ROSS COUNTY -- On Saturday, April 11, the Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library (CRCPL) hosted its second Adventure Bus trip, taking a group of local families to the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus for a day of hands-on learning and exploration. The experience was made possible by the Friends of the Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library, with grant funding generously provided by the David Meade Massie Trust and South Central Power Company Foundation.

The CRCPL Adventure Bus program creates opportunities for Ross County families to visit out-of-town educational destinations, where they can spend the day playing, learning, and connecting without the barriers of transportation, meals, or admission costs. The program launched in 2025 as a pilot event with support from the Columbus Foundation, the Burton E. Stevenson Fund, and the Friends of the Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library.

Participants gathered at the library Saturday morning for a quick breakfast before boarding the bus. In addition to general admission to COSI, families received access to the interactive Science Behind Pixar exhibition, which highlights the science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) concepts behind animated films. Families also enjoyed a free lunch and spent the day making lasting memories together.

“My girls and I had a great time,” said one participant, whose family had never visited COSI before. “It was my children’s first time on a charter bus, which was the first part of our adventure! They loved exploring the museum. As a single parent, this isn’t something I could do on my own.”

Library Outreach Manager Ruby Smart hopes to continue the program well into the future to help bridge opportunity gaps that impact children in our area. “It’s more than a field trip for our patrons. Some families do not have access to the transportation or admission costs needed to make these kinds of memories,” she said. “No family should be left on the sidelines of learning and adventure due to financial barriers.”

Library programs like the Adventure Bus rely heavily on grant funding and community support, yet remain essential to the library’s mission of promoting lifelong learning. From access to books and digital literacy services to enriching educational experiences, the Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library seeks to provide access to the services and resources our community needs most.

For more information about supporting programs like the Adventure Bus, contact Communications & Marketing Manager Courtney Lewis at clewis@crcpl.org.