As part of our ongoing Counting on Community – Planting Seeds of Transformation events, we are pleased to report on the success of our recent bilingual StoryWalk event, hosted in collaboration with the Gene Lucas Community Center (GLC) in Fortuna. This initiative advanced our mission to provide accessible, engaging programming that supports young children and their families in building early literacy and fostering community connections.
Due to overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community, we were invited to bring back the StoryWalk. Families and organizational leaders expressed a strong desire to experience it again, citing the combination of outdoor time, early literacy, and the bilingual narrative as a meaningful and enriching experience.
Additionally, we made the StoryWalk available to attendees of our 2024 Symposium. During the lunch break, many participants enjoyed walking along the trail, engaging with the prompts, and discovering the story. This allowed us to extend the impact of the StoryWalk to a wider audience beyond families with young children.
Event Overview
The StoryWalk, featuring Señorita Mariposa, ran from August 31st to October 18th. It was designed to encourage family engagement through bilingual storytelling and outdoor mindfulness activity. Prompts from the bilingual book were displayed along the scenic trails behind the GLC Center, allowing families to walk and read together in an interactive environment. Each prompt included Spanish translations, ensuring inclusivity for both English and Spanish-speaking families. The prompts also invited families to make mindful connections with their bodies and the natural surroundings. Each family had the opportunity to take home a free copy of Señorita Mariposa, available for pickup at both the GLC reception and the Fortuna Library, ensuring ongoing access to literacy resources. By integrating outdoor learning with bilingual education, this event successfully promoted both physical activity and language development in young children, while also strengthening connections to nature.
Outcomes and Future Plans
The enthusiastic response from families, as well as their request for us to return, shows the StoryWalk’s positive impact on community engagement. Families appreciated the opportunity to revisit the event and share the experience with others, highlighting the value of ongoing outdoor, interactive learning opportunities. This feedback emphasizes the importance of offering culturally responsive events.