Article by Stephanie Hobby

Photos by Leslie Clark of Billings Education Foundation

Every summer in Billings, you can find hundreds of children in parks, not just playing, but also maintaining and gaining valuable reading skills. Reading Rocks is a longstanding summer institution in the Magic City, and Billings Education Foundation program manager Leslie Clark says Reading Rocks provides a fun opportunity for students and caregivers to get out, enjoy the park, and immerse themselves in the joys of reading.  

 This year, the program will kick off on Monday, June 8, and run Monday through Thursday, concluding on Thursday, July 31, making this summer the longest session yet. Over those eight weeks of programming, Clark expects to distribute 7,000 books. Reading Rocks runs in parallel with the Education Foundation’s Food Insecurity programs to reach as many families as possible throughout the summer. 

 “It started on the premise of wanting to meet the children where they were, to try and get our low-income families that don’t have home libraries to help build a collection, to then build the children’s skills, to hopefully stop or reduce the summer slide that you see in reading,” said Billings Education Foundation Program Manager Leslie Clark.  

In 2025, volunteers distributed a record 5,000 books, and, for the first time, partnered with Jump Start, School District 2’s program for incoming kindergarteners, to bring Reading Rocks to Jump Start’s classrooms. This year, it will be held at Newman and Sandstone Elementary Schools and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Many of the books are donated by grants and the Billings Clinic. Additionally, to meet the needs on the West End of Billings, Clark’s team launched a successful partnership with St. John’s United last summer, which will continue this year.  

In fostering another collaboration, the Education Foundation joined Billings Parks and Recreation’s free Rec 2 You! Program, which gives Billings youth more opportunities for coordinated, healthy activities and to connect with their neighborhoods in a positive, safe environment. Rec 2 You! is offered twice daily at parks across the city, and Clark says the Education Foundation will be there to provide a quiet break where children can find a new book to take home and enjoy reading in the shade.  

 Several traditions will continue this year, including Christmas in July, with visits from Santa and possibly Mrs. Claus, and visits from school resource officers and their canine partners. “We sprinkle some of these activities in there too, so that the kids can have fun and know about other things going on in their communities,” Clark said. “These partnerships help all of our programs grow.”  

Reading Rocks is always in need of volunteers and encourages students aged 15 and older to apply. For volunteers under the age of 15, the Foundation asks that a caregiver be present. In recent years, Reading Rocks has worked with NOVA and Billings Studio Theatre for vocal talent. If you are interested in helping or have gently used books you would like to donate, please contact Leslie Clark at (406) 281-5150, or clarkl@billingsschools.org. More information, including hours and locations, can be found here.

Originally printed in the June 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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