Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run - A Learning Opportunity

The Mackinac Bridge spans 5 miles of water. The twin towers rise 552 feet above the water.

Faith Draper

 

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An annual event in Michigan is the Mackinac (MACK-i-naw) Bridge Labor Day Run. The bridge run is only open to 400 runners and a lottery is held in June to see who the lucky runners will be. Because one of the requirements to even enter the lottery is you must be 18 years of age the event is not open for children. The Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run is however a terrific learning opportunity for children through books.

While adults prepare for the bridge run or discuss the event why not share a few books with the children in your family. There are a variety of books available at the Lansing Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) both fiction and non-fiction, about the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island, and fitness. After all to prepare for the Mackinac Bridge Run you must be able to run the distance – five miles.

One great fiction children’s book is Mackinac Bridge- the Story of the Five Mile Poem by Gloria Whelan. Set in 1957, Mark and Luke are excited about the construction of the Mackinac Bridge even though it will cause financial hardships for the family because their father’s job working on the ferry boat will be in danger. Mackinac Bridge- the Story of the Five Mile Poem was illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen so you can be sure young and old alike will enjoy this great children’s book.

Another book to aid in making the Bridge Run a learning experience for children is Mighty Mac: the official picture history of the Mackinac Bridge by Lawrence A. Rubin and several others. The fascinating pictures along with an essay on the design of the bridge hold children’s attention while learning about a big part in Michigan history.

To spark youngsters interest even more and added to the learning experience the Lansing libraries also have a terrific book called America's top 10 Bridges by Edward R. Ricciuti. The Mackinac Bridge is included as one of the 10 along with the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Mayhem on Mackinac Island’ by Johnathan Rand and ‘'Rascal makes mischief on Mackinac Island' by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds are two more children’s books you might encourage the older kids to read.

Since the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run is organized by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, and the Mackinac Bridge Authority we really need to include books on health or fitness. ‘From Head to Toe’ by Eric Carle and ‘Sneaky Fitness: fun, foolproof ways to slip fitness into your child's everyday life’ by Missy Chase Lapine and Larysa Didio are two wonderful books to get the kids on the right track to preparing for Bridge Runs in the future.
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For Lansing Capital Area District library locations and hours please check out the list to the right.

For more information on the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run visit the Michigan Fitness Foundation web site.
 

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