MEDIA ADVISORY: UND invites young, old to help launch first StoryWalk & Learning Garden
You can create a magical storybook ‘beginning’ for children
WHO/WHAT: All ages in Greater Grand Forks community are welcome to take part in first StoryWalk & Learning Garden event on UND campus.
WHEN/WHERE: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at corner of University Avenue and Harvard Street.
WHY: It’s sure to be fun! StoryWalk participants will walk from page to page as they read and/or listen to a storybook in the outdoor Learning Garden. You can check out a book from The Little Red Reading Bus or the nearby Chester Fritz Library. Plus, you can take part in several nature-based activities, games, snacks and much more.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kenya Zarns, director of Communications, Outreach & Recruitment for UND College of Education & Human Development. Email: kenya.zarns@UND.edu. Phone: 701.777.2862
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Professor Cheryl Hunter of Educational Foundations & Research in UND’s College of Education & Human Development shares some of the highlights in the mini Q&A that follows:
Q. This is a new idea. Can you tell us what it’s all about and what participants will experience?
A. The Learning Garden is a nature-based community space dedicated to experiential learning about nature, plants, food production and outdoor activities. The StoryWalk highlights books about nature and community while it builds on community literacy and sustainability goals. It’s an innovative way to promote literacy and physical activity while welcoming families to engage with the University and its beautiful campus. The community connection fostered through the Learning Garden highlights the importance of supporting our earliest learners and their families by providing a beautiful garden that is rich in language and literacy experiences to cultivate meaningful and powerful connections.
Q. What sort of nature-based activities will be available?
A. There will be garden spaces to plant, nature scavenger hunts, tree identification activities, a smell-and-touch garden, animal track activities, as well as outdoor and nature-based games and stories. The Little Red Reading Bus — a traveling library that encourages students to keep reading throughout the summer — also will make a special stop.
Q. How does the StoryWalk work?
A. Our StoryWalk lines the perimeter of the Learning Garden with inclusive paved platforms. We bring stories out of their conventional book format by mounting the pages along the path so participants can read and connect with the story and each other along the way. The Chester Fritz Library also is hosting audio files of the story being read in English as well as several other languages. The audio files will be accessible by QR code. The library also will host family-friendly lawn games and have special books ready for checkout. Plus, guests can take home (or eat right away) a really cool cookie.
Q. What makes this event truly unique?
A. The grand opening features hands-on activities led by both nature and garden guides as well as interactive community activities. This is the first StoryWalk in Grand Forks and likely the only permanent one connected to a Learning Garden on a university campus in the country. We make learning fun because the activities are all hands-on and experiential. All ages can be actively involved with the natural world. They’ll learn about small creatures — such as worms and bumblebees — and the important role they play. The event will encourage a deeper relationship with nature and will make reading exciting and accessible to a greater range of young people and adults. This space provides families with a wonderful opportunity to play and connect with a variety of learning experiences while encouraging conversations and exploration.
Q. What if people can’t come on June 18?
A. The Learning Garden still will be open to the community throughout the summer. Interactive activity guides will be available so that individuals and families can do self-guided activities. There also will be planned programming available at different times of the year.
‘The Learning Garden and StoryWalk is a magical place where the wonder of nature, the value of growing food and engaging in the outdoors sparks joy and connectivity to those who enter its space. It creates precious moments, promotes laughter, encourages discovery, allows for risk and welcomes all with open arms to enjoy.’
— Cheryl Hunter
