Literacy and physical activity come together in story walk

A Winnipeg park is offering fitness and family fun with an entire storybook staked alongside its path. 

Katherine Pulak is the Wiggle Giggle Munch Facilitator at Wolseley Family Place. Pulak also works for Communities 4 Families, and they partnered together to create this fun in the park. 

"It's a book that's been dismantled and put onto stakes so that people walking through the park can participate in the story in a very physical way," says Pulak. 

The story is set up along a path in Vimy Ridge Park on Preston Avenue.

"It is a story that was created by Communities 4 Families with photos of family members from the community. Each page encourages children and families to use all of their senses or be physical by jumping around or looking for sounds and colours within the park."

January 27 is Family Literacy Day and that is what sparked the idea for this story in the park. 

"We thought it was a beautiful idea for families to be able to attend and participate in a common activity, which is a walk right now. We thought to connect literacy with embracing the outdoors."

The entire month of February is 'I love to read month' which ties in perfectly to the family activity. 

Families are encouraged to take part in the story walk as soon as possible because Pulak says she may take it down right after the holiday Monday. 

Emma Fineblit is the Executive Director of Wolseley Family Place. 

"WFP is a non-profit family resource centre. We try to provide holistic supports to families with young children in the community," says Fineblit.