StoryWalks merge fun, fitness with reading
Parents and caregivers emphasized the fun of reading as they enjoyed spirited and reading-based activities for children at Wildwood Park on Jan. 18 to help introduce StoryWalks to Greenville.
Kids listen to “Bear Snores On” read to them during the StoryWalks opening celebration.
StoryWalk panels, which combine reading with physical activity in outdoor settings, were installed recently at Wildwood Park and Greensprings Park, featuring children’s books in English and Spanish. This project was led by East Carolina University Academic Library Services, in collaboration with Greenville Recreation and Parks, the Friends of Sheppard Memorial Library and children’s librarians at Farmville Public Library.
The opening celebration brought families to Wildwood Park to walk and read “Bear Snores On.” Librarians also led dances and other interactive activities that brought plenty of joy to the assembled children.
“This is a fun way to learn how to read and to start enjoying reading, rather than just sitting down at a desk,” mother Katelyn Stephens said. “It’s definitely a little more hands-on. This is one of our favorite parks, too. They have the best walking trails.”
The book choices will rotate seasonally.
“I love it, because we are all for getting kids outside more,” said Jennifer True, a mother who also works in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in the ECU Brody School of Medicine.
Project leaders at ECU include Laura Bright, collection strategist and assessment librarian, and Eryn Staib, student engagement and outreach specialist. Installation and programming were supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provision of the federal Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina.
: A person at Wildwood Park walks along a trail and reads large panel pages of the book “Bear Snores On.”
Jan Lewis, director of ECU Academic Library Services and president of the Friends of Sheppard Memorial Library, addressed attendees at Wildwood Park before a ribbon-cutting photo featuring representatives from community partners.
“We are so happy to have StoryWalks here in Greenville,” Lewis said. “We are excited to support early reading. Developing this critical, fundamental skill helps us learn about many other things, whether that is nature or science or culture and languages. With our StoryWalks, we wanted to incorporate several of these elements along with a being a great way to get physical activity and experience the joy of reading. We are very happy with the storyboards that have been installed at our beautiful parks and hope the community enjoys them.”
There are possibilities to continue programming and future opportunities to highlight StoryWalks.
“The Recreation and Parks Department is excited about the addition of two StoryWalks in the City of Greenville park system,” said Heather White, assistant director of recreation and parks for the City of Greenville. “This new amenity supports our mission statement in creating opportunity for visitors of parks to enjoy great stories in the great outdoors, and promotes physical activity and family time. In addition, we look forward to the opportunity to partner with community organizations to incorporate StoryWalk in the department’s programming and special event efforts.”
Members of the True family have been consistent visitors and supporters of the Farmville Public Library the last few years. Jennifer True said this StoryWalks collaboration is an example of promoting literacy and libraries supporting each other.
“We wanted to be here for this and knew it was going to be really exciting,” she said. “The whole togetherness of the libraries we really want to support.”
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont. StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.