On Wednesday, July 19, the Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville, will launch its StoryWalk, a permanent attraction that will allow participants to immerse themselves in children's books. The opening event will begin at 10:30 a.m., and it will include a story reading and crafts for kids ages 2 to 8.

The event will begin with a reading of "Little Owl's Day" by Divya Srinivasan, followed by owl-themed activities such as dissecting owl pellets and learning about their anatomy. Once the projects are finished, participants will trek through the StoryWalk. Pages from an illustrated book have been placed on signs along the path, allowing the kids to read the story and view the images as they walk. At the end of the path, the event will conclude with an activity where the children will draw their favorite part of the story. The current story will remain on the path for three weeks before it is replaced with a new one.

After completing the walk, participants can submit their names and contact information. Each time the path is completed, up to three times, the participating family will have a chance to win a family pass to Longwood Gardens.

A StoryWalk is a project that was first created by Anne Ferguson and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vt. The goal for the project is to promote both physical activity and early literacy by combining a children's book with a walking trail.

Sharon Roche, executive director of the Quarryville Library, first learned about the project in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the library's programs were being held online, but Roche found that many people either didn't have access to the internet or didn't want to participate virtually. Inspired by the StoryWalk project, Roche collected several leftover yard signs from the 2020 presidential election and used them to make her own version of it in 2021. She primed each sign, laminated several pages from a children's book, attached the pages to the signs and lined them up along a path outside the library. The first "StoryPath," as Roche called it, was a success; participants were able to enjoy the activity while remaining outside and complying with pandemic safety regulations.

Although the first StoryPath was a success, Roche began to encounter issues with its design. Due to the flimsy nature of the upcycled signs, they were prone to being carried off by the wind. Roche filed a grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services to created an official StoryWalk, and she was given the resources needed to realize her vision. Working together with students from the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center, Roche started the process of transforming the path into a permanent attraction at the library.

Roche hopes to use the new path for a variety of programs in the future, such as partnerships with local school districts that would allow them to host art exhibits along the trail. "To me, the sky's the limit," Roche said. "It's always going to be great for stories, but what else can we use it for? We're thrilled by the possibilities."

Registration is required for the opening day of the StoryWalk. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/storywalklibrary.