Story Walk provides reading, recreation in Newfield

Sometime during the winter of 2019-2020, Jennifer Carr, librarian at Newfield Elementary School, got a call from the Family Reading Partnership about installing a Story Walk in town.

“I don’t remember now, because it was definitely before the pandemic hit,” Carr said. “It’s been a while for us to get everything sorted out.”

The pandemic delayed those plans, explained Beverly Wallenstein, Family Reading Partnership’s (FRP) program and outreach coordinator. Though it took longer than anticipated, Newfield’s Story Walk was unveiled at the end of May.

“We worked with the Newfield Central School District grounds crew to select the appropriate places to put posts,” Wallenstein said. “And FRP volunteers and staff installed the Story Walk.”

The Walk was created in partnership with Newfield Central School and the Newfield Public Library, Wallenstein said, and was funded in part by the United Way of Tompkins County Youth and Philanthropy grant.

“We were so happy to work with our partners in Newfield to bring this wonderful activity to local families,” she said.

Carr said Mill Park was considered, but ultimately, the school property was chosen.

“We thought the school would be a great fit,” she said. “Lots of people use the playground, and it’s a really nice community place. I know lots of teachers have taken their kids around. It provided a nice little educational walk and something outside for teachers to do with their kids. I’ve seen community members out with their families as well.”

The Newfield Story Walk book will change periodically, she said.

“It’s going to be nice because it’s not going to be the same story,” Carr said. “It’s going to be switched out.”

The first book selected for the Newfield Story Walk is “If You Find a Rock,” by Peggy Christian.

“It is a beautifully written picture book about investigating all of the many ways children connect with rocks, and great for kids of many different ages,” Wallenstein said. “All of our Story Walk books are selected in consultation with our early childhood specialist and local librarians and are rotated out throughout the year so families can come back again and again for a new experience.”

The partnership has been very collaborative, Carr said.

“They’re providing this story, but if I have a suggestion, I will bring it to them,” she said. “I’ve offered to change it out [when it’s time]. It’s going to be a partnership to keep this running.”

While some Story Walks are primarily maintained by FRP, Carr asked to be more “hands on” with Newfield’s.

“I think it’s a great project to have at the school,” she said. “I’m excited to have it be more of a partnership.”

The program allows for readers of all ages and levels to engage with a story.

“A Story Walk is great because it allows kids to engage in kind of an active way with either a family member or teacher,” Carr said. “It is beneficial for all types of readers. For kids who might need a little more help because they’re more active, they can think, ‘I start here and I’m not just sitting; I’m moving to read through the story.’”

Newfield’s Story Walk starts at the wooden playground, Carr said, then goes to the school garden, to its orchard in the front and then leads to other playgrounds in the back of the school.

“It’s great for younger kids, for introducing literacy,” Carr said. “You get a little bit of the story, you’ve got cognitive skills with the story and then motor skills going through the walk. And you can do these story walks as a family, while enjoying the nice weather outside, or colder weather, because this will be up and active through the winter, too.”

According to its website, FRP launched its Story Walk program in 2018 to create an interactive reading experience. Laminated book pages are placed on posts, which are installed along a path outdoors.

In addition to Newfield, FRP also has Story Walks located at Dotson Park in Danby, the Jim Schug Trail in Dryden, Enfield Elementary School, Memorial Park in Groton and the Lansing Center Trail.

“All of our Story Walks will be updated with new books this summer,” Wallenstein said. “We are also starting to plan for a Story Walk within the city of Ithaca, coming this fall.”

More information Family Reading Partnership and its Story Walks can be found at familyreading.org.