February 13th-February 16th is not only Valentine’s Day weekend, but also the annual Great Backyard…
Looking for a fun, family-friendly, educational activity to get active and outside? We have got you covered! Through the end of March 2021, TLC is offering a StoryWalkTM at our Horton Grove and Bailey & Sarah Williamson Nature Preserves. The StoryWalkTM Program was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT as a fun and innovative way for children (and adults) to enjoy reading while in the outdoors. To help us kick off the Great Backyard Bird Count, we’ve selected Counting is for the Birds by Frank Mazzola to be featured at Horton Grove, and Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson to be featured at Bailey and Sarah Williamson Preserve.
For the StoryWalkTM, we’ve cut out the pages to each book, laminated them, and placed them on wooden stakes along the side of two family-friendly trails. This allows you to interact with nature while reading a fun and educational story. If you go the weekend of the 12th, consider taking part in the citizen science project to help scientists learn more about the flying wonders of the animal planet. To learn more about the Great Backyard Bird Count and how to participate, click this link!
At the Williamson Preserve, you will find Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson where we follow the young girl Ruby, discover her love for birding! Walnut Hill Way loops around just off of our main parking lot to create a hike that is less than half a mile. This walk circles large fields that are perfect for birding.
At Horton Grove, you will find Counting is for the Birds by Frank Mazzola where we learn about common birds that visit a bird feeder that have to outwit a wily cat! The Holman Loop circles our restored grassland to create about a 0.8-mile walk, which also happens to pass by our wooden pavilion which is a perfect place to take a break and watch for birds.
Our StoryWalkTM also provides a great opportunity to earn a Triangle Explorer Badge! Click this link to learn more about our Bird Triangle Explorer Badge. We hope that you enjoy our StoryWalksTM! Use the hashtag #HikeTLC on social media to share your best pictures while interacting with this program!
