Community partners in Williams Lake have teamed up to bring nature-themed children’s books to the region.
With funding from the Williams Lake Community Forest (WLCF) grant, Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy (CCPL) has expanded its StoryWalk program to include forest and nature book titles and offer ‘pop-up’ StoryWalks at different community events and locations.
StoryWalks are laminated pages from a children’s book installed along an outdoor path, which provide opportunities for reading, family engagement and outdoor learning and exploration. Children’s books are a fun and informative way for people of all ages to learn about the outdoors. The StoryWalk installations include movement cards, which encourage participants to walk and move like different animals from page to page along a trail. Attendees can look for forest insects, animal burrows or identify trees that are highlighted in the story they are reading bringing the story to life in the natural world.
“The WLCF grant allowed us to purchase portable boards so our StoryWalks can be borrowed by any community group or schools within the Cariboo-Chilcotin region,” said Suzanne Cochrane, coordinator of the program in Williams Lake. “The grant also allowed us to repair our permanent StoryWalks that have weathered or had some vandalism.”
Cochrane said she approached local educators for book recommendations when seeking out titles for the newest installments. The book topics from the WLCF grant include mushrooms, forestry, nature observation & art, relationships, poop, garbage, trees and planting.
Expansion of the program wouldn’t be possible without the help of a dedicated team who helps build and maintain StoryWalks, Cochrane said. “We really appreciated the WLCF grant and the volunteers from the Girl Guide Rangers, Tonja McAndrews, Kathy Newell, Pat Radolla and Horsefly River Round Table,” she noted.
Starting in September, enjoy a StoryWalk at the WLCF Flatrock Trails, on Bysak Road. Featured StoryWalks will be posted on the CCPL Facebook page or email info@caribooliteracy.com for more information.
To learn more about the Williams Lake Community Forest visit www.williamslakecommunityforest.com.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy maintains permanent Storywalks in Kiwanis Park in Williams Lake, the Horsefly River trail and at the Parkside Art Gallery in 100 Mile House. During the winter, StoryWalks are featured in the CRD Williams Lake public library.
