SUNDRE — Families have a unique opportunity this summer to at their leisure combine story time with exercise courtesy of the local library.
A series of 18 storyboards have been temporarily mounted adjacent to the three-metre asphalt walking path along Main Avenue West across the street from Pioneer Veterinary Services headed west to Tim Hortons and McDonald’s.
The program got underway earlier in July and will wind up following the first week of September.
“StoryWalks have been around for lots of years,” said Joy Willihnganz, Sundre Municipal Library programmer, adding the idea originally took off in the U.S.
“I know there are other libraries that are doing them this year,” said Willihnganz.
And as a result of people enduring more than a year of pandemic-related health protocols, she said the library wanted to provide an option for families to enjoy a chance to get out of the house and stretch their legs to get some fresh air while having fun reading a story along the way.
“People have been indoors and behind screens for quite a long time, and we were wanting to focus on getting people out and being active,” she said.
“A story walk is a great way to do that. Just to take a short walk and read a fun children’s story at the same time.”
The approach is a linear, straightforward stroll leading families along the paved path from one storyboard to the next.
“They’re designed to be close enough together so that kids can make it from one sign to the other and can stay engaged with the story as well,” she said, adding the entire duration would take about 15 minutes depending on the pace.
Prior to the storyboard posts being installed, the municipality had checked utilities to ensure the stakes would be safe to put in place.
However, they were not designed to be permanent, and will be removed and stored at a yet-to-be-determined location later in September, she said, adding they’ll be available for use again next year.
The first story that was put up for the week of July 12, The Moose Belongs to Me, by Oliver Jeffers, started off on the west-end of the story walk.
The second story that went up for the week of July 19, Guardians of the Wild, by musical group the Wardens, was swapped around to see which approach people prefer, she said, adding new stories will be placed in the storyboards every Sunday.
The only exception will be for the first two weeks of August, when a story called Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed, by Emily Pearson, will be featured in connection with the theme of another library program, Everyday Superheroes.
Visit www.sundre.prl.ab.ca and click on the Events tab to find the full list of all the stories that will be featured.
