings
Community Centers
Birthday Parties
Sleepovers
Interactive programming allows participants to experience and learn about local ecology “from the bottom to the top.”
Exploration of local flora and fauna
Introduction to conservation practices
Guest experts
Opportunities for independent reading
The Life Authors Memoir Experience can be implemented as a one-time event or a multi-week program. Participants are provided with activities to "prime the pump" and step-by-step guidance in writing the stories of their lives. Includes "do's and don'ts" for self-publishing.
Who we are
Mari Lumpkin Barnes writes for children under the pen name of Mari Lumpkin and for adults as ML Barnes. She earned degrees, a BA in Liberal Arts and an MA in Communications & Training, from Governors State University in Illinois. Mari owns Flying Turtle Publishing, has nearly 40 years of editorial experience and has spent many years working with experts in child development, creating and implementing children’s literacy programs.
She lives with The World’s Greatest Husband and a temperamental garden in Hammond, Indiana.
Mari can be contacted at staff@aireading.org
Maren Woodlock is a retired advertising executive who spent more than half her life working on some of the world's biggest brands. Maren has led numerous cross-functional teams to create innovative and effective marketing programs. She wrote a media case study for the Harvard Business Review showing the unique approach used to deliver the recruiting goals for the U.S. Army.
She lives with her husband, a retired teacher and organic gardener, in Dyer, Indiana.
Maren can be contacted at staff@aireading.org
Customized Programs for Children and Adults
Find the fun in reading!
We work with you to design cost-affordable programs that fit into your budget.
It’s our intention that no school or organization is ever turned down due to budgetary constraints.