There is a great Storywalk® behind the playground at Davis School. It’s actually been there for a while. But just before we were going to run this story, the big February snowstorm came along. Well, the snow has melted and now you’re able to walk through the woods while reading a story.
Rachel Marcus, the brainchild behind the Bedford Storywalk® explains the idea:
Storywalks in general have been around since 2007; the movement started in Vermont as a way to promote both outdoor exercise and literacy. Storywalks have gained increased traction during Covid, since they inherently promote social distancing and also connect communities with books at a time when many libraries have limited accessibility. Many local institutions, schools and houses of worship have sponsored Storywalks during Covid, including the Bedford Free Library.
The Davis Storywalk’s originality is that it was born out of repurposed election signs. At a time of heightened political discord, the project has been encouraging people to come together as one community, donating yard signs to support literacy in our own backyard.
The Davis school community is now hosting its second Storywalk on those upcycled yard signs. Through the project, hundreds of children in Bedford have taken a “field trip” to the Storywalk installation that snakes through the woods adjacent to Davis school property. This is a great way to promote literacy for our youngest Bedford readers. The Storywalk project is also beneficial for promoting a heart-healthy, screen-free, free activity during this time.
Over 30+ children’s books are freely available for loan as Storywalk panels through the Massachusetts library system. The first title featured at Davis, Cat’s Colors, was a loan from the Bedford library. The current title, Say Hello, is on loan from the Westford library. We hope to feature several additional titles throughout the school year.
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