Emma Tutins, 12, and mother Wendy, read November StoryWalk story “Pet Show,” by Ezra Jack Keats.
It’s a brisk, bright morning, and mother-daughter duo Wendy and Emma Tutins are breaking up their day by taking a walk. But it isn’t just any walk, it’s an adventure into a story.
“It was amazing,” Emma, 12, said.
The two are taking a StoryWalk in Avalon Park. Each month, in collaboration with Avalon Park and the Alafaya Branch Library, a featured children’s book is chosen and each page is posted in the windows of 28 Avalon Park businesses. Originally created by Anne Ferguson in Vermont, the activity started to catch on in Avalon Park in October, combining physical and mental fitness.
“It’s to promote literacy and fitness together with families by using local resources through the community,” said Stephanie Hodson, marketing manager for Avalon Park Group.
Hodson heard about the StoryWalk program, which is usually put on trails outdoors, and thought that she could translate it for the Avalon community perfectly. Families start at the YMCA, get a map to locate the story’s pages, a pedometer for their first Walk, and then they go reading. At the end, they get a certificate of completion to bring to the Alafaya Branch Library for a special goody bag and their photo on the wall of StoryWalk participants.
Teaching tool
Because Tutins is homeschooling Emma, she said the half-mile StoryWalk is a great opportunity to get out of the house, and uses the Walk as a teaching tool. It’s especially good for Emma, who has autism and gets to read each page aloud.
“It helps with her speech,” Tutins said.
“It promotes family bonding,” said Stephanie Hodson, marketing manager for Avalon Park Group.
It’s also great for her comprehension, and Tutins said that although Emma is autistic, this activity would be a great resource for any child. They’ve done the walk three times now, and Tutins loves taking the book they read and bringing the lesson home. After they read October’s book “Stone Soup,” they purchased a copy and went home and made their own stone soup, with real rocks. They also made soup without stones, which was much more edible, Tutins said with a smile.
Emma likes that the story feels like a scavenger hunt, with each page placed in a different window leading her all over town. She gets to wonder what might happen next as she walks, looking for that colorful page hanging up for her to find.
“She likes to piece it all together,” Tutins said.
Being together
Tutins also loves the idea that this activity is something that brings families together, without all the gadgets. No iPads, phones or computers, a little exercise and fresh air are what make this program special, she said. It’s an opportunity to treasure for parents of young children, because when they get older, like her highschoolers, they won’t be as available.
“These are times you can’t get back,” she said. “Engage with your children.”
Hodson and fellow organizer Danielle King agreed.
“It promotes family bonding,” Hodson said.
“I think it brings everyone together and gives them time to reflect on reading, on exercise and being part of something,” said King, branch manager for the Alafaya Library.
Community minded
It’s also a great opportunity for businesses involved. It brings new faces into stores the community might not have known about, Hodson said. Tutins said she has found new spots to enjoy, and likes treating Emma to a snack during their StoryWalk adventures.
They also choose the books to coincide with events in the community. For November “Pet Show” went well with an animal event in Avalon. In November they got even more community-centered by featuring the book “Jessica McGee Wants to be…” by local author Taina Haiman.
“It’s very unifying for the community,” said Judi Rachwitz, who is in member services at the YMCA.
Learn more
Each month the StoryWalk will feature a new story. January’s story is “Alexander the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst. Start your story adventure at the YMCA in Avalon Park.