A child reads a panel of the “Drawn Together” Story Stroll at Black Rock Lake through the Northeast Georgia Regional Library. The family said they enjoyed that the experience combined reading and nature.
Families looking to enjoy the outdoors while teaching their children the importance of reading may find the perfect solution through Story Strolls at Georgia public libraries, provided by Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS).
Story Strolls are an outdoor activity where pages of a children’s book are spread across a series of panels in a guided path. This encourages families to walk, read, and discuss a book together while connecting with their community and enjoying nature.
GPLS provides Story Strolls that any public library in the state can check out and use locally. Libraries partner with schools, parks, and other organizations so families can enjoy the stories in their community.
The backs of Story Stroll signs encourage children to do different movement activities between each page. Children can hop, skip, march, and more as they make their way back to the beginning of the path. Many families have said that these movement activities are their favorite part of Story Strolls.
Live Oak Public Libraries check out Story Stroll kits monthly for the students at a nearby school to enjoy.
”The teachers at our local school have asked me to set up a Story Stroll once per month! Children love the kinesthetic activities, which are presented almost as a surprise to discover on the back of each sign,” said Angela Willis, youth services supervisor at Live Oak Public Libraries. “With the Story Stroll kit we can create a different path for every story and turn the pages into a scavenger hunt, inviting the children to hunt for the next number.”
GPLS secured the rights to use 12 different children’s stories for the kits. The most popular stories are “The Hike,” by Alison Farrell, “I Took a Walk,” by Henry Cole, and “I Got the Rhythm,” by Connie Scholfield-Morrison.
“What we enjoyed most was the experience of being outdoors on a beautiful afternoon and enjoying a cute children’s story,” said one patron after her family read a “Read Me a Story, Stella” Story Stroll placed at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon.
“Our library is next door to an elementary school, and every grade came over to enjoy the Story Stroll! We are already planning our next Story Stroll. This is a gift to every community.” – Dianne Chambers, West Georgia Regional Library
Families can scan a QR code on each panel to hear the story read aloud. Each panel has tactile markers to guide those who are blind to listen to the audio version as well.
GPLS created Story Strolls kits as a way for libraries to offer a free and unique, outdoor reading experience for families during the pandemic, but their popularity continues to grow. Story Strolls have been checked out 90 times by libraries in 2024.
Only library staff, not patrons, can check out a Story Stroll kit. Reach out to your local public library and encourage them to check one out for your community.
