Families enjoying Burlington's story strolls, promoting reading and outdoor activity.
Burlington, Vermont, has introduced outdoor story strolls to promote reading among families. Managed by the Fletcher Free Library, these story displays are set up along construction fences, allowing families to engage in reading while enjoying the outdoors. The program includes a passport system for children to encourage participation, which offers treats as rewards. Designed to make reading accessible and fun, this initiative aims to foster community engagement and a love for literature in children.
The city of Burlington, Vermont, has launched a new initiative aimed at promoting outdoor reading for families. The Fletcher Free Library has established story strolls along two construction fences within the city, transforming these barriers into community literacy spaces. This effort is part of a broader move to provide engaging, educational outdoor activities for children while they enjoy fresh air and outdoor environments.
The story strolls consist of storybooks displayed outdoors, with pages arranged along the fencing areas. Families can walk along the fences and read each page sequentially, combining physical activity with reading. Two main locations have been designated for these outdoor story displays: one along the library’s ongoing restoration project on College Street and the other on a fenced area on Main Street. These outdoor exhibits complement existing story stroll formats, such as those in library windows and at Leddy Park, creating multiple opportunities for children and families to engage with literature outdoors.
To encourage participation, the library has developed passports for children, which include questions related to each story featured during the strolls. Children who complete the strolls by reading the story pages and answering all questions can present their passports at designated locations to redeem a treat at Lake Champlain Chocolates. This incentive aims to motivate children to participate actively while fostering a love for reading and outdoor activity.
Participation in the story strolls is open to all children and families. Passports to take along and for collecting rewards are available at the Fletcher Free Library. The program is designed to be accessible, simple to participate in, and enjoyable for children of various ages, encouraging families to spend quality time together outdoors while engaging with stories.
The initiative has received support from library officials, including Mary Danko, the Library Director. She has emphasized the importance of outdoor reading activities, especially as a means to foster community engagement and promote literacy among young residents. The library’s leadership hopes that these outdoor story strolls will become a regular activity, inspiring other communities to adopt similar programs.
Burlington’s ongoing efforts to promote outdoor literacy reflect a larger trend of adapting community and educational activities for outdoor environments, especially during seasons when outdoor activities are feasible. The use of construction fences and public spaces for story displays is an innovative way to turn construction zones into community assets, making use of available outdoor infrastructure to foster educational and recreational opportunities.
The program aligns with the library’s broader mission to provide accessible, engaging learning experiences for all members of the community. It also emphasizes the importance of outdoor activities in reducing screen time and encouraging physical movement alongside reading practice.
Overall, the Fletcher Free Library’s outdoor story strolls are designed to be a fun, educational resource for families, combining reading, outdoor activity, and community involvement in one engaging experience. Interested families can visit the library to obtain passports and participate in this new outdoor initiative, which promises to make reading accessible and enjoyable for children in Burlington.
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