By Paige Gurgainers

Families across the parish are invited to step back in time this summer as Webster Parish Libraries prepares to launch Discovery Camp 2026 with a prehistoric-themed kickoff event designed to combine adventure, learning and hands-on fun.

The special registration event will take place at the Webster Parish Library on May 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. and will introduce campers to this year’s dinosaur-inspired Discovery Camp experience. 

This year’s theme will transport children into a world of fossils, dinosaurs and ancient discovery while encouraging creativity, problem-solving and confidence-building through educational experiences and immersive activities.

One of the biggest attractions of the kickoff event will be the “Jurassic Experience,” an interactive program featuring lifelike dinosaurs and hands-on prehistoric adventures. Children attending will have the opportunity to meet Bleu, a realistic Velociraptor inspired by the Jurassic World films, during a special Raptor Encounter led by a trained Raptor Ranger.

The event will also feature a Baby Dinoverse Tour, where participants can interact with three baby dinosaurs while learning fun facts about prehistoric life from experienced dinosaur handlers. Campers will be able to pet the dinosaurs, ask questions, and take photos during the experience.

Young explorers can also become paleontologists for the day at the Dino Dig Site, where children will use digging tools to uncover fossils and prehistoric discoveries in an interactive excavation area designed to bring science lessons to life.

Library officials say Discovery Camp aims to keep children engaged and learning throughout the summer while making education entertaining and memorable. Each activity is intended to encourage hands-on exploration and connect science concepts to real-world thinking and creativity.

The public is invited to attend the registration event and get a first look at what Discovery Camp 2026 has planned for the summer season. More information about the event can be found through Webster Parish Libraries on Facebook.