Story Walks© are fun for children and for us. Our biggest challenge preparing for recent Story Walks© was coming up with active "challenges" for the children that relate to the books that we read along our walks. But it was so worth it.
Story Walks© combine the pleasure of reading a book aloud with the benefits of being active and outside. Story Walks© develop a child’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy outdoor activity for both children and adults. They combine early literacy, family engagement, and physical activity.
During our first Story Walk© in Fort Providence 37 people read Kumak’s River by Michael Bania. The setting of the book brought to mind break-up in Fort Providence when the Mackenzie River ice starts to melt and the river starts to flow. Along the way we read laminated pages of the book. Most fun though were our five "challenges", such as searching for Little Nate’s toys that had all floated away.
The Story Walk© in N’dilo, had seven "challenges". They included rolling in the snow like Igvillu, the dog in The Littlest Sled Dog by Michael Kusugak and Vladyana Krykorka. Children also threw bean bag "fish" to a team of "sled dogs" before getting prizes and hot chocolate.
I can’t wait until our next Story Walk© which will be in Norman Wells. Thanks to the NWT Recreation and Parks Association for the Get Active grant that made this project possible.
-- Charlotte Upton
