Summer 2025
Celebrate art, nature and reading this summer! Gather at the Art Benches, listen to stories, participate in art & nature activities with National Park Service Rangers, and take home free gently used and new books!
Free and open to the public.

June 11, 10 a.m.
Carpenter Nature Center Wisconsin Campus, Hudson
(rain location: inside CNC)
June 17, 10 a.m.
With Somerset Library
Larry Forrest Memorial Park, Somerset
(raindate: 6/24, 10 a.m.)
June 19, 1 p.m.
With Hudson Library
Lakefront Park, Hudson
(rain location: inside library)
June 23, 10:30 a.m.
With Osceola Library
Mill Pond Park, Osceola
(rain location: inside library)
Books & Benches is a project of the Somerset Elementary Family Book Drive in partnership with the Phipps Center for the Arts and local libraries to increase summer reading and promote community art in the St. Croix Valley. Special thanks to W.H.O. Books, with their mission to spread social awareness of diversity, equity, and acceptance, for donating new books to give away free. To learn more, go to whobooks.org.
The Art Bench Trail is a program of the Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI, in partnership with the St. Croix Valley Foundation and the National Park Service.
Questions? Contact Erin at ehoff@somerset.wi.k12.us or Lee Ann at lpomplas@thephipps.org.