Pages of a children鈥檚 book were successfully installed in 91原创 last week.
Along the Muckle Creek Trail, people of all ages can now follow the tale of a children鈥檚 storybook while walking in nature. Pages are taken apart, laminated, and attached to yard signs along a path outdoors, so children and adults can read as they walk, said Alicia Rempel, chair of the 91原创 Children鈥檚 Committee and executive director of the 91原创 School District Foundation.
鈥淓ach sign is its own storybook page, and we added in physical literacy prompts 鈥� to get kids active and moving as they walk to the next page,鈥� Rempel explained.
For Immediate Release: StoryWalks庐 Arrives at Muckle Creek Trail
鈥� 91原创 City (@91原创City_)
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About 30 per cent of children in 91原创 enter Kindergarten with a vulnerability in areas of cognitive, language, social skills, or physical development, she said, so they pick stories that have meaningful messages.
This represents approximately 500 children a year who start school at a disadvantage, Rempel said.
The books chosen for 91原创 StoryWalk support social and emotional development, so parents reading to their children will help build their literacy and language skills while being active.
鈥�91原创 is a really active community and we鈥檝e got young families here, and we just that [it鈥檚] a great way 鈥� to get kids out,鈥� Rempel explains. 鈥淩esearch is showing that kids need more physical activity, it aids mental health.鈥�
This latest StoryWalk was set up along the Muckle Creek Trail, next to Simonds Elementary in 91原创 City. The first was installed last year at Lynn Fripps Elementary. And the next one is earmarked for Parkside Centennial Elementary in Aldergrove.
Our permanent Storywalk structures are in for our community! Huge thank you to the 91原创 Literacy Network and for their contribution to literacy and physical literacy with these stands and Storywalk boards
鈥� Jennifer Fernandes (@jfernj)
鈥淲e鈥檒l have these three locations that families can walk to, drive to, and read stories with their kids,鈥� Rempel said. 鈥淚t isn鈥檛 just for kids, but even seniors on their walks were enjoying reading these children鈥檚 books.鈥�
The Muckle Creek Trail StoryWalk was done in collaboration with the City of 91原创, 91原创 School District, 91原创 Literacy Network, and 91原创 Children Committee with the shared goal of combining outdoor activity with a love for literacy, said Karlo Tamondong, recreation supervisor with the City of 91原创.
鈥淲e wanted to give more free, affordable options for families, whereas families can enjoy trails [and] at the same time be involved in literacy,鈥� Tamondong elaborated.
Rempel said they started offering portable StoryWalks during the pandemic lockdowns, and are still available for booking for a variety of children鈥檚 stories including popular titles like Put Me in a Book! by Robert Munsch and The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.
鈥淲e created these lawn sign kits that could be booked by local schools or organizations or event businesses, and these stories are basically deconstructed children鈥檚 books,鈥� Rempel said.
The StoryWalk program was created in 2007 by Anne Ferguson in Monteplier, Vermont when she worked for the Vermont department of public health and with support from the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Through their collaboration, a StoryWalk was installed in 50 U.S. states and 13 countries.
鈥淚nvite your families in the community to enjoy our trail and, at the same time, enjoy the stories along it as well,鈥� Tamondong said.
READ MORE: Walk-through stories at Lynn Fripps school in 91原创
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