Jackson County kids will have a new and fun way to read and exercise, as the Jackson County Imagination Library opens a new storybook trail Saturday
The trail is now the first quarter mile of the Periwinkle Hiking Trail off of Granville Highway. The trail consists of 17 signs that tell a story to children. Jackson County Imagination Library Chairman John Deane said this is the county’s first story trail.
“It’s a new and different way to introduce storytelling and reading to young children, that takes advantage of nature, and the physicality of walking a trail,” Deane said.
Deane said the trail uses signs to tell a story called “When the Storm Comes”. Deane said the story is fitting as the county often experiences a lot of storms.
“We think about this all the time,” Deane said. “You know, there’s the before the storm, during the storm, and after the storm preparations, and this just brings that to light in the form of a story book geared for children.”
Deane said they selected the story from 250 options that were given, as the trail was funded through a grant from the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation. Deane said the library will have different stories that it will replace over time.
Deane said there are plans to install a second storybook trail at the Roaring River State Park later this fall.
“It just creates one more opportunity for parents and their children to read outdoors,” Deane said. “And it will be a different story, and if it’s good once, it’s great twice.”
The first trail will open with a ribbon-cutting this Saturday at 10am. Deane said people are welcome to come and help spread mulch on the trail to make the trail even better.