As the wind whipped through the grounds of Berks Nature late Saturday morning, the trails that weave through the wetlands in the heart of Angelica Creek Park were dotted with families bundled up for a stroll.
And a little light reading.
The story hike is an occasional event that has attracted thousands of families to the conservation organization over the last five years. It features a series of laminated pages from a children’s storybook — “Oh Say Can You Seed?” by Bonnie Worth was the latest selection — attached to posts alongside the path that loops around the Nature Place in Reading.
Michael Griffith, an education and watershed specialist at Berks Nature, said the idea is that families can enjoy the fresh air and scenic views while making their way from page to page at their own pace.
He said the goal of such events is to get children away from the glow of computer screens and into the outdoors. He said the hope is that they have such a good time that they will continue to build a lifelong relationship with nature.
“We want people to appreciate and protect nature,” he said.
Griffith said Berks Nature puts a lot of thought into the literature it chooses to highlight by focusing on books that put a spotlight on nature in an entertaining way.
“We want to make the books accessible for children in elementary school, but we also want the information to be enjoyable for adults as well,” he said. “Everyone will probably learn something new no matter what their age.”
That was the case for 8-year-old Victoria Anderson.
The Shillington girl said she knew that seeds grow into plants, but exactly how that happened was a little fuzzy. Thanks to the book, her parents, Mike and Carrieann Anderson, said she was able to understand how a plant converts light energy into chemical energy to fuel its growth.
Being surrounded by plants throughout the hike, the Andersons were able to see that process in action all around them. And, they said, that is why they like taking part in events at Berks Nature so much.
“Learning through play is important,” Carrieann said. “We actually come to a lot of different events here because they are so good at keeping kids engaged and interested.”
“I like science a lot,” Victoria added quickly as she continued down the trail.
Jeff and Kaitlyn McMenamin are big fans of Berks Nature programs as well.
The Exeter Township couple said they search for outdoor events that might spark the interest of their 2-year-old daughter, Emery.
“We’ve attended some events here before, and we keep an eye on their website to see if there is anything that might be a good fit,” Kaitlyn said. “The story hike is perfect.”
“Emery loves books so this is a great way to spend a Saturday morning,” Jeff added.
Source: Berkshire mont
Be First to Comment