OPTIONAL PBS Reading Challenge Information

📚 Read, Explore & Earn FREE Adventures with PBS Utah!

McMillan Families: You're Invited to the 2026 PBS Utah Reading Marathon!

What if reading bedtime stories with your child could earn your family FREE admission to the zoo, museums, gardens, and other exciting places around Utah?

It can! And we'd love to tell you how!

This November, McMillan families are invited to participate in the 34th Annual PBS Utah Reading Marathon, a fun reading challenge that encourages children to develop a love of books while earning some pretty amazing rewards!

💙 First, an important reminder: Participation is completely OPTIONAL!

This is an opportunity offered by PBS Utah, not a required school assignment or PTA fundraiser. Families are welcome to participate if it works for them. There is no pressure or obligation!

📖 How Does the Reading Marathon Work?

The goal is simple: Read for 20 minutes a day during November!

Children who complete 600 minutes of reading during November and submit their minutes to PBS Utah can earn a 2027 PBS KIDS Utah Adventure Pass.

And here's the BEST part for our younger students:

Your child does NOT have to read independently!

Reading aloud to your child(ren) counts! Whether you're snuggled up with a bedtime story, enjoying picture books together, or listening to your child practice their new reading skills, you're helping them work toward their goal.

Getting Started Is Easy!

  1. November 1–30: Read together and record your minutes on the reading log sent home with your child. Aim for 20 minutes a day, or 600 minutes total.
  2. December 1–31: Visit PBS Utah's Reading Marathon website and submit your child's reading minutes online.
  3. Receive your Adventure Pass: Download, save, or print your child's 2027 Adventure Pass.
  4. Enjoy your rewards throughout 2027!

No advance registration is required!

🎉 Now for the Really Exciting Part: THE REWARDS!

The Adventure Pass includes free admission, special discounts, and fun experiences at attractions throughout Utah!

Here are just SOME of the incredible rewards available to children who complete the challenge:

🦁 Animals, Dinosaurs & Nature

  • Hogle Zoo: One FREE child admission with a paying adult!
  • Tracy Aviary: One FREE child admission with a paying adult!
  • Ogden Dinosaur Park: One FREE child admission!
  • Natural History Museum of Utah: One FREE child admission with a paying adult!
  • Red Butte Garden: One FREE child admission AND one FREE adult admission!
  • Ogden Nature Center: One FREE child admission (January–March)!

🦋 Museums, Discovery & Family Adventures

  • Thanksgiving Point: One FREE child admission with a paying adult to your choice of participating discovery centers, including the Butterfly Biosphere, Museum of Natural Curiosity, and more! (January–March)
  • Discovery Gateway Children's Museum: One FREE child admission with a paying adult! (September–November)
  • Clark Planetarium: One FREE child admission to a Hansen Dome Theater show with a paying adult!
  • Museum of Illusions: One FREE child admission with a paying adult!
  • Treehouse Museum: One FREE child admission!

🎡 Extra Fun!

  • Scheels: One FREE child Ferris wheel ride!
  • Millcreek Common: One FREE child roller-skating admission AND skate rental! (April–November 1)
  • Salt Lake City Public Library: One FREE book! (January–February)
  • University of Utah Athletics: Ten FREE child passes plus 50% off paying adults for select basketball games!
  • Utah Symphony: One FREE child ticket to select performances!
  • Toad's Fun Zone: One FREE child attraction with a paying adult!

And that's not all! PBS Utah has partnered with even more attractions throughout the state.

Please note: Each reward has its own conditions and valid dates. Many require a paying adult, and most are redeemable once per child. Visit the PBS Utah website for the complete list and details.

💙 Why We Love This Opportunity for McMillan Families

Elementary School is such an exciting time in a child's reading journey!

Twenty minutes can be as simple as:

  • Reading a favorite bedtime story
  • Taking turns reading pages
  • Visiting the library and discovering new books
  • Letting your child choose a book and listening together

There's no need to make this complicated. The goal is to make reading an enjoyable part of your family's day!

📅 Important Dates to Remember

November 1–30, 2026: Read and track your minutes.

December 1–31, 2026: Parents submit completed reading minutes directly to PBS Utah online.

Throughout 2027: Enjoy your Adventure Pass rewards!

Ready to Get Started?

Look for the reading log coming home with your student, or visit the PBS Utah website for additional information.

We hope many of our McMillan families will choose to participate in this wonderful opportunity. But remember, it's entirely optional!

Whether your child completes the challenge or simply enjoys a few extra stories this November, that's something worth celebrating.

Happy Reading, McMillan Families! 💙

— McMillan PTA

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